208 



GARDENERS' CHRUMCLE 



W hen we met in lioston last year, outside of the imixirtant busi- 

 ness to be transacted, it was to be expected that we should see 

 sonic of the finest and oldest places in the country. But in Pitts- 

 burgh, otherwise known as the "Work-shop of the World," we 

 cannot begin to boast of things horticullurally, though what you 

 will see is creditable indeed, wlien the efTort, which must be spent 

 imder somewhat adverse conditions, is considered. Industrially, 

 you may see and judge for yourselves, referring to the "Work-shop 

 of the \\ orld." I may be pardoned for repeating, for I am sure 

 it will be of interest to many from a distance, some of whom 

 may look with scorn upon the smoke, but let it be clearly under- 

 stood, that when we have no smoke, we have no business. Pitts- 

 burgh leads the world in the manufacture of iron, steel, glass, elec- 

 tric machinery, tin plates, air-brakes, lire bricks, white leads, cork 

 and aluminum, pickles and preserves. Pittsburgh products have 

 an annual tonnage two and a half times greater than New York 

 London and Hamburg combined. The value of Pittsburgh's manu- 

 factures is two and a half billion dollars a year, which exceeds 

 that of each of forty States. Pittsburgh is the center of a county 

 whose assessed valuation is greater than that of each of thirty- 

 six States in the Union. Pittsburgh has labor pay-rolls of two 

 and a half million dollars a day. Pittsburgh's banking surplus is 

 one hundred million dollars, and is exceeded only by New York 

 and Philadelphia. Deposits per capita are the greatest in the 

 United States. Sewickley, where you will visit some of our 

 estates, is Pittsburg'n's leading suburb. 



I should like to say a few words in closing with a view to 

 expressing my appreciation of the co-operation and hard work 

 of our local committees. They have met with obstacles and dis- 

 appointments but have nevertheless worked out what I consider 

 will prove to be a very interesting, instructive and amusing con- 

 vention, and while I am delighted to have the honor of welcom- 

 ing you today, the credit for your enjoyment belongs to the men 

 on the committees. 



THE SECRETARY'S REPORT 



The past year has been a very gratifying one for the associa- 

 tion, in which progress has been the keynote. Interest in the 

 activities of the association has increased on the part of gardeners' 

 local organizations througliout the land and greater enthusiasm 

 has been manifested among the local Ijraiiches than heretofore. 



The association was called on during the year to defend the 

 morale of the gardener and his profession, due to an indiscrimi- 

 nate act before one of the state legislatures. While the incident 

 attracted some publicity, it did not, however, act to the detriment 

 of the gardener or his profession, but on the contrary, it drew at- 

 tention to what the association is striving to accomplish for the 

 profession which it represents. 



A loss of seven members through death was sustained during 

 the year, and seventeen through resignation, due to gardeners 

 turning to other vocations where inducements appear more entic- 

 ing than in their own profession. Ninety-eight active and asso- 

 ciate members were enrolled, and nine sustaining members were 

 also added to the association's membership. 



Loc.\L Br.vxches 



Although the early efforts of the association to organize local 

 branches did not meet with immediate success, the efforts put 

 forth were not wasted as what has been accomplished this pa.st 

 year shows. For a long while, Newport, R. I., was the only 

 branch in existence. This branch was followed by the St. Louis, 

 the Nassau Co., L. I., the Boston, and the Western Pennsylvania 

 branches. This Spring a branch was organized in Cleveland, 

 which has since been followed by the North Shore of Illinois 

 branch. At the present time, Jacksonville, Fla., is organizing a 

 branch to be known as the Northern Florida branch. The mem- 

 bers of these branches have found that at their meetings, op- 

 portunities are presented to those who are not always able to 

 attend the conventions, to make recommendations to be submitted 

 to the annual conventions ; that assistance is assured in planning 

 and carrying out the annual conventions ; and that lively and 

 worthwhile discussions also occur on subjects pertinent to the gar- 

 dening profession, which is not possible at meeting.s of gardeners' 

 local organizations where matters of purely local interest occupy 

 the major portion of the time. It is believed that before the end 

 of the year, other branches will be announced. As the number 

 of branches increases, greater co-operation will develop between 

 thc-se branches whereby the gardeners in the different territories 

 will come into closer fraternity. 



