40S THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GARDENERS \ 
WILLIAM N. CRAIG, President, 
Brookline, Mass. 
M. C. EBEL, Secretary, j 
Madison, N. J. 
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS 
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EXECUTIVE MEETING. 
An executive meeting of the board of trustees and directors 
was held at the Murray Hill Hotel, New i'ork ( ity, on Thursday, 
September 7, with President William \. Craig, presiding. It 
was a well-attended meeting, with general enthusiasm manifested 
by those present over the brighi outlook for the future of the 
association. 
Several communications were received conveying regrets from 
members of the board who were prevented from attending owing 
to quarantine regulations or other causes beyond their control. 
A letter, received from Vice-President Theodore Wirth, Minne- 
apolis, advised that lie lias noticed a constantly increasing in- 
terest among the gardeners in the middle west and west towards 
the national organization, and that he is looking forward to a 
considerable increase in membership from that territory in the 
near future. Director Thomas W. Head, Lake Forest, 111., sub- 
mitted similar good news, and the recommendation of both mem- 
bers referred to was that the annual convention be held in some 
western city in the not distant future. 
The appointment of John Canning, Ardsley, NT. Y., was an- 
nounced to fill the unexpired term of .lames MacMachan, de- 
ceased, whose term expired January 1, 1919. Mr. Canning is 
well known in horticultural circles, especially in the east, where 
he has been quite active as an exhibitor, and in flower-show affairs 
generally. He is regarded as a valuable addition to the organi- 
zation's directorate. 
The plan of the National Co-operative Committee, to provide 
essays for the monthly meetings of local horticultural societies 
and gardeners clubs, which it has been carrying out during the 
past year, was approved by the board, and the committee was 
empowered to continue to supply these essays to some fifty-odd 
societies throughout the country that have applied for them, and 
also to any other societies that may desire to receive them. 
It was also decided to offer the association's silver medal for 
competition in the year L917 to horticultural societies or gardeners' 
clubs. The terms of competition are to be left to the local society 
accepting the medal as to whether it should be offered at one of 
its shows or for monthly competition at the meetings, the only 
restriction being that the competitor must be a member of the 
National Association of Gardeners. Societies desiring to accept 
the offer will so advise William Kleinlieinz, Chairman, Committee 
on Awards for Meritorious Exhibits, Ogontz, Pa. 
The action of the Board of Standards, of the Hoard of Estimate 
of the City of New York, recommending a higher scale of salaries 
for the gardeners employed in the New York City Park Depart- 
ment, was officially brought to the attention of the meeting. A 
resolution was adopted endorsing the Board of Estimate's action 
and calling on the Mayor and Park Commissioner of the City of 
New York for their support to secure the adoption of the measure. 
The recent discussion in the New York daily papers on the poor 
compensation gardeners receive from some of the public institu- 
tions was also brought to the attention of the meeting. While 
the existing conditions were discussed and severely condemned, 
as the matter was not officially before tin- meeting, however, no 
recommendations were made. 
After some discussion the next meeting place for the annual 
convention, which is to be held the first week in December, was 
unanimously decided to be Washington, D. C. It was also voted 
as the choice of the meeting to hold the 1917 convention in Chicago. 
Pittsburgh was favorably discussed as the 1918 meeting place. 
Following adjournment, some of the members coming from a 
distance accepted the invitation of John Canning, superintendent 
of the Adolph Lewisohn Estate, "Heatherdell," Ardsley, N. Y., to 
visit that place. The party later proceeded to "Greystone," Yonkers. 
N. Y., the estate of Samuel Unterniyer, where over a million 
dollars is being expended in improvement work, and where over 
four hundred men are reported to be at present employed in 
development work. 
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT. 
Fellow Members: 
I had the pleasure of addressing you in the January issue of 
the GARDENER'S CHRONICLE following my election to your presi- 
dency and now that summer is rapidly waning and climatic condi- 
tions are likely to be more comfortable. T hope your interest in the 
National Association of Gardeners will increase. I am well 
aware that during the hottest months of the year all work for 
the various organizations in which we are interested naturally 
ebbs, but let us now start earnest work once more for the 
advancement of our association and our profession. 
