298 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



Your Co-opcrniire CommUtce, upiminteil to eiiliKt the local hnrti- 

 cnltnrul societies in a national rn-operatiie movement for tlie r/cn- 

 cral uplift of Hardening and to arouse a greater interest in liorti- 

 culture. submits the foUoipiiig as its report of the year's icorl.-. 



On April 10 the committee sent a communication to all horti- 

 cultural societies and cluhs halving, to its knoicledge. gardners 

 enrolled in their memhership and had the same published in the 

 trade papers, inviting the local societies to co-operate with the 

 national association in the proposed co-operative movement. 

 Tnentg-one societies responded favorablg and one unfavorably. 

 Favorable action u-as taken on the eominuni( atioii hit other soci- 

 eties, but the committee has as yet received no offlcinl notifications 

 of such action, and those are not included in those reported as 

 responding farorally. 



Yoiia' committee being encouraged by the results of the communi- 

 cation invitinq participation in the movement, issued the following 

 bulletin on Octetbir 20: 



"The Xntional <'o-o/ierativc Committee, appointid nt the meeting 

 of the Xational Assoiiation of (lardcncrs held in Ptiiladclpliia in 

 April, IdlJ). to devise n-aijs and means to make the proposed co- 

 operative movement bctivecn the National Association and local 

 gardeners' clubs and societies operative, submits to the local co- 

 operative committees, appointed to ivork in conjunction with the 

 National Co-operative Committee, the prime objects of the move- 

 ment, which are as follows: 



To establish gardening as a profession on a more firm founda- 

 tion in America. 



To develop a elosor fraternity betiveen those engaged in the 

 profession of gardening and those interested in it. 



To make known that the vocation rtf gardening is nut ai quired 

 through one or two S(aSons of nork in the garden, hut througli a 

 thorough training — which demands both a practical and seienti/ic 

 knowledge gained only through years of study. 



To provide an edurational course whereby those ambitious to 

 gain a general knowledge of the different departments of their 

 profession, and not in circumstances to secure it at college, may 

 obtain it through their natiejnal association. 



To make the Service Bureau of the National Association of 

 Gardeners an institution to ivhiclt those re<iuiring the service of 

 gardeners in their various capacities ivill turn nith confidence 

 for their nquiremeiits. 



To encourage an exchange of rieivs and the disseminating of 

 reports of the doings and activities of the various local societies, 

 'whereby the experienee of one society may aid in the development 

 of the other societies. 



To bring about more uniform conditions to govern flower 

 shows, through the adoption of rules and regulations and an of- 

 ficial scale of points for judging flowers, fruits and vegetables by 

 the various horticultural societies, which could be applied to all 

 shcHvs conducted by clubs and societies participating in the co- 

 operative movement. 



To arouse the interest of estate owners and otlnvs interested 

 in gardening in, the activities of the local societies and the 

 national association. 



"The foregoing are a few suggestions of what the plan contem- 

 plates. The National Committee recommends that the local com- 

 mittees submit these suggestions as a subject for general discussion 

 at a meeting of their society, with a. view of bringing out some 

 thoughts which may aid the cause. It especially solicits sugges- 

 tions and ei}res.iions of sentiment respecting the proposed estab- 

 lishment of flower shfjws on a uniform basis by the adoption of 

 standard rules and regulations and a schedule of points fejr judging 

 to govern them. 



"It seeks advice on the establishing of an educational department 

 for the benefit of those ivho may want to avail themselves of study 

 courses, amd suggcHions on how the Service Bureau may be con- 

 ducted to provide opportunities for the many rather than the few. 

 It should be national in scope, yet local in operation, in that the 

 local societies shall hare a voice in the filling of pcsitions in their 

 communities. 



"The Natioual Committee asks that the local co-operative com- 

 mittees report to it any recommendations their soeieties may have 

 to offer: also any suggestions the local committees may deem will 

 further the movement." 



Through reports in the press, and through other indirect sources, 

 your committee has learned that this bulletin was received tvith 

 favor at meetings to which it was presented ; but your committee 

 has not been generally aided through the local co-operative commit- 

 tees w-ith criticisms or suggestions to present to the convention. 



Among the recommendations offered in ansioer to Bulletin No. 1 

 are: 



The printing in leaflet form of the aims and objects of the 

 N. A. G. for distribution among local societies, so that those who 

 are not yet members of the national association may acquire an 

 understanding of its purposes. 



That the local societi(S submit their present rules and rigula- 

 tions, together with their scale of points for judging at flower 

 shows, to the National Co-operative Committee from which the 

 said committee shall draw up a, standard set of rules and regu- 



lalioiis and ■icale of points, whiih shall he adopted bij all the 

 societies. 



