28 



The Florists^ Review 



March 22, 1917. 



PRESIDENT PENNOCK'S ADDRESS. 



[The review of the year's work with wlilch 

 the annual meeting of the American Rose 

 Society was opened at Philadelpliia March 21. 

 1917.] 



A year ago we were holding our an- 

 nual show and meeting as a part of the 

 National Flower Show. The American 

 Eose Society contributed largely in mak- 

 nig this show such a wonderful success, 

 as it was through the combined efforts 

 of our officers and members that there 

 was staged one of the greatest exhibi- 

 tions of roses ever held in this country. 

 Unfortunately, however, the Rose Soci- 

 ety was not directly benefited financially 

 by these efforts. 



In view of what the Rose Society had 

 accomplished, it was decided, after care- 

 ful consideration, to hold in Philadel- 

 phia, March, 1917, a show of our ow:^, 

 composed entirely of roses, not only to 

 further our interests, but also as an 



success. It has never been my pleasure 



to be associated with any group of 



men who threw their hearts and souls 



into an undertaking with more vim and 



energy than you have. 



May this show be the inspiration and 



forerunner of many successful shows in 



the future. 



*'* 

 A June Festival Proposed. 



This is primarily a show that appeals 

 more to the commercial man than to the 

 amateur, yet there are many points that 

 interest and deal directly with the ama- 

 teur — the rose gardens, the cut roses, 

 grown commercially, I know, but many 

 of them splendid garden roses, as well 

 as many other, to them, interesting fea- 

 tures. The society having demonstrated 

 that an annual spring show of its own 

 can be held on a large scale, the question 

 arises in my mind why it would not be 



Prof. Edward A. White. " 



(Secrotary-Klcct of the American Kose Society.) 



educational feature and an uplift to the 

 society, in placing it in the prominent 

 position it so richly deserves among the 

 important societies of our country. 



Everyone visiting our present show 

 at the First Regiment armory cannot 

 help but realize how well and how faith- 

 fully those in charge have worked to 

 bring about the splendid results in mak- 

 ing this exhibition the wonderful suc- 

 cess it is, a show we can all well be 

 proud of — a band of men who worked 

 and pulled together with but one object 

 in view, success; and I want to take the 

 opportunity, as your president, for the 

 society to thank not only the officers 

 and chairmen, but every member who so 

 faithfully worked to make this show a 



possible to hold in June a national out- 

 door rose festival annually, conducting 

 it on a large scale, bringing exhibits 

 from all leading amateur rosarians with- 

 in a radius of overnight trips or less, 

 thus gathering together amateurs and 

 their roses from all over the country, 

 an event that would be looked forward 

 to and sought for by groups of rose 

 lovers, in every city, whether small or 

 large. 



We have with us amateur members 

 who are enthusiastic, willing and well 

 able to undertake the carrying on of an 

 annual festival of this character. I 

 should be glad indeed to have a discus- 

 sion on this subject at this meeting and 

 some definite steps taken toward estab- 



lishing such an annual affair. I am sure 

 we have many amateurs, some right here 

 in Philadelphia, who would be willing 

 to throw their efforts into a movement 

 of this nature. This, with our spring 

 show, should increase our membership 

 as nothing else will or could, so I hope 

 everyone, particularly you commercial 

 men, will give this your earnest support, 

 making for the advancement of the rose, 

 both from a garden and a commercial 

 standpoint. "A rose for every home; 

 a bush for every garden." 



The Membership. 



The membership of the society has 

 materially increased in both the active 

 and associate classes. In addition to a 

 healthy growth in the active member- 

 ship, there has resulted an increase in 

 associate membership to at least twenty 

 times the number recorded one year ago, 

 and this increase is continuing, I am 

 glad to say. Last fall the society made a 

 proposition to several rose catalogue 

 men, some taking advantage of it, some 

 turning it down. The firms who went 

 into this partnership arrangement I am 

 sure are well paid for the effort. I know 

 the society feels the proposition has 

 been a splendid help and is more than 

 grateful to these firms for their hearty 

 cooperation. To those who are not 

 familiar with this agreement a word of 

 explanation is in order. The dues were 

 payable to the firm soliciting the mem- 

 bership, they retaining half the amount. 

 This as a business proposition, on the 

 surface, looks like poor business, but 

 from the viewpoint of future member- 

 ship I believe it one of the best moves 

 ever made by the society — a member 

 once, a member always. 



While on this membership business, 

 I should like to recommend a readjusting 

 of the membership dues, not only the 

 active but the associate and affiliated 

 as well. 



Instead of having two classes as we 

 now have, active and associate member- 

 ships, I would suggest we merge them 

 and have only the active membership. 

 This would give the associate member, 

 who at present is not eligible to vote or 

 take part in any proceedings, all the 

 rights of membership. Also, instead of 

 active members paying $3 annually and 

 associates $1, that the dues for all be $2. 



Our affiliated members at present are 

 paying 25 cents. This I think, with all 

 we are doing at present and all we are 

 planning for the future for these mem- 

 bers, should be $1, they receiving the 

 Annual and any other literature which 

 may be issued; also, admissions to any 

 shows; the Annuals to be shipped in 

 bulk to the affiliated society and not dis- 

 tributed individually by the Rose So- 

 ciety. 



I hope these recommendations on mem- 

 bership dues will meet with your ap- 

 proval and that same will be brought up 

 for discussion at this meeting. 



The Annual. 



The favorable reception accorded to 

 the 1916 Rose Annual is the best com- 

 ment on the success of this attempt. The 

 editor of the Annual, J. Horace McFar- 

 land, found ready and cheerful coopera- 

 tion among the members of the society 

 who could afford proper help. It is be- 

 lieved that the articles presented in the 

 1916 Annual on possibilities in rose 

 breeding, on the rose species available 

 from China and elsewhere, on America's 



