THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
521 
Gardeners, me strongly in favor of the protection of wild birds 
•vs provided for in said treat \ ; therefore, 
BE IT RESOLVED: That we strongly urge our Representa- 
tives and Senators in ( longress to vigorously support any measures 
proposed to carry out the provisions of such treaty, and to sup- 
port the necessary appropriations for the Department of Agricul- 
ture, so that the Department can enforce same. 
The resolutions were adopted by unanimous vote. 
Secretary Ebel referred to the necessity for suitable representa- 
tion of the Association at the national capital in case any legisla- 
tion came up which required attention, and referred to the work 
that was done last year with reference to the preservation of our 
national parks. Mr. Ebel suggested that George W. I less, superin- 
tendent of the Botanic Garden, would be an excellent man for 
Washington representative of the X. A. G., inasmuch as he had 
a broad knowledge of men and things, and would creditably till the 
position. On motion of Mr. Ebel, George W. Hess was unani- 
mously elected Washington representative of the National Asso- 
ciation of Gardners. 
It was generally acknowledged that no better selection could 
have been made. 
INVITATION FROM CHICAGO FOR 1917. 
President Craig recognized T. W. Head, superintendent of the 
J. Ogden Armour estate, Lake Forest, 111., who made a strong 
plea for the holding of the next convention at Chicago, 111. Mr. 
Head gave the East full credit for the work done in organizing 
the association and building it up largely in the East, but de- 
clared that now the West was ripe for missionary work and he 
knew of no better way to extend the work and usefulness of the 
association at this time than to come West with the convention 
next year to Chicago. His own employer. Mr. Armour, had ex- 
pressed to him the warmest interest in the matter of securing this 
meeting for 1917 in Chicago and bad personally offered to inter- 
est himself in aid of the convention if held there. Mr. Head gave 
instances of young men whom he had helped to find positions for 
in and about Chicago and assured others that might wish to grow 
up in the West that he and other Western men were ready to 
extend a helping hand and any deserving young gardener would 
find it well worth his while to look into opportunities there. 
Chicago, he said, is a great convention city, and the holding of the 
1917 convention there will be a drawing card. He felt that the 
favorable action of the meeting with reference to this invitation 
would not only be appreciated by himself personally, but by 
J. Ogden Armour as well. There is a great field in the West, he 
said. 
Mr. Head's remarks were applauded strongly, and on motion 
of Past President Everitt, Chicago was selected as the 1917 
convention city. 
J. Barnet, of Sewickley, Pa., announced that Pittsburgh was 
a candidate for the 1918 convention. 
On motion of Mr. Barnet it was voted to print a list of mem- 
bers of the National Association of Gardeners for use of mem- 
bers and others. 
Joseph Manila thought that the National Association was now 
of sufficient dignity and importance to justify the printing of its 
Annual Proceedings in special pamphlet form, and so moved; but 
on account of the present high cost of paper, etc., the motion 
did not carry, although the opinion was expressed that Mr. Man- 
da's idea was an excellent one and should be followed out as soon 
as the state of the treasury would permit. Mr. Ebel stated 
that publication of papers and proceedings of the convention 
would appear in the official organ, The GakdenerS' CHBONICLE. 
On motion of Mr. Kleinheinz, seconded, it was unanimously 
voted to elect William F. Gude, Washington, D. C, as an Honor- 
ary Member of the N. A. G. in recognition of his many courtesies 
to the visiting gardeners. 
The President' invited Dr. !•'. L. Mulford, Horticulturist of the 
Department of Agriculture, to address the convention, and Mr. 
Mulford responded as follows: 
REMARKS BY F. L. MULFORD, DEPARTMENT OF 
AGRICULTURE 
I am very glad of the opportunity to say a word or two to 
you, especially with respect to a little of the work of the Depart- 
ment along lines in which you arc interested. I have had occa- 
sion to mention this morning to one of your members some work 
that we are attempting to do with hardy chrysanthemums at 
the Arlington Park. I sincerely hope that the program of your 
automobile trip will be such that you will be aide to pass through 
this farm and see what we are doing there. The Department 
has some 400 acres there on which they are doing laboratory 
work, especially in connection with hardy chrysanthemums, which 
we think are plants that are worthy of culture, particularly nu 
farms and places where little attention can be given to flowers; 
hut, as you know, there are few if any varieties which are satis- 
factory very far north. We have taken up more or less sys- 
tematically the work of having them succeed as far north as anv 
of them will grow. It is our intention to improve them and to 
give a greater variety to the hardy chrysanthemums in that 
section. 
