For September, 1923 



235 



Cdtiventionists. During luncheon, a long distance telephone mes- 

 sage was received by President Barnet from Mrs. Lyons, who had 

 just arrived in New York from Europe, asking him to extend Mr. 

 Lyons' and her greetings and to wish everyone an enjoyable time 

 while on their estate. Mr. Mackintosh responded on behalf of the 

 visitors and asked Mr. Barnet to convey to Mr. and Mrs. Lyons 

 their appreciation of the cordial greetings and hospitality. On 

 leaving this estate, the party drove through the grounds of the 

 Allegheny Country Club, regarded as one of the finest of its kind 

 in America, and then wended its way through the slopes of the 

 Allegheny Mountains, commanding remarkable views of the moun- 

 tain sides. The following estates were visited: W. B. Schiller 

 (C. E. Norton, superintendent), N. B. Snyder (William Thomson, 

 superintendent), B. F. Jones (George W. Brownhill, superinten- 

 dent), Mrs. VV. A. Laughlon (Henry Goodband, superintendent), 

 Mrs. William Hemp (John Jones, superintendent), H. L. Mason 

 (James Murphy, superintendent). Mrs. H. R. Rea (Alex David- 

 son, superintendent), Mrs. J. B. Oliver (Francis B. Reig, superin- 

 tendent), Mrs. Halsey Williams and John C. Slack, after which 

 the automobiles returned to Pittsburgh, arriving at the Fort Pitt 

 Hotel about seven o'clock. The weather man had been most 

 thoughtful, for the day had been cool and clear, and no smoke 

 screen shrouded the views from the visitors at any time. 



Reception to Gardeners 



Thursday evening the Pittsburgh Florists' and Gardeners' Club 

 tendered the convention party a reception in the English Room 

 of the Fort Pitt Hotel. Tables were arranged for those who de- 

 sired to play cards, while ample space was provided for those who 

 preferred to dance. A splendid orchestra furnished music. Later 

 in the evening a collation was served, and general good fellowship 

 prevailed. On behalf of the club, William Thomson welcomed the 

 guests, to which William N. Craig responded on behalf of the 

 members of the association. Andrew Wilson also entertained with 

 songs, dances and stories. 



Viewing the Industrial Side of Pittsburgh 



The first visit of the convention party on Friday was to the 

 plant of the H. J. Heinz Company, where it was conducted by 

 guides through the various departments, showing how the "pickles 

 and preserves" are prepared. All enjoyed a short, but interesting, 

 lecture on the preparation of the Heinz products, after which the 

 party sat down to a nice spread, although it was not able to par- 

 take of all the "57 varieties." In the afternoon several hours were 

 spent at the Westinghouse Electric Company's plant at East Pitts- 

 burgh, w'hich proved most instructive in many ways. 



Farewell Dinner 



When the party returned to the hotel, a farewell surprise in the 

 nature of a dinner was in store for it, served in the Dutch Room 

 and tendered by tlie menibers of the Western Pennsylvania Branch. 

 Manus Curran welcomed all in the name of the local branch, to 

 which Robert De Schryver responded. Mrs. Jack Baxter accepted 

 this occasion as an opportune time to thank the Ladies' Committee 

 on behalf of the visiting ladies for the pleasant entertainment pro- 

 vided for them, and did this most appropriately. Mrs. William 

 Thomson, chairwoman of tlie Ladies' Committee, replied in a 

 fitting manner. The event was accepted by those present as a 

 splendid finish to the altogether successful convention. 



Ladies' Entertainment 



The visiting ladies were well taken care of from the moment 

 of their arrival at the Fort Pitt Hotel, where the Ladies' Commit- 

 tee, of which Mrs. William Thomson was the chairwoman, greeted 

 them. At noon on Tuesday they became the guests of the Ladies' 

 Committee at luncheon, after whicli they attended the opening 

 session and in the evening the lecture by A. J. Cogshall. On 

 Wednesday, the ladies were taken on a sightseeing and shopping 

 tour of the city, with a luncheon arranged in their honor at one of 

 the well-known restaurants, followed by a theater party, and re- 

 turning to the hotel to participate in the annual banquet. On 

 Thursday and Friday, they accompanied the male members of the 

 convention party on the sightseeing trips. 



SIDELIGHTS OF THE CONVENTION 



The efficient manner in which Chairman Manus Curran con- 

 ducted the opening session and the Parliamentarian tact displayed 

 by President John Barnet throughout the business sessions was 

 a demonstration of how far the gardeners' ability extends. There 

 appears to be no limit to it, for whenever gardeners gather to- 

 gether, someone may be found to cope with any situation, whether 

 it be preaching, directing, arguing, or entertaining. Each year 

 at the convention, we learn more and more what the capabilities 

 are which professional gardeners possess. 



