AUtiuST 19, 1909. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



37 



should induce us to systematically en- 

 courage the organizing of amateur socie- 

 ties, meeting in annual convention on the 

 delegate plan, under the encouragement 

 of the S. A. F., until such time as the 

 amateurs preferred to release the helping 

 hand and walk alone. Our secretary 

 ought to have the time and the means 

 it his disposal so that he could help ac- 

 tively in promoting and organizing such 

 societies. The National Council of Hor- 

 •iculture, which is partly maintained from 

 :he treasury of this society, does great 

 .40od through the publication of articles 

 of a horticultural character intended to 

 •neet the needs of amateurs. This same 

 organization could do much to stimulate 

 t he growth of such an association of ama- 

 ;eur flower growers. 



It would be impossible to calculate the 

 increased demand for our products as 

 the result of such an organization, if it 

 could be made to catch the popular fancy. 

 The greatest good resulting from such a 

 movement, however, would be the adorn- 

 ing of places now barren and the stimu- 

 lating of the love for nature's beauties 

 among the people of this great land of 

 ours. 



Countless small societies and clubs are 

 but waiting the heat of enthusiasm to 

 fuse them into a mighty force which shall 

 remove the ugly scars from our land- 

 scape and convert thousands of dreary 

 towns into the abiding places of beauty. 

 Shall we be faint-hearted and say this is 

 too much to accomplislr, or shall we say 

 that the fulfillment of this noble purpose 

 is both our duty and our rightful pre- 

 rogative ? 



I recommend the appointment of a 

 committee with authority to take up this 

 work in a preliminary way and report 

 progress at our next convention. 



The business affairs of a society like 

 ours are varied in character, and the 

 proper handling of them calls for en- 

 ergy, experience and good judgment. The 

 man upon whom the chief responsibility 

 rests in these matters is the secretary 

 of the society. In the past you have 

 been exceedingly fortunate in the men 

 who have been selected for this import- 

 ant work and I, therefore, feel perfectly 

 free to express my opinion, since none 

 can consider it as personal criticism. 



Method of Chosmg the Secretary. 



I am firmly of the opinion that the 

 convention of this society should not 

 elect its secretary, but should leave that 

 important duty to be undertaken by the 

 board of directors, who will closely scru- 

 tinize the qualifications of such men as 

 seem available and will select the man 

 they think best suited for the position. 

 In the privacy of the board room such 

 matters can be fully discussed, whereas 

 such a discussion on the floor of the 

 convention would be unwise. Large busi- 

 ness concerns do not allow their stock- 

 liolders to elect the active head of the 

 ^:oncern, but that important matter is 

 settled in directors' meeting. 



Under our present arrangement each 

 < onvention brings the peril that some 

 I>opular but incompetent man will be 

 boosted into this oflSce on a temporary 

 wave of enthusiasm. Any man who has 

 lield the office of president of this so- 

 <iety will gladly testify how much he has 

 been compelled to turn to the secretary 

 for guidance and how completely the 

 Welfare of the society is in his keeping. 



What I have said concerning the elec- 

 tion of secretary applies also, but with 

 less force, to the election of a treasurer. 

 In my judgment the business conduct 



of the society should be under the con- 

 trol of the board of directors. I, there- 

 fore, recommend such a change in our by- 

 laws as will provide for the convention 

 electing two directors each year for a 

 term of three years, instead of their ap- 

 pointment by the president as at present, 

 and for the election of the secretary and 

 treasurer by the board of directors, sub- 

 ject to' removal at their discretion. 



The Secretary's Entire Time. 



If our society is to expand its field of 

 usefulness or properly cultivate the field 

 it now occupies, it must be able to se- 

 cure the entire time of a capable man as 

 secretary. The year would be all too 

 short in which to do the many helpful 

 things such a man would find to do in 

 visiting and encouraging local clubs, both 

 professional and amateur. In addressing 

 meetings in villages where it was desired 

 to awaken an interest in horticulture, 

 our present secretary has been able to 

 do some good for the cause, but under 

 our present plan the time devoted to such 

 things must be taken at the expense of 

 private interests. 



It is the conscientious conception of the 

 work that a secretary ought to do which 

 has forced our present efficient officer to 

 decide that he must not continue in the 

 work, in justice to his own interests and 

 the interests of his business associates. 



The undertaking of ambitious projects 

 with hope of success necessitates expen- 

 ditures. This society ought to be in a 

 position to spend money for the things 

 which would ultimately profit its mem- 

 bers and promote the objects for which 

 it is conducted. At present our income 

 is too limited to permit of anything but 

 the most necessary expenditures. 



It is lamentable that a society of a 

 thousand florists banded together cannot 

 collectively spend money for desirable 

 ends when it has hundreds of men within 

 its ranks who would not hesitate to in- 

 dividually incur the expense in their own 

 interest. Whether some means cannot 

 successfully be devised f«r largely in- 

 creasing the funds at the disposal of the 

 society is a subject which should have 

 the careful attention of an energetic and 

 able committee. 



The most important incident since our 

 last convention was the national flower 

 show, held under the auspices of this and 

 kindred societies in Chicago last Novem- 

 ber. What was accomplished will be re- 

 ported to you at this meeting by the 

 chairman of the executive committee. 



Another committee has been appointed 

 to take up the matter of a similar show 

 in some eastern city and will also report 

 to you at this meeting. 



It is encouraging to know that the Chi- 

 cago show was held with profit to the 

 guarantors and to this society, for that 

 tact alone makes the success of future 

 shows more probable. 



A Suggestion as to Imports. 



Many articles, notably azaleas, bulbs 

 and palms, are imported into this coun- 

 try in immense numbers and the impres- 

 sion is general that a large part of these 

 importations might be profitably grown 

 in the United States. In order to judge 

 as to the merit of such an enterprise, the 

 fullest and most detailed knowledge of 

 foreign methods is desirable. It seems 

 likely that if this society made applica- 

 tion to the Secretary of Agriculture, that 

 official would order an investigation and 

 would secure and furnish to us all the 



Gustave Adrian. 

 (Chairman of the Cincinnati Club's Committee on S. A. F. Transportation.) 



