ORGANIZATION ENTERPRISES. 



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Congress on Horticulture. — This was a part of the 

 general plan of international conventions promulgated by the 

 World's Congress Auxiliary, convened in Chicago on the 16th 

 of August, and continued two days. The Congress was designed 

 to represent the entire field of American horticulture, and it 

 was held under the patronage of the four great national socie- 

 ties — The American Pomological Society, Society of American 

 Florists, American Seed-Trade Association, and American Asso- 

 ciation of Nurserymen. The immediate charge of the Congress 

 fell to a local committee, of which J. C. Vaughan was chair- 

 man. A general session was held upon the morning of the 

 16th, and thereafter the business of the Congress came before 

 four separate sections representing the respective societies. 

 The general convention attracted an audience of one hundred 

 and fifty persons, mostly of men distinguished in various horti- 

 cultural professions. The gathering was fairly representative 

 of the main branches of horticulture in America — except vege- 

 table gardening — and, to some extent, of the world. It was 

 the first national occasion, in America, which designed to call 

 together the various horticultural trades and professions, and 

 the fact that this representation was secured is perhaps the best 

 outcome, for America, at least, of the Congress. It has long 

 been the desire of a few prominent horticulturists that all the 

 national horticultural societies of the country should unite in a 

 confederation similar to the aggregation of scientific organiza- 

 tions known as the American Association for the Advancement 

 of Science. Such a permanent union or academy of horticulture 

 would add greatly to the strength of every society participating 

 in it, while it would in no way interfere with the autonomy of 

 each ; and a yearly gathering of all the horticultural interests 

 of the continent would originate a force which all legislators 

 would be compelled to heed, and would greatly popularize hor- 

 ticultural affairs throughout the land. 



Fortunately, there arose a definite movement to bring 

 about this confederation of the national societies. The Amer- 

 ican Pomological Society, at its social reunion on the occasion 

 of the Congress, voted to hold its next regular meeting in San 

 Francisco during the winter of 1894-5, and to invite all national 

 horticultural societies to join it in a great excursion to the 

 Pacific Coast. There is, unfortunately, some opposition to a 

 compact, especially from the older societies, but the advantages 

 of a union are so great that any sentimental or incidental objec- 

 tions must finally subside. There are now ten American horti- 

 cultural societies, most of them meeting at different times and 

 in different places. Many persons are interested in two or 

 more of these organizations, but cannot afford the time or ex- 

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