After City Solicitor Irons handed the keys of the City of Pitts- 

 burgh (so to speak) to the visitors, he lauded the gardening 

 profession and e.xtolled the good the gardener is doing as a bene- 

 factor of mankind. He said that the rake and hoe hold more 

 interest for him than a driver and putter, and that he finds more 

 pleasure in hoeing a garden than in "plowing up" a golf course ; 

 that to him, gardening is a far healthier recreation than golf, 

 which is rapidly developing into a "foot and mouth disease" — the 

 golfer hoofs it over the course all day and argues about the game 

 all night. 



George H. Wirt admitted he knew the difference between a rake 

 and a hoe. but he would not delve deeply into the subject and so 

 find himself in the place of the minister who addressed his Sunday 

 School class on the benefits to be derived from the great out- 

 doors, saying that he was raised among the corn stalks. Upon 

 questioning his scholars. "What would you call me?" the proverbial 

 little Johnny replied. "Preacher, I'd call you a pimipkin." 



Scotch wit seemed to be somewhat dulled during the opening 

 session, but came into evidence during the business sessions and 

 at the banquet. \Mien D. L. Mackintosh attempted to introduce 

 a little comedy during a strained mornent at the Tuesday morning 

 session. John R. McCulloch rose and protested that comedy should 

 be^ prohibited whenever a meeting is found in a serious strain of 

 mind. It might be added that the protestant was later converted 

 and found himself a regular "sketch" before departing for home. 



After the members had retired to their rooms from the banquet 

 shortly after midnight, they were treated to a succession of loud 

 explosions, which brought everyone to the w^indows to endeavor to 

 discover what was about to liefall them. Thomas W. Head, on 

 noticing a reflection on the wall (wliich was caused by the sputter- 

 ing of some trolley wires) concluded that a severe thunder storm 

 was approaching and returned to bed, rejoicing that it had not 

 arrived twelve hours later, when it might have caught the con- 

 ventionists, partaking of a delicious luncheon on a Sewickley 

 estate. From an adjoining room came the suggestion that someone 

 must have set the mines off. Andrew Wilson, though his head 

 appeared well out of the window, claimed he was not disturbed 

 at all by the racket, for it simply reminded him of the good old 

 days when the bowling tournaments were included in the conven- 

 tion programs. Our curiosity not being satisfied by any of the 

 suppositions, we called the telephone operator, who informed us 

 that the noise was due to the culmination of an Italian celebration 

 on a hillside. Those bombs were certainly well charged! 



As the automobile party on Thursday morning traveled through 

 the streets of Pittsburgh in a line of over forty cars, composed of 

 Pierce Arrows, Packards, and cars of similar make, furnished by 

 employers of local members, some driven by liveried chautfeurs, and 

 each bearing the banner of the National Association of Gardeners, 

 the man in the street must have imagined that the association was 

 allied with the moneyed interests. While this is not exactly so, 

 nevertheless, every member in the line bcame imbued with a spirit 

 of optimism over the promising prospects which the future holds 

 forth for the profession. 



That Pittsburgh possesses more than merely smoke and money 

 became quite evident as the party motored through the extensive 

 grounds of the I'niversity of Pittsburgh with its many magnificent 

 structures devoted to learning. The Bostonians appeared amazed 

 to find that Boston does not have a monopoly on culture. 



When the convention party reached Mrs. Lyons' estate. President 

 Barnet, who has the supervision of this beautiful estate, was ob- 

 served on the lawn, attired in white flannels, which caused a young 

 lady in the party to remark, "Why, that must be the owner." A 

 little later when seated at one of the luncheon tables, she again saw 

 President Barnet, this time assisting the steward hustling the 

 waiters about, she remarked to her mother. "That man we saw 

 was not the ciwner. He must be the butler." Had she noticed 

 him a few minutes later, lecturing the waiters who had upset a tub ' 

 of ice and rock salt on his beautiful lawn, which threatened its 

 ruin, she might have guessed right as to his real identity. 



After James Stuart had consumed his third helping of the 

 bountiful luncheon, he recalled that no oysters had been served. 

 This caused him to comment -that the steward must be a Scotch- 

 man, for the Scotch despise oysters, as there is too much waste to 

 them for the shells cannot be eaten. 



George F. Stewart, who traveled from Massachusetts to the con- 

 vention city by auto, accompanied by his sons (two American 

 youths of whom he can be justly proud, who are following their 

 father's profession) said that a long felt desire to see something of 

 the West had been gratified, that crossing the Alleghenies was 

 indeed wonderful, and that he expected almost any minute to see 

 Macbeth and MacDufif step out of the wilderness for their mortal 

 combat. F. T. D. Fulmer, hailing from Iowa, previously expressed 



