270 



HOETICULTURE 



August 24, 3912 



International Exhibition at London, 

 which took place toward the close of 

 last May, has undoubtedly gathered to- 

 gether many pointers which will be of 

 service to him in handling our own 

 American enterprise. Now that a per- 

 manent Flower Show Committee is in 

 operation, it should not be too much 

 to expect that before many years have 

 rolled around, this Society will be en- 

 abled to successfully hold a flower show 

 annually. J 



An S. A. F. and O. H. Annual. 

 I have elsewhere mentioned that the 

 publication of an annual by this So- 

 ciety would be of practical value to 

 our membership. This annual could 

 contain, in addition to the report of 

 the proceedings as now published an- 

 nually, much material of trade value 

 and interest. If all our national so- 

 cieties affiliated, the one publication 

 might embrace the proceedings of all 

 the societies. Additionally, could be 

 given all the facts and data of horti- 

 cultural progress from year to year, 

 with condensed reports of the various 

 exhibitions taking place during the 

 year, together with fixtures for the 

 year following. It should contain a 

 list of American novelties seeing the 

 light during the year and the varieties 

 certificated by the various societies. It 

 would necessarily have to be a progres- 

 sive book; that is to say, built on the 

 idea of a calendar, increasing in value 

 from year to year as the data became 

 available. The actual value of such 

 a book would depend, in a great meas- 

 ure, upon the one into whose hands it 

 would be entrusted for publication. 

 The cost of the work would, I believe, 

 be met in considerable part through 

 advertising patronage. 



Parcel Post and Postal Reforms. 

 Inasmuch as both our great political 

 parties now realize the fact that parcel 

 post must become an established in- 

 stitution of the U. S., the work which 

 now remains is for us to assist other 

 organized bodies in the endeavor to 

 bring about a genuine parcel post and 

 not a "make believe" — a parcel post 

 institution that will be of advantage to 

 the business men of the country as 

 well as to the masses, and not one that 

 win work into the hands of the or- 

 ganized express or other interests. The 

 subject is one which demands the clos- 

 est attention, and I will not attempt 

 lo go into details nor advocate the 

 passage of any particular measure now 

 before Congress or the Senate, as, of 

 the several bills now before one body 

 or the other, there are none which are 

 to be recommended in their entirety. 

 I would counsel all our members to 

 watch their daily and trade papers 

 most carefully, and to take such action 

 as may be recommended by these jour- 

 nals, assisted by their own good com- 

 mon sense. In this connection, it has 

 been proven, without doubt, that if you 

 write your congressmen and senators, 

 with conviction, a letter expressing 

 politely but forcibly the result of your 

 own thought in the matter, it will be 

 given attention. My recommendation 

 is that we pass a resolution on this 

 floor, calling tor the enactment of a 

 parcel post bill which will give us the 

 same low rates and privileges as to 

 parcel post as are now being enjoyed 

 by the people of nearly every European 

 country. We cannot attempt to make 

 rates, but we can protest against the 

 charges being made so high as to ren- 



der the institution of parcel post a 

 farce. 



The Horticultural Trade Press. 



To our trade press much is due for 

 the advancement of horticulture in the 

 20 years that have passed, and for the 

 unremitting efforts of the directors of 

 these publications to keep us in the 

 vanguard of events should our utmost 

 thanks be expressed. As conducted, 

 they keep us apprised of everything 

 that is going on in our line through- 

 out the entire country, often obtaining 

 their news at great expense. Added to 

 their educational side, they conduct 

 business for us at extremely small re- 

 turns to themselves; in fact, they act 

 as brokers, spending the money re- 

 ceived for advertising in eftofls to im- 

 prove their service to their subscribers. 

 We have no figures showing the 

 amount of money which changes hands 

 as a result of the advertising contained 

 in the columns of our trade papers, bul 

 it certainly must run up into several 

 millions of dollars a year. 



The great advantage which our trade 

 possesses over other lines of business 

 in its use of these papers lies in the 

 fact that it obtains direct returns from 

 its advertising as against the very indi- 

 rect and sometimes wholly unsatisfac- 

 tory returns obtained by the general 

 advertiser who may spend thousands 

 of dollars in a campaign of education 

 of the people, where it is only neces- 

 sary for us to spend our tens. 



The Convention Sports. 

 These result in decided pleasure to 

 a great portion of those who attend. 

