474 REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE ON GENETICS. 
“COPYRIGHT” FOR RAISERS OF NOVELTIES. 
Ar the fifth session of the Conference the question of “ copyright” 
for raisers of novelties was referred to, and, at the conclusion of the 
session, 
Mr. George Paul, V.M.H., rose and said: We ought not, I think, 
to separate without referring to a subject which is of vital importance 
to all raisers of plants, and that is the subject of protection being 
sought from the State for those who spend their time and money in raising 
novelties. Why are so many well-known growers absent from us to-day ? 
I notice that while Mr. Arthur Paul and Mr. Rivers, who are practical 
raisers, have been present, we cannot help missing such men as 
M. Lemoine of Nancy, M. Pernet-Ducher of Lyons, Mr. Dickson of 
Belfast, and others. ‘The fact is, these gentlemen do not like to tell us, 
or to show, what they have done in their experiments, because when once 
their knowledge becomes public, they have not the slightest chance of 
receiving any pecuniary reward for their labours. If they were properly 
protected from being deprived of the due reward of their labours, they 
would no doubt be much more willing to come forward and help us, 
and place their invaluable experience at our disposal. I have in 
my time raised a good many things, and some of you would be 
astonished to know the value of a fine new rose: £50 or £100 is 
the outside figure; and out of that has to be paid the cost of advertising 
and cataloguing, &c. That appears to me to be a ridiculously small 
return for all the risk and labour, added to the observation and experience 
which have taken the best years of one’s life to amass. I think we should 
pass some resolution. 
Professor Hansen: I believe, in law, a seedling is regarded as the 
gift of God, and it would be hard to patent that; but could we not 
hope to have some law fashioned which would give a bonus to the man 
who does such skilled and valuable work as that which has come before 
us over and over again during the sessions of this Conference ? 
The Chairman: I think it would be unwise to pass a resolution as 
suggested, unless we could give some indication of the way in which 
legislation could be brought about, and, if enacted, could be enforced. I 
imagine that everyone sympathises with such a change in the law, but 
surely our discussions to-day show what a very great difficulty there 
would be in enforcing such law, because we have gentlemen from all 
parts of the world maintaining that a thing is new, and others, equally 
capable, maintaining that it is old. é 
Mr. Geo. Paul: Take the case of roses. Some one sells me a rose 
for 7s. 6d. From three plants purchased at Christmas time I would 
guarantee to raise by next June from 200 to 500 of that variety, by 
certain methods of propagation. In order to get anything, the raiser 
must sell to his fellow-nurserymen. They promptly propagate, and, by 