In January I asked for five hundred new members in 1910. 
We have added considerably over half that number to date and 
it will not take any very greai effort to secure the balance. We 
are getting a tine influx of new members from the west, thanks 
to the energetic work id' our respected vice-president, Mr. Theo- 
dore Wirth, and from one of our directors, Thomas Head, and 
from all quarters come words of encouragement. In the east 
we have a good membership but a great many gardeners are still 
outside our ranks. May 1 ask tor a little more personal work 
to secure these outsiders? Application blanks for membership 
will be gladly forwarded by our secretary or myself and it would 
give me genuine pleasure to be able to announce at our next 
convention in Washington, 1). C, that the five hundred new mem- 
bers asked for had been sinned. Surely the sum of s2.no per 
annum is not excessive for a membership in the association and 
including the Gardener's Chronicle OF America. 
I am well aware that captious critics may assert that the asso- 
ciation should do more tor its members. The officers and directors 
always welcome any suggestions and criticisms, and let me say 
to those who may criticize us that the work of the critic is ever 
a mighty easy one, that all connected with the management of 
I In' association pay all their own traveling expenses and render 
all services gratuitously, therefore the talk occasionally beard 
about "rings" and "cliques" managing this organization or some 
other to suit their own ends may be dismissed as the "chatter of 
irresponsible frivolity." 
To advance our organization we need the earnest help of every 
member, and it we are to advance, and I feel we are making some 
headway, it will be not by blustering labor union aggressiveness, 
but by careful conscientious efforts on the part of gardeners them- 
selves. The fact that applications to our Service Bureau are 
steadily growing goes to show that we have gained the confidence 
of many estate owners. It is utterly impossible to conduct such 
a bureau and please everyone, but we are doing our best, and hope 
that members benefited by us will not only make some small 
contribution to the Service Bureau fund, but will also aid us in 
the securing of additional members. 
I need hardly say that gardeners have their limitations. Time 
does not permit of the officers attending social and other gather- 
ing far removed from home, except on rare occasions. I would 
gladly attend meetings at a distance were it possible, and I want 
to say on behalf of our earnest and bard working secretary, Mr. 
Ebel, that the condition of his health for the past two years has 
been such that he could not attend any meetings except at very 
great personal discomfort, and 1 am sure that members will 
appreciate the work be has done and accept his will for his deed. 
The convention of 1916, to be held in Washington, D. C, will, 
we hope, be the largest and most successful yet held by our asso- 
ciation. I sincerely hope we may have a large gathering at the 
Capital city, and that members will, wherever possible, plan to 
attend the same. There will be interesting papers and some real 
live topics to discuss. Notify us early if you think you can 
attend, and don't fail to send us any suggestions you may have. 
With sincere thanks for the many members who have worked 
faithfully for the upbuilding of the association, and hoping that 
the coming fall will see a very material additional increase in 
our membership, believe me. Yours very faithfully. 
William N. Craig, President. 
ESSAY CONTEST. 
The closing date for the assistant gardeners essay contest is 
drawing near. Essays must be in by November 1. The prizes are 
offered by President Craig $25 as first prize, $15 as second prize 
and $ln as third prize, in gold — for the three best essays on any 
subject pertaining to any branch of horticulture. The essays are 
limited to twenty-five hundred words and must be signed with a 
noiii de plume, must bear no evidence of the author's identifica- 
tion, am! be mailed in a plain envelope, carefully addressed to the 
chairman of the committee, William II. Waite, P. 0. Box 290, 
Madison, \'. .1. 
The contestant will place bis name and full address, stating the 
position he holds, in a separate envelope, writing the noin de 
plume he signed to his essay on the outside of this envelope, and 
mail same in separate envelope to M. C. Ebel. Secretary, Na- 
