12 State Horticultural Society. 



DISCUSSION ON BLACK BEN DAVIS CONTROVERSY. 



Mr. Stark This resolution indicates recent developments, since the 

 report of the committee appointed to investigate the question of two vari- 

 eties called Black Ben Davis and Gano. I deny asking for such a com- 

 mittee, or that" I am satisfied with the personnel, or that I accept the re- 

 port. (Refers to letters.) 



We received a letter from Prof. Whitten stating that he had learned 

 many things, and would like to come to Louisiana, and we answered to 

 come, and bring Mr. Robnett with him. They owed it to themselves to 

 take the initiative. A statement was prepared and mailed to us, but was 

 not satisfactory. We went to Columbia, but could not accept it. We 

 sent another statement with a few additions, but President Whitten and 

 Mr. Robnett were unwilling to sign this. 



Mr. Robnett made a motion to postpone the discussion until two 

 o'clock. 



Mr. Todd offered an amendment to table the whole until the winter 

 meeting. This was amended to give Mr. Stark twenty minutes to finish 

 his statement. 



The amendment as amended was carried. 



Mr. Stark We would not accept the article unless as worded by us, 

 but would accept it as finally signed by part of the Executive Committee. 

 As far as the personnel of the committee for the investigation is con- 

 cerned, Mr. Goodman is at the bottom of the whole, and responsible for 

 it. We have heard that he said the apples were the same. We find 

 that Mr. Goodman introduced the question and asked for the investiga- 

 tion and made the statement that he had received hundreds of inquiries 

 as to the two. Mr. Robnett consulted Mr. Goodman on the committee. 

 Mr. Goodman -is the instigator, he never lost an opportunity to say the 

 apples were the same, never said a \vord in favor, never recommended a 

 customer to Stark Bros. He said Starks imposition should be settled 

 by the Society. In conclusion we want the members to know what led 

 to the controversy, and the expense. We mean to publish the whole 

 matter. 



NOTE This gives the secret of all the trouble, about the money matters as well . 



G. T. Tippin I am glad my reputation is worth as much before this 

 Society as though I were not a nurseryman. I am one of the men who 

 would not sign the statement Mr. Stark wanted, and my brother officers 

 are glad we refused to do so. In fact the officers withdrew their sig- 

 natures, and Stark Bros, had no right to the statement at all, as it was 

 not to be given to them unless signed by the entire Executive Com- 



