February 1, 1919 



HORTICULTURE 



107 



market and react unfavorably on all 

 branches of our business. Growers and 

 retailers can improve the present con; 

 ditions and perhaps the American 

 Carnation Society can aid in the 

 matter. 



Secretary's Report. 

 The past year has been a memorable 

 one for the carnation industry. On 

 account of the uncertainty in business 

 generally, the restrictions imposed by 

 the government in the early part, and 

 the subsequent release from all re- 

 straint towards its close, there has 

 been a chaotic condition running 

 through the entire year. The depres- 

 sion caused by the restrictions was 

 reflected clearly in the lack of enthu- 

 siasm among the craft and this natur- 

 ally affected the interest shown in the 

 activities of the trade societies. At 

 the time of the Boston convention, in 

 January, 1918, conditions were at their 

 worst, resulting in a convention which 

 was almost entirely local and while 

 our New England members staged a 

 splendid exhibition, the benefits accru- 

 ing from a large and enthusiastic at- 

 tendance were lacking. Receipts fell 

 off, while prices on everything needed 

 by the society advanced, causing a de- 

 pletion of the treasury which gave 

 more or less concern. The printing of 

 the annual report had to be deferred, 

 pending the collection of sufficient 

 funds, but thanks to the generosity of 

 our President and a number of our 

 New England members, who contrib- 

 uted some $60.00, the report appeared 

 only three months late. It is gratify- 

 ing to note, however, that since the 

 great revival of business, due to the 

 return of peace and the extraordinary 

 demand caused by the influenza epi- 

 demic, our members are showing a 

 quickened interest in the affairs of the 

 society. Receipts have increased to 

 such an extent that the year's total 

 receipts are about normal, but still 

 not enough to cover the increase in 

 expenditures. It is hoped that the 

 saving effected in the coming year's 

 expenditures may be sufficient to put 

 the treasury back to a normal con- 

 dition. 



During the past year we have 

 collected from: 



Membership assessments $028.00 



Advertising 150.20 



Miscellaneous 96.00 



$874.20 



all of which was turned over to the 

 treasurer and his receipts taken there- 

 for. The books of the secretary and 

 treasurer were audited by a public ac- 

 countant and found correct, the au- 

 ditor's report being submitted along 

 with these reports. 



A complete list of our members was 

 submitted to the S. A. F. & O. H., who 



reported that 223 of our members are 

 also members in that society, entitling 

 us to representation on their Execu- 

 tive Board. President Strout has been 

 appointed to represent our society on 

 that board during the year 1919. A 

 change was made in the conditions for 

 filling this office, enabling the vice- 

 president to serve in case the presi- 

 dent is unable to serve. 



The National Flower Show, which 

 was to have been held in Saint Louis, 

 Mo., last spring, was postponed indefi- 

 nitely. The preliminary expenses in- 

 curred on account of this proposed ex- 

 hibition, less the profits from the con- 

 vention held there in August, were 

 $5,984.95. Ten per cent, of this amount 

 is charged up against our society and 

 remains a liability until the Fifth 

 National Flower Show is held, after 

 which a final accounting is to be made. 

 The S. A. F. & O. H. has agreed to 

 carry this liability until that time. 



The summer meeting of the board of 

 directors was set for November, in 

 order to gauge better the conditions 

 that would likely prevail at the time of 

 this convention. The influenza epi- 

 demic prevented a meeting at that time 

 and the meeting was finally dispensed 

 with altogether, the arrangements for 

 this convention being made by mail. 



On account of the unsatisfactory ex- 

 press services and the scarcity of stock, 

 the board deemed it inadvisable to at- 

 tempt an exhibition of the size and 

 scope of former years. The premium 

 schedule was modified in such a way 

 as to encourage the staging of the new 

 varieties, with a few classes for the 

 standard sorts. This list was later 

 augmented by a number of open 

 classes, for which the Cleveland Flor- 

 ists Club agreed to stand sponsor. This 

 change is intended for only this year's 

 exhibition, in the hope that a return 

 may be made to normal conditions dur- 

 ing the present year. 



Our convention being the first meet- 

 ing of national scope since the signing 

 of the armistice, the Board invited the 

 S. A. F. & O. H. to join us in a peace 

 celebration at our banquet. This in- 

 vitation was accepted and arrange- 

 ments have been made to carry out the 

 idea. This society may take just pride 

 in the fact that a number of our mem- 

 bers went into the military service and 

 give thanks to a divine providence for 

 their safe return. No casualties among 

 our members have been reported up to 

 the present time. 



There were submitted, during the 

 past year, for registration, three seed- 

 lings and one sport. No registrations 

 were sent over from Europe. 



To the trade press is due our thanks. 

 for the publication of all matter sent 

 to them. They have been of material 



assistance to the society during the 

 past year. A. F. J. Baik 



Treasurer's Report, January 18, 1919. 

 GENERAL FIND. CASH RECEIPTS. 



Balance Jan. 18, 1018 $460.28 



Cash li Sec. A. K.J. ISanr. $874.22 



Int. from Permanent Fund.. 100.04 



Int. from Memorial Fund 40.50 



1,020.78 



$1,487.04 

 DISBURSEMENTS. 



Orders paid Xo. 714 to No. 738 in- 

 clusive $874.62 



Balance, cash In hank 012.42 



$1,487.04 



PERM ANEN I II Ml. RECEIPTS. 



Balance Jan. IS. 1918 $2,625.31 



Interest Jan. 1. 1919 100.04 



$2,731.35 



DISIll KSI.MKVI S. 



Interest transferred to Gen. Fund. $100.04 

 Balance Jan. 18, 1919 2,625.31 



$2,731.35 



DORNER MEMORIAL FUND. RECEIPTS. 



Balance Jan. 18. 1918 $1,002.97 



Interest Jan. 1, 1910 40.50 



$1,043.47 

 DISBURSEMENTS. 



Interest transferred to Gen. Fund 



for medal $40.50 



Balance Jan. 18, 1919 1,002.97 



$1,043.47 



Total rash on hand Jan. IS, 1919. 

 deposited as follows : 



First Merchants National Bank, 

 General Fund $012.42 



Lafayette Loan & Trust Co., Per- 

 manent Fund 2,625.31 



Lafayette Loan & Trust Co., Dor- 

 ner Memorial Fund 1,002.97 



$4,240.70 

 F. E. DoHNEit, Treas. 



BETTER SERVICE CAMPAIGN. 



A nation-wide effort to reduce the 

 amount of waste attributed to inade 

 quate packing, wrapping and marking 

 of express shipments, is about to be 

 undertaken by the 135,000 men and 

 women employed in the express busi- 

 ness. As a means to this end, plans 

 of a most comprehensive nature have 

 been made by the American Railway 

 Express Company, which is operating 

 the express business on all the rail- 

 roads of the country, to bring about 

 conditions which will make possible 

 a marked improvement in the express 

 service. A "Better Service Campaign" 

 will start on February 10 in every city 

 and town in the country. 



No new packing or marking rules 

 have been adopted for the campaign, 

 but express drivers and receiving 

 clerks at the larger points, express 

 agents at the smaller places, including 

 those employed jointly by the express 

 company and the United States Rail- 

 road Administration, as well as mes- 

 sengers in the cars, will be instructed 

 hereafter, to insist that the rules al- 

 ready in force be more carefully fol- 

 lowed. At the same time, all express 

 employes will be urged to see that 

 rough handling and mis-routing are 

 avoided after packages leave the 

 hands of the shippers. 