 Were it not for the sports the proba- 

 bilities are that attendance at our meet- 

 ings would be considerably reduced in 

 number. It is also true that "All work 

 and no play makes Jack a dull boy." 

 To the sports and games there can be 

 and is no objection, but these events 

 should be arranged so as not to inter- 

 fere whatsoever with the business pro- 

 gram. For that reason, I would urge 

 that all sports take place on the fourth 

 day of the convention, our day of recre- 

 ation. All business having then been 

 transacted, everyone could enjoy the 

 games, whether it be a bowling match, 

 shooting, or the races, and so on, and I 

 believe each and every member would 

 appreciate the privilege of being able 

 to attend. As the sports program is 

 now conducted, many of us cannot be 

 present on account of other duties. 



Finale. 



I am proud to be your presiding of- 

 ficer this year. Let us come together 

 during this meeting to the material 

 benefit of ourselves and of all man- 

 kind, so that when we leave this 

 wonderful city we may return home 

 rejoicing in the knowledge gained, 

 the friendships renewed and the 

 new ones made, which will cement us 

 in stronger bonds to the ends of our 

 lives. 



Generosity of thought and action is 

 an attribute of the florist, because we 

 live close to Nature, and no body of 

 men and women anywhere stands more 

 ready to extend a helping hand to a 

 brother or sister in trouble. We are 

 becoming more broad minded as we 

 mingle with the world, more united for 

 progress and the general distribution 

 of our discoveries in order that our fel- 

 low tradesmen may be benefited. 



Let us strive to increase the love of 

 flowers universally not only for our 



own selfish or money making purpose, 

 but for the elevation of mankind. 

 Neither should we confine our efforts 

 to our own country, but let us make use 

 of them freely wherever we can extend 

 our cult from country to country the 

 world over, in the endeavor to bring 

 about that peace and good will which 

 will ultimately reign throughout the 

 world and bring us into one brother- 

 hood of communion and fellowship. I 

 thank you yet again for your attention 

 and your welcome. 



SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



Next came the report of Secretary 

 John Young, which was as follows: 



From January 1, 1912 to August 15, 

 1912. 



The books and other properties per- 

 taining to the secretary's office were 

 turned over by the outgoing secretary 

 early in January. The books were all 

 in good order and accompanied by an 

 inventory covering the property of the 

 Society that is in the possession of 

 the secretary. 



Membership. 



Since January 1st, 1912, to August 

 15th, 1912, there has been added to the 

 list of members the names of 135 

 annual members and 31 life members. 



New Members. 



Following the recommendations of 

 the Board of Directors, a circular let- 

 ter was sent to each name in the 

 florists' directory, setting forth the ad- 

 vantages of being a member of this 

 Society. With this letter was enclosed 

 a copy of the oflicial program of this 

 meeting and an invitation from the 

 Chicago Trades Committee to attend 

 this convention; also an application 

 blank, and very gratifying results are 

 being shown. 



Trade Exhibition. 



The trade exhibition held at the 

 time of the convention is growing in 

 importance each year. At Baltimore 

 the receipts of the Trade Exhibition 

 managed by Mack Richmond were 

 $3,808.05 and the expenditures $1,- 

 550.31, the net proceeds turned into 

 the permanent fund of the Society be- 

 ing $2,258.19. 



The present trade exhibition has 

 surpassed anything of the kind ever 

 attempted, and the net proceeds should 

 almost double those of the Baltimore 

 convention. It will be well for the 

 members to pause and think of the 

 varied interests and high quality of 

 the exhibits in the main hall. The 

 secretary finds that much of the print- 

 ed matter and material purchased for 

 use at this exhibition can be saved 

 and used again next year. Without 

 question many economies can be prac- 

 ticed for the next convention. 



Transportation. 

 Application for rates was made to 

 all the passenger associations, and re- 

 fused. They will pay no attention to 

 such requests unless an attendance of 

 1,000 is guaranteed. 



Plant Registration. 



The following plants have been reg- 

 istered since the last convention: 



472. Sept. 21. 1911— Begouin, "Feastll 

 liunchii," by Lloyd C. Bunth, Fiefionia, 

 Kansas. 



473. Oct. 7, 1911~Rose. "Oriole." b.v 

 J:ir-ksou v^- Perkins. Newark, N. Y. 



474. Ort. 7. inu— Rose, "GenevieTe 