As some of you no doubt arc aware, we are also conducting a 
t^ose test garden there in which the American Pose Society is co- 
operating with us, and we have now some 700 varieties of roses 
set out there, and we are not going to rest content until we have 
at least that many more of them. We also have a fine collection 
of peonies in co-operation with the American Peony Society. We 
have also quite a large collection of iris. We are also endeavor- 
ing to gather together all hardy plants that will succeed in this 
climate in the way of shrubs and herbaceous plants. Our space 
will not permit our providing for trees on those grounds; but we 
are endeavoring to bring together the plants in groups from the 
landscape viewpoint to improve the surroundings of the laboratory 
buildings and green-bouses, etc. 
There are many problems that are constantly arising in con- 
ic cti.ui with these subjects and we would very much like to 
secure your co-operation to the end that we may learn bow 
various plants are affected by varying climate and temperature 
conditions that take place I he country over. I know that the De- 
partment can obtain valuable aid from you in that way that will 
be of great assistance to us. There are times when we want 
specific information from some section of the country that will 
I f the greatest use to us in our researches. 
At the conclusion of Dr. Mulford's address a motion was ear- 
ned to adjourn the meeting until eight o'clock in the evening, 
following which tin' convention party entered tin' automobiles 
in waiting. After a trip about the city, thence through Potomac 
Park and Lincoln Memorial, the party crossed the Potomac River 
and entered Virginia, where the Arlington Farm of the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture is located, and where the various matters 
referred to by Dr. Mulford in the morning session were pointed 
out. Arlington Cemetery and the old Lee Mansion, of much 
historic interest, were next visited. Passing tin.. ugh Fort Meyer, 
the river was rcciossed to old historic Georgetown, thence out to 
the Bureau of Standards, where a highly interesting demonstra- 
tion of liquid air was witnessed. From thence the automobiles 
proceeded through Rock Creek Park, which presented a most 
beautiful sight in its late autumn dress, and out through the 
grounds of the National Soldiers' Home, returning to the New 
Ebbitt House, where the party became the guests of Mr. Gude 
and fellow Washington florists at luncheon. 
After luncheon, the party re-entered the automobiles to visit 
some of the large commercial growing establishments in and around 
Washington, returning to the hotel at dusk. 
EVENING SESSION. 
The business session reconvened in the meeting hall of the New 
Ebbitt House at eight o'clock, with ex-President Kleinheinz pre- 
siding. Owing to an important social function which occurred 
on the estate that President Craig supervises it was necessary for 
him to return to Massachusetts in the afternoon. 
The chairman announced that the regular order of business 
would be taken up where it was suspended al the morning session 
and called on the secretary for his report, which follows: 
SECRETARY'S REPORT. 
The National Association of Gardeners has prospered during the- 
year, as its financial condition will indicate, and has been other- 
wise successful, as is verified by the many new members it has 
enrolled since the last convention. 
Credit is due to President W. X". Craig for considerable of the 
increase in membership and favorable mention is also due Vice- 
President Theodore Wirth and Director Thomas W. Head. who> 
were instrumental in bringing a number of new members from the- 
Western States. 
The association added two hundred and ninety-seven new mem- 
bers to its roll within the year and four life members were se- 
cured, as follows: William X. Craig, Brookline, Mass.; William 
Kleinheinz. (i^ontz, Pa.; Frederick Listen. Erie, Pa.; William J. 
( tolling, Boston. Mass. 
It suspended one hundred and thirty-two delinquent members 
within that time, the executive committee having decided to strictly 
enforce the provision of the By-Laws for non-payment of dues. 
The greatest activity in the secretary's ..dice has been in con- 
lion with the Service Bureau, which lias become a busy de- 
partment. Many applications have come to hand from members 
E r positions. There has also been a marked improvement in the 
number of inquiries received for capable gardeners from estate 
owners, and the bureau was successful in convincing some of 
these inquirers that the gardener is worthy of his hire and in having 
them increase the salaries offered. Quite a number of inquiriers 
were rejected by the bureau, however, where the compensation 
offered was out of all proportion to the demands of the position and 
where an increase was refused. 
The suggestion has on several occasions been advanced that a 
fee should be exacted from members deriving benefits from the- 
Service Bureau and the subject is open for discussion at our con- 
vention. 
