THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 287 
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! NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GARDENERS ! 
| WILLIAM N. CRAIG, President, 
Brookline, Mass. 
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS 
M. C. EBEL, Secretary, 
Madison, N. J. 
AN APPEAL FOR BOOSTERS. 
I Addressed to Secretary.) 
"Just a line to say I am settled here for the present. It is not 
what I had expected after all the twenty-four years of pleasure 
and hardship obtained in America. I thought our National Asso- 
ciation of Gardeners were of more use than it is and as far as I 
can judge one has to be in the 'Swim' to get any advantage out of 
it. When you see men getting good positions with only a few 
years experience in some greenhouse where a few plants or Bowers 
are grown for the shows and men well able to fill positions going 
around practically begging for a position. I think it about time 
we wake up and see if this state of affairs can't be changed." 
The foregoing is a specimen of criticisms that reach the secre- 
tary's office from time to time, invariably from members who never 
respond to the call of a meeting where opportunity is offered to 
any and every member to bring to light any shortcoming of the 
association (real or fancied I, and submit suggestions for its 
elimination. 
The fact of the matter is that the great drawback to our associa- 
tion today is, and always has been, that but few members par- 
ticipate in its active affairs and. although the organization's affairs 
are as much the concern of one member as they are of another, 
the work is left to fall on the shoulders of a few. 
The trustees, directors and officers, comprising the Executive 
Board, give up their time to the association's work whenever called 
on without compensation, bearing their own traveling expenses to 
attend the executive meetings, for unlike other organizations of its 
kind, there is no provision to reimburse the expenses incurred by 
executive members. 
While it may be possible for a few to promulgate plans and cam- 
paigns for furthering the interests and usefulness of the associa- 
tion, it is impossible to successfully put them in effect unless the co- 
operation of the members at large is forthcoming. With such co- 
operation much could be accomplished to increase the organiza- 
tion's influence and usefulness in the horticultural field ami thereby 
benefit its members. 
The contention that men with but a few years experience are 
securing good positions over the heads of men more experienced 
and more qualified to fill such positions, is not a fault of the as- 
sociation, although it is a condition which should be more under 
its control and undoubtedly it will be as the association becomes 
better known and more of a factor in the field of ornamental horti- 
enlture in this country, brought about through an aroused interest on 
the part of its members to let its mission be known to estate owners 
and others requiring the services of gardeners. Then, and not un- 
til then, will it become possible to properly conduct the Service 
Bureau and have it recognized as the one reliable source to turn to 
to secure the superintendents, gardeners or assistants, best qualified 
to assume the duties that a position may call for. 
Under existing circumstances positions are filled through various 
channels and this is detrimental to the profession and trade alike 
and discouraging in many, many instances to those who employ 
gardeners. For as it becomes noised through the trade that a 
vacancy exists, there is a general scramble, and keen competition, 
among gardeners of all standing (good and bad} to secure the po- 
sition, in which those least fitted offer their services for a re- 
muneration entirely out of accord with what the compensation 
should be and what is demanded by the more efficient gardeners. 
The result is that with the question of compensation the first con- 
sideration ami credentials secondary, if the inefficiency of the 
gardener produces disappointment to the employer, he is inclined 
to judge the profession as a whole by his experience, though he 
is to blame in making his selection as he does. 
This is but one evil within the profession that should be com- 
bated in the interest of better gardening and if the co-operation 
of all who have the interest of their profession at heart could be 
secured the association could do much in a short time to bring 
about marked improvement in this direction. 
United effort in a constructive way can be developed into a power- 
ful force, and our members are in a splendid position, where if they 
will but join hands and pull together, individually and through 
their local societies, co-operating with their national association. 
they can advance their profession and so elevate it to materially 
benefit themselves— one and all. It is all up to them, however. — 
no one else can ever undertake it for them. 
Secretary. 
EXCURSION TO BAR HARBOR, ME., FOR ANNUAL EXHIBI- 
TION AND CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN 
SWEET PEA SOCIETY. 
The Gardeners' and Florists' Club of Boston has arranged for 
an excursion to Bar Harbor, Me., on the occasion of the exhibition 
and convention of the American Sweet Pea Society on July 15 
and Hi. Excursionists will leave Howe's Wharf, Boston (a' few 
minutes walk from South Terminal Station, or can be reached 
either by surface cars or elevated trains), on Friday evening, July 
14, at six o'clock. Going on the steamers of the Eastern S. S. 
Corporation, reaching Bar Harbor at 10 a. m. on July 15. fare in 
each direction $5.25, inside staterooms $1.50, outside rooms $2. 
Meals at reasonable cost obtainable on steamers. 
A large number of reservations have been made for this trip 
and the Gardeners' and Florists' Club of Boston extends a cordial 
invitation to all who are planning to visit Bar Harbor to join 
their party. This all water route is a most delightful one, the 
scenery is unexcelled on the Atlantic Seaboard and for those who 
have not yet visited Mount Hesert Island, on which Bar Harbor is 
locate. 1. this is a splendid opportunity which should not be over- 
looked. The glorious scenery and the many beautiful gardens to 
be found here will prove a revelation to many, and all who are 
able to make the trip will find it to be a most delightful one. 
Arrangements have been made for accommodations at Bar Harbor 
hotels at very moderate rates. Members of the National Associa- 
tion of Gardeners and others pi, inning to visit Bar Harbor will be 
shown every possibly courtesy and if they will notify the under- 
signed any further information needed will be sent, or reservations 
made. 
WILLIAM N. CRAIG, Secretary, 
Gardeners' and Florists' Club of Boston, 
Faulkner Farm, Brookline, Mass. 
AMONG THE GARDENERS 
Harry F. Smith, formerly superintendent gardener to Perciva] 
Roberts, Penshurst, Xarberth, Pa., died at Budock, Falmouth, 
England, on May 14 after a long illness. The deceased came to 
America in 1900, working first at Langwater, North Easton, Mass., 
later going to Penshurst as greenhouses and rock garden foreman, 
being appointed superintendent in 191?. His health broke down 
and he was obliged to return to England about fifteen months 
ago. He was a young man esteemed by all who knew him and 
his early death will lie read with regret by many. He was a 
member of the North Easton Council Royal Arcanum and leaves 
a widow and one child to mourn bis loss. 
One of the most beautiful estates near Boston is that of Augus- 
tus Hemeiiwav. at Readville, in the Blue Hills. The estate covers 
over seven hundred acres and lavs immediately below big Blue 
Hill, the highest point of land on the Atlantic Seaboard between 
Maine ami Florida. No attempt at formal gardening is to be 
found here, but there are beautiful sweeps of verdant lawn, grand 
stretches of pasture land dotted with Hampshire Down sheep and 
cattle, and woodlands through which run miles of romantic drives 
and in which are to be seen numerous grand specimens of oaks, 
pines, chestnuts, ash and other native trees, while Hawthornes, 
Cornus florida, Kalmias and other flowering trees and shrubs are 
to be seen on every band. Many bulbs are naturalized in the 
woodlands while the native geraniums, cypripediums erigerons 
and other wild flowers grow in profusion. William R. Thornhill 
has been superintendent here over thirteen years and lias prac- 
tically made the estate. 
DO NOT FORGET THE FIELD DAY 
At Cromwell Gardens, Cromwell, Conn. 
Wednesday, June 21, 1916 