The Service Depart.ment 



The Service Department did not have occasion to fill many 

 important positions this year for the reason that few such posi- 

 tions were offered. There, however, appeared to be more than 

 the usual number of minor pf)sitions, many of which did not call 

 for trained gardeners. The high cost of labor created .some posi- 

 tions for trained men, where heretofore only handy men were 

 engaged. The experiences have been so satisfactory that employers 



report the difference in expenditure, between engaging a trained 

 gardener and a handy man. has been well worth while. Single 

 men have been especially benefited in this respect. However, the 

 Service Department should not be looked upon as merely an em- 

 ployment bureau for its scope extends far beyond. Instances of 

 estate owners visiting New York, some from distant points coming 

 to the secretary's office, to di.scuss the problems of their estates 

 are not unusual and have often resulted in considerable benefit 

 to their gardeners. 



Ox Tr.mn'inu Young Men 



There has not been as much progress made in interesting young 

 men in taking advantage of the co-operative course offered liy the 

 Massachusetts -Agricultural College and the association as might 

 be desired, due largely to the expense that must be incurred by 

 the young men who are non-residents of the State of Massachusetts, 

 and who must pay tuition fees, while free tuition is granted the 

 residents of the state. The Massachusetts Agricultural College 

 appears satislied with the lirst year's results and is looking for 

 an increased enrollment this Fall. If other state colleges would 

 adopt a similar- course, it w'ould prove beneficial to young men 

 of those states who would be interested in taking up such a course. 

 Mr. Robert Cameron, before sailing for Europe, wrote to the 

 secretary, urging him not to overlook bringing up this important 

 subject at the convention. He stated that lie is employing four 

 college men who are proving more than satisfactory, and that he 

 believes the future of the young gardeners can lie solved if fur- 

 ther attention is given to their educational opportunities. Another 

 member has written the secretary that he thinks it is just as essen- 

 tial to educate young men along executive lines as to educate them 

 on the growing of plants and otherwise instruct them horticultural- 

 ly. He contends that estate owners are equally interested in 

 properly kept records and accounts as they are in well raised 

 plants. A young man wdio takes a horticultural course should 

 develop enough intelligence to be able to keep his accounts straight 

 on the average estate. In fact, the Massachusetts Agricultural 

 College includes business methods and English in its course, 

 which should be sutficient to liroaden the scope of a young man's 

 rriind and enable him to adapt himself to many conditions which 

 may arise in his life's work, and with which he may not have had 

 previous experience. 



On Profession.^l Ethics 



Much stress is placed from time to time on improving profes- 

 sional ethics and business methods from which the horticultural 

 trade is not excluded. The association directs attention that 

 it was one of the first organizations, identified with horticulture, 

 to go. on record as in favor of improving professional ethics and 

 business methods, not alone in the pursuit of horticulture but in 

 all vocations. It passed a resolution to that effect at its annual 

 convention held in Cleveland in 1919, and its stand remains un- 

 changed. It may be added that the efforts of the gardening pro- 

 fession in recent years towards the advancement of its standard 

 has been no less progressive than those of other professions, 

 which can be readily confirmed by any interested investigator. 

 Applying the Golden Rule in business, and out of it, individually 

 and collectively, will prove the nxist effective remedy in curing all 

 business ailments. 



.■\ Word on "Rumor Mongers" 



The despicable practice, wdiich is not a new one, of circulating 

 false rumors, either through ignorance or with malicious intent, 

 often resulting m severe hardship to the ones against whom they 

 are directed, seems to be increasing rather than decreasing. The 

 .issociation during the past Spring has been called on to suppress 

 several rumors which on investigation were found to have no 

 foundation. The rumors usually refer to a gardener's position, 

 that he is leaving or is being discharged, and so the employer, 

 .■ifler he has been flooded with applications for the position, be- 

 lieves that there must be .some truth to the report that his gardner 

 is leaving his employ, and foitliwith dismisses him witliout even 

 an opportunity for an explanation. 



The secretary believes tliat the time has arrived when the asso- 

 ciation should decide on some policy to mete out merited punisli- 

 ineiit to tlie "rumor monger" who maliciously injures anotlier. 

 whether the guilty one be an active or associate member. The 

 By-Laws already provide power and certainly dismissal is none 

 to severe a penalty. 



Our Deceased Members 



Since the convention in Boston last year, the secretary's oflice 

 has received notice of the passing of the following members: Sus- 

 taining. Frank J. Diipignac. Mainaroneck, \. Y. ; Active, William 

 Cray. Newport, R. I., M. J. O'Brien, Mt. Kisco, N. Y., Douglas 

 Smith. Kaloiiah, N Y., H. Stuart Smith, Spring Valley, N. \.. 

 Frank Iv Hlirler, Pittslield. Mass. ; .Associate, John S. Hay, Phila- 

 delphia, Pa. It is possible that there are other deceased members, 

 of whom the association has not been informed. 