Tliat the National Association of Gardeners, through working 

 in conjunction with State Agricultural Cejllcges, obtain from 

 tliem the scientific instructions necessary to supply to corre- 

 spondence classes, and a fee charged for the >nuintenance of the 

 classes lo members enrolling in them. 



That the co-operative movement be extended to the national 



and local garden clubs, a large number of whejse members are 



estate oivners, lo establish a closer fraternity between those 



< ngagcd in the profession of gardening and tliose interested in it. 



)'oi.r tommittec submits as its opinion that co-opi ration of a 



national scope between our organization and tlir local horticultural 



societies (an be successfully established, providing the --uppejvt it 



is entitled to will he fovthioniing from the local co-o/x rativc com- 



' mittecs. iihiili iiii,st manifest both interest and activity in the 



cause. In this connection we quote a famous economist on behalf 



of co-operation, "Let the work be parceled out irith the genius that 



you, ivho know the value of organization, of co-operation, in the 



management of your own affairs, have proved you possess. See 



that the ivisest and ablest men of your organization are placed in 



the executive positions. Make of yourselves such earnest and able 



lieutenants thai the detail of organization may be complete and 



effective. Iniderstand fully that this means self-sacrificing service; 



that it tieans evpenditure of time and that it means co-operative 



effort." 



ir. H. WAITE. 

 J. ir. EVEKITT. 

 JAMES STUART. 

 M. C. EBEL. 



(In iiiiitioii, (liilv sccoinli'd. tlie report was received and ordered 

 to be liled. 



Comimiiiicatioiis were read by Secretary Kbel. irivitiiis the 

 association to hold its next annual meeting in certain cities, and 

 also from local growing establishments and niuseiies about Pliila- 

 delpliia, extending hospitalities. 



On motion, duly seconded, the iuvitatious were received and 

 ordered to be acknowledged. 



THE PRKSIDENT announced as the next bu>ine>s tlie election 

 of otBcers for the ensuing year. 



W. R. Pierson, Wm. Sperling and J. Collins were appointed by 

 the Oiair as tellers in tlie election. 



Nominations were made, but one candidate being named for 

 each office. Pursuant to the instructions of the convention, the 

 Secretarv cast one ballot for each candidate named. The result 

 of the election was reported as follows: President, W. J. Everitt, 

 Glen Cove, N. Y, ; Vice-President. W. S. Kennie. San Francisco, 

 Cal. : Secretai-y, Martin C. Ebel, Madison, X. J. : Treasurer, Jas. 

 Stuart. Maniaroneck. X. Y. 



The convention proceeded to elect trustees for the ensuing year. 

 Xominations were made and a ballot taken, the following being 

 elected: Trustees — Wm. Kleiulieinz. Ogontz, Pa.: Peter Dnff, 

 Orange. X. .J.: Geo. W. Hess. AVashingion. D. C. ; AVni. Turner, 

 ilendham, X. J.; .John H. Dodds, Wyncote, Pa. 



Under the order of new business, John .Johnson, of Glen Cove, 

 X. Y., urged the propriety of providing for the appointment of 

 State Vice-Presidents. He said he thought that such officials 

 would help to enlarge the ranks of the membership and dissemi- 

 nate interest in the association, especially in the AVest. 



SECRETARY EBEL intimated that the efl'ect of this might 

 be to supersede tlie directors, and explained that tlie proposition 

 W'ould require an amendment to the by-laws. 



MR. .lOHXSON said he anticipated 'that the amiMidment Avould 

 be necessary, and that, if advisable, it could be made at the next 

 annual meeting. 



PRESLOEX'T AVAT'J'E remarked that he regarded the proposi- 

 tion as properly one for consideration by the Executive Board. 



MR. JOHXSOX gave notice that he will offer a resolution for 

 an amendment of the by-laws at tlie next meeting. 



PRESIDENT WAITE. liaving comjileted the regular order of 

 business, invited discussion upon general topics. He then called 

 on Mr. Therkildson. 



MR. W. V. THERKILDSON. Pliiladelphia. responded. He said 

 in part : 



"Mr. President and Gentlemen : I open by saying that you came 

 very near hearing from one who has done something in the horti- 

 cultural or agricultural world. In calling upon me the other day. 

 Mr. Ebel came to a sort of 'fill in' man. because another. Mr. W. 

 Atlee Burpee, could not be secured by reason of previous en- 

 gagements. AVlien I came down here Mr. Ebel assigned to me the 

 subject of 'The Progress of Horticulture in America'; but as I 

 looked around this audience and saw the faces of the representa- 

 tive men who are here it dawned upon me that Mr. Ebel had 

 not only perpetrated a joke, but iullicted a liardship upon me. I 

 asked him how long I would be expected to talk, and he said, 

 'Suit yourself about that; some speakers are liked the longer they 



