26 



The Florists' RevicAv 



ACGUST 19, 1915. 



work which the S. A. F. has uudertaken 

 that calls for eoopefatidn with all other 

 interests as much as the work of the 

 flower show committee; cooperation 

 with the rose, carnation, sweet pea and 

 gladiolus societies, the private gardener 

 and all other kindred organizations. 

 What can be accomplished through co- 

 op B N iti on ill other fields can likewise 

 be accomplished here. All that is re- 

 quired is to emphasize the benefits that 

 are to be derived and the determina- 

 tioa to secure them. 



We have always been successful in 

 securing the aid and support of the 

 horticultural interests in the city 

 whei^ the national flower show has 

 taken place, and that we must always 

 continue to have, for without it we can- 

 not have a full measure of success. 



There is no better agency for horti- 



The training tends to improve home 

 surroundings. A little instruction; in 

 this line helps to form habits of thrift 

 and economy. Every member should 

 assist in this work, with a hope that it 

 may create au interest in your town or 

 city and be of inestimable value to the 

 future welfare of commercial floricul- 

 ture. 



The Convention Gardens. 



Our convention gardens of Minneapo- 

 lis and Boston have undoubtedly met 

 with the approval of the great majority 

 of our members and the profession in 

 general. Their value from an educa- 

 tional and commercial point of view is 

 recognized by all and the question be- 

 fore us now is: How can we best con- 

 tinue this important work, in what way 

 and manner can we improve and ad- 



Aogelo J. Rossi. 



(ChBiniiiin of the ProRrani and Outlnsr Committees for thp S. A. F. Convention.) 



cultural advancement than the one 

 which has for its end a national flower 

 show once in two years. 



School Gardens. 



I am much impressed with the Avork 

 accomplished in the past by the perma- 

 nent committee on school gardens un- 

 der the leadership of its able and effi- 

 cient chairman, Benjamin Hammond. 



This work is of much practical bene- 

 fit and interest to the boys and girls 

 of this nation, bringing health and 

 strength to growing children. Its in- 

 stallation in school districts throughout 

 the country would bring thrift to many 

 a rising family. The school garden 

 affords much pleasure and broadens 

 mentality. 



vance its scope, and how can we secure 

 for those gardens permanent existence 

 in the cities where we establish themf 



In the way of advancement it should 

 be made possible to improve upon the 

 plan of the Boston garden. I should 

 like to see those gardens designed and 

 executed in such a way that they will 

 represent good garden landscape ef- 

 fects, as well as good plant cultivation. 



It is necessary that all proper plant- 

 ing material and appurtenances known 

 to good garden architecture be em- 

 ployed in the creation of those gardens, 

 where each individual plant or group 

 of plants would be given its proper 

 jdace in the garden as a whole. 



This, I realize, cannot be done in one 

 short season, but would require not less 



than two years of planning and execu- 

 tion; ~ ^ — ~ 



To make this possible, it would be 

 necessary to select the convention city 

 two years ahead of the meeting instead 

 of one, and I want to advance the 

 question at. this time, why could not 

 this be donef 



If the convention garden work can 

 •be enlarged upon along the lines of 

 this suggestion, I believe that the sec- 

 retary and the local authorities of the 

 convention cities having the execution 

 of the plans in charge should have the 

 assistance of a permanent committee 

 of the S. A. F. consisting of three mem- 

 bers well versed and experienced in this 

 work. They would be appointed by the 

 president, one for three years, one for 

 two years and one for one year. Each 

 president thereafter would make an 

 appointment annually. 



In this connection I, recommend that 

 after the appointment of this commit- 

 tee the first question they should con- 

 sider would be an amendment to the 

 constitution providing for the choice 

 of the annual convention city two years 

 in advance. Their recommendation 

 should be submitted to the executive 

 board for consideration before being 

 acted upon by the national convention. 



Legislation. 



The pioneers in commercial floricul- 

 ture took conditions as they found 

 them, surmounted difficulties and con- 

 quered many obstacles. They did it in 

 their own way, without any great 

 assistance from legislation, but that 

 method can no longer go on. We must 

 see to it that no hostile laws are put 

 upon the statute books. Legislation 

 emanating from Congress or from any 

 of our state legislatures may be help- 

 ful or may result in great injury unless 

 prevented by the active work of our 

 legislative committee. 



The requirements of this committee- 

 call for a reasonable annual appropria- 

 tion to be used when needed to en- 

 courage favorable and prevent hostile 

 legislation. I would strongly recom- 

 mend that the chairman be given power 

 to secure counsel in Washington or in 

 any of our states, to appear before 

 national or local legislative committees 

 and make known our needs whenever 

 in his judgment this may be necessary. 



I would also recommend that our 

 representative in Washington should 

 in the future be given the same priv- 

 ilege that is accorded all other execu- 

 tive members, namely, the right to vote 

 on all questions that may be brought 

 up for adjustment before the board of 

 directors at the annual meeting. At 

 present he is required to attend all 

 meetings of this board, but is denied 

 the right to vote, which is depriving 

 the society of the benefits that would 

 accrue from the exercise of this priv- 

 ilege by a member whose judgment and 

 experience are of great value to the 

 society. 



Election of Directors. 



The constitution and by-laws under 

 which we now work are practically as 

 adopted at a meeting of the incorpora- 

 tors of the society in Washington in 

 1902, immediately after our charter had 

 been signed by the late President Mc- 

 Kinley. I am satisfied from observa- 

 tion and experience in its workings 

 that the election of two members of 

 the board of directors annually, in 

 place of their appointment by the presi- 



