THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
519 
What's the matter with dear old New England and the Associa- 
tion? We have thirty-six members in the states of Massachu- 
setts, Connecticut and Rhode Island and only two of them were 
present at our New Orleans convention, Kernan of Lowell and 
Green of Providence. In Boston, the birthplace of our Association, 
we have ten members and at Hartford, the home of the "Father 
of the Association," Geo. A. Parker, we have six members and yet 
not a soul from either of these cities has attended the last two 
conventions. 
It is indeed unfortunate that this section of the country, which 
is the home of so many of the "old guard" of the Association, 
should be so poorly represented, numerically, at our annual 
sessions. 
The new certificates of membership have been issued and are 
being sent to members whose dues for the current year are paid. 
They are very attractive and no doubt will adorn the wall of the 
office of each member who has one, giving prestige both to the 
member and the Association. 
Park Commissioner A. Goodman of Memphis writes that a 
handsome souvenir of the great cotton terminals, visited by our 
convention party in October, will be sent to each member of the 
party in the near future. 
J. L. Phillips has succeeded A. A. Bieschjold as superintendent 
at Chisholm, Minn. Mr. Bieschjold is one of our members and is 
on the lookout for another assignment. His retirement was 
purely for political reasons. 
0. D. Arp, who early in the year resigned as superintendent 
at Sioux City, la., to go into the nursery business at Mobile, 
Ala., is back on the job again at Sioux City, having decided that 
the South was no place for him. 
J. M. Paige, superintendent at Pomona, sends in his regrets at 
inability to attend the New Orleans convention and promises 
to be on hand at St. Louis. Mr. Paige reports that his little 
city will spend $20,000 on its six parks this year and is de- 
veloping a unique feature in the way of a Greek Theatre, con- 
structed on the site of an old gravel pit. 
Hon. Cabot Ward, president of the New York Park Commis- 
sion, sends his greetings to the Association and states that they 
were glad to be able to send Messrs. Miller and Walsh to the 
convention as their representatives. 
Louis Kettig, superintendent at Louisville, is in the midst of 
a fight to retain his position, the local commission being dis- 
posed to employ a new Supervisor of Recreation at an advanced 
salary. Local civic bodies have come to the support of Mr. Ket- 
tig, however, and no change has been made as yet. 
As many members who did not attend the New Orleans con- 
vention are curious about the Ancient and Effervescent Order of 
Yellow Dogs, it may be said that Illustrious Cur L. M. De Saus- 
sierre of Memphis has promised to be on hand next September 
at St. Louis and confer the degree on any novices. 
For the first time in many years, Council Bluffs was not repre- 
sented at the last convention, but the date came at a time when 
they could not get away. We have three members at Council 
Bluffs, Commissioners Graham and McGee and Secretary Hunting- 
ton, and all are loyal members of the Association. 
Mr. Graham has the distinction of having been connected with 
the Council Bluffs park system for 39 consecutive years, a record 
of continuous service at one place which is unequaled as far as 
we know. 
Theodore Wirth, of Minneapolis, addressed the joint session of 
the St. Paul and Minneapolis Florists' Club and the Minnesota 
Horticultural Society recent!}', and told them all about our New 
Orleans convention. 
The position of superintendent of Arnold Arboretum at Boston, 
made vacant by the death of Jackson Dawson, has been filled by 
the appointment of Assistant Superintendent Van der Voet. 
John D. McEwen, formerly of the New York Park Department, 
is now secretary of the Fifth Avenue Committee, a civic organiza- 
tion engaged in preventing the commercial invasion of Fifth ave- 
nue, and seeking to preserve its attractiveness and promote its 
beautification. 
David F. Roy, manager of "The Moorings," of Marion, Mass., 
was unable to attend the convention on account of pending con- 
struction work, but says he will plan differently next year. John 
Henderson, of Montreal, writes in a similar vein. 
Chas. Hauser, of St. Paul, attained quite a reputation as a dia- 
mond merchant at New Orleans, and his Arlington diamonds 
created quite a sensation. We certainly hope the St. Paul dele- 
galion will be on hand at St. Louis, as they surely did prove 
themselves as good fellows. 
The St. Louis delegation, Messrs. Strehle, Jenson and Koenig, 
are at work on plans for next year's convention, and have sub- 
mitted tentative plans which indicate that it will be one grand 
time. The date will be September 11. 
NEW 
PRESIDENT CHRYSANTHEMUM 
SOCIETY OF AMERICA. 
T I 
'HE newly elected president of the Chrysanthemum 
Society of America, William W. Yert, to which office 
he was elected at the Novemher meeting of the society in 
Philadelphia, belongs to the younger class of gardeners 
of this country. The honor which has come to him is 
another example of the many opportunities that are await- 
ing the ambitious and progressive younger men follow- 
ing the profession of gardening in the States. 
William W. Vert 
Mr. Yert was born at Audley End Gardens, Saffron 
Walden, England, August 18, 1884, being the third son 
of James Vert who was in charge there for many years 
and is now at Chirk Castle, North Wales. 
Mr. Vert received his early training under his father 
and was later at Luton Hoo, Luton, Bedfordshire, under 
Mr. A. W. Metcalfe. He came to this country in 1906 
and took a position on the estate of Howard Gould, at 
Castlegould, Port Washington, N. Y.. as an assistant gar- 
dener, from which position he has advanced to head gar- 
dener. Mr. Vert is well known as a chrysanthemum 
grower and has achieved some notable successes at the 
principal shows throughout the country. He was mar- 
ried in 1911 and is the proud father of a four-year-old 
daughter. 
In 1915 Mr. Vert was elected to the Vice-Presidency 
of the society of which he is now president. He is also 
a member of the National Association of Gardeners and 
other horticultural bodies. 
