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£#" UR project for an Inter- 



national Congress of 

 Horticulture, to be 

 held in connection with the 

 World's Fair, appears to 

 meet with general favor. 

 There is every reason to be- 

 lieve that a larger and better exhibition of horti- 

 cultural products and devices than the world has 

 yet seen could be perfected at Chicago. And from 

 this exhibition there should spring a completer and 

 broader study of horticulture than has ever been 

 made. The horticultural interests of a World's 

 Fair are worthy of a broader conception and treat- 

 ment than our horticulturists have proposed for 

 them. We do not want a show, merely, neither a 

 mighty and fulsome conclave of societies and men. 

 But we need to make a broad study of plant varia- 

 tion, of the adaptabilities of plants to all condi- 

 tions of culture and climate, of species and varie- 

 ties, and of all other points in which the knowledge 

 of plants touches the welfare of man. It is only 

 with the opportunities which a great national and 

 international congress can provide that such reports 

 and monographs can be made. In other words, 

 there should be a great ulterior aim in the project ; 

 but this seems to be farther above the conception 

 of some advocates of an horticultural exposition 

 than are the clouds above the tree-tops. 



It is evident that the leadership of this great en- 

 terprise should fall to the Department of Agriculture, 

 for the department alone can furnish the inspiration 

 and the impetus ; and it could publish the results. 

 The department would need to call upon many 

 specialists, to be sure, but coordination and head- 

 ship must reside in it. The Chicago Florists' 

 Club has presented its president to the World's 

 Fair authorities for "commissioner of horticul- 

 ture," and the Nurserymen's Association has en- 

 dorsed the action. If it is intended that this "com- 

 missioner of horticulture " shall act as a local offi- 

 cer to manage the local business of the exhibition, 

 the movement may be a wise one ; but if it is ex- 

 pected that he shall assume the whole leadership 

 of the enterprise, it is fatal. The boldest compre- 

 hensiveness should characterize this endeavor — 

 must, indeed, if success is to come. 



All our national societies must unite in this en- 

 terprise if the best is done. The following letters 



from presidents of various organizations, made in 

 reply to our inquiries, are hopeful : 



Fioiii P. J. Berckiiiaiis, President Aincriean Poniologi- 

 cal Society, ' ' The proposition, as made in The American 

 Garden, to hold an ' International Horticultural Con- 

 gress ' in connection with the World's Fair at Chicago, 

 meets with my ideas of progress, and I for one, would be 

 happy to see such a scheme inaugurated. We may 

 fail to secure adequate attendance when there is a 

 ' bigger show' to draw from the material which should 

 rightly form that of a scientific assembly. We tried to 

 have a session of the American Pomological Society 

 during September of 1876 at the Centennial Exposition 

 at Philadelphia, but failed to secure sufficient members. 

 Now if we can arrange such a programme as will 

 secure a respectable attendance in point of numbers, 

 and overcome the only obstacle which, in my past ex- 

 perience, has always proved a stumbling block, then I 

 see no difficulty in the way of a hearty cooperation of 

 the American Pomological Society." 



Frivii Parker Earle, President Aiiuriean Horticultural 

 Society: "Your suggestion is timely. I have considered 

 the matter of holding a meeting of our society during 

 the World's Fair. I should be glad to make the meet- 

 ing what you suggest, an ' International Congress of 

 Horticulture.' Yes, the American Horticultural Society 

 will gladly cooperate with any and all other kindred 

 societies for such an assembly of the horticultural forces. 

 This society organized and conducted the first and only 

 large international horticultural exhibition ever held, in 

 New Orleans, in 1884-5 ■ ^ind it may do a similar work 

 here. In any case, a great meeting will be useful. " 



From George A. Szceet, President Ai/iericaii Association 

 of Xurserynien : " I heartily concur in the proposition to 

 hold an International Horticultural Congress in connec- 

 tion with the World's Fair, and will do all in my power 

 to have the American Association of Nurserymen par- 

 ticipate. " 



From J. M. Jordan, President Society of American 

 Florists: " Conventions are of great benefit to anyone, 

 and especially to the horticulturist ; and I would most 

 earnestly recommend the holding of an International 

 Congress. I should advise that the Society of American 

 Florists join in the congress. I am of the opinion that 

 the move should be inaugurated by the Department of 

 Agriculture ; then the reports could be transmitted and 

 circulated to the great masses of horticulturists. 



From //. ]V. Johnson, Presidoit .-imerican Seed Frade 

 Association: "So far as I am personally concerned, I 

 think it would be a splendid idea to have a Horticul- 

 tural International Congress in connection with the 

 World's Fair, and have no doubt the American Seed 

 Trade Association would be very favorable to the pro- 



