70 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



of years to come. Certain stocks for which dependence has been 

 placed on the European growers in the past are naturally uncertain 

 quantities to-day. It will be difficult to maintain standards. In 

 some cases the energies of the men who grew the seeds have been 

 diverted into the destruction of war. This is equally true of both 

 France and Germany. Some of the finer strains of certain lines 

 may be lost for all time. 



On the other hand, the American grower has spread out consider- 

 ably and it has been suggested that an infant industry that is show- 

 ing great vitality might be carefully nursed to large proportions; 

 and that the work of seed growing opens up a productive and suit- 

 able field for reeducated American soldiers, who have been so un- 

 fortunate as to have suffered such injuries as prevent their engage- 

 ment in heavy labor. Seed growing seems to offer congenial 

 occupation for the physically weak but mentally alert man. 



Supply and demand are interrelated. The nurseryman and 

 florist see their outlook somewhat darkly to-day as they come to 

 realize that recent government regulation is affecting them. I 

 refer to the condition brought about by the action of the Federal 

 Horticultural Board in restricting imports of foreign stock, which 

 ruling becomes effective on the first of June. 



Of couise, there is a division of opinion on this ; but, if the ruling 

 stands as issued the reaction in our gardens, especially on our 

 private estates and the better kept gardens, will be startling and 

 although not directly connected with after war reaction, still its 

 effects will be synchronous, and may properly be considered to-day. 



If, and as I honestly believe, it is the universal belief that we are 

 on the verge of a greatly increased demand for all kinds of horti- 

 cultm-al products, then the proposed embargo has a close relation- 

 ship to our present discussions. 



Effective June 1st, 1919, the order practically prohibits all foreign 

 imports and this affects seriously the supplies of a great many of 

 the most popular and commonly cultivated garden plants. There 

 will be no Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Spiraeas, Araucarias, Dracae- 

 nas. Boxwood with its "fragrance of eternity" will no more be 

 available for edgings and so forth. 



The Orchid collector will see his gems gradually diminishing 

 with no chance of replenishment. The gardens and nurseries of 



