THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
525 
-familiar with the idea carried out by that society ; this being so, 
I am wondering why they are not adopted. 
Such a course would, without doubt, be successful in bringing out 
the best material within the ranks of the association, thereby 
stimulating greater enthusiasm among young gardeners which 
-every year horticulture is proving more and more necesssary. 
"A MEMBER.' 
Mr. Piper. The Royal Horticultural Society delivers to the con- 
testants a copy containing about eight questions, so that each man 
has the same questions to answer ; it gives them all a fair chance 
and on the same terms ; and you can judge better as to what they 
know about the different plants. It makes it easier for the men, 
and they know just what they have to do. 
Mr. Cameron. I think the man who has written this letter 
has a just cause for complaint. This looks to me like a man com- 
peting at a flower show : after he has entered for the prize that 
is offered, you can not say to that man, "We will delay the thing 
and put it up at another time." You are throwing this man right 
out and giving the other members a chance. If you do not want 
this man to get the prize, you ought to say that there is to be 
no competition, return his essay, and say these prizes are to be 
competed for another year. You could not do that if you offered 
a prize at a flower show : you could not treat a man that way ; 
and I think it is very unjust that the man who did write is not 
to have the same privilege as the men who are going to have a 
longer time to prepare their essays. 
Secretary Erel. In other words, we could disqualify these 
essays and return them, and tell the contestants to try again? 
Last year the Essay Committee did not return them. We were 
to have the essays for the convention day at Boston, but there 
were so few the contest was postponed, I think, until February. 
In that ease there was not the question of the essays not being 
up to standard. The essays that came in first were among those 
that won the contest. Iu this case I think the essays ought to be 
returned to each one of the gardeners, and they be advised if they 
want to improve them or rewrite them, they will have that priv- 
ilege. 
Mr. Cameron. I move that the views of the secretary prevail 
regarding the essays, and that they all have a chance to rewrite 
them or improve them, as they please. 
(It was moved and carried that the essays submitted should 
be returned to the contestants ; that they be given a chance to 
•write another essay if they desire to do so.) 
Mr. Head. Mr. Chairman, we all know that we are greatly 
indebted to the Glide Brothers, to Mr. Hess, the Florists' Club 
of Washington, and also to the officers of the Bureau of Standards, 
for their kindness and hospitality, therefore, I would like to ask 
at this time that a committee of three be appointed to draw- up 
a resolution tendering them our sincere thanks. 
I It was moved and carried that the chairman appoint a com- 
mittee of three to draw up a suitable resolution, the chairman 
appointing Messrs. Head, Everitt and Bauer.) 
Mr. Stewart. I think it was rather unfortunate that our 
retiring president had to leave before this meeting. I think we 
ought to give some recognition to the work he has done this year. 
I therefore move that a unanimous vote of thanks be extended 
to ur retiring president, Mr. Craig, for the wonderful work he 
has done for the benefit of this association and that the secretary 
■notify him accordingly. 
(Mr. Stewart's motion was carried) 
An animated discussion followed on the adoption of an official 
button for the association and there was much argument for 
and against it. Some of the members thought the association 
ishould have a button which could be procured by those desiring 
to purchase it : others argued that the association should furnish 
a button on the payment of dues. In opposition to the first sug- 
gestion it was brought out that the association four years ago 
.at the solicitation of some members inquired through The Garden- 
ers' Chronicle how mauy members desired a button at an approxi- 
mate cost of seventy-five cents, but this brought forth no satisfac- 
tory response, so the matter was dropped. In opposition to the 
suggestion that the association furnish a button free, Treasurer 
Stewart stated that the surplus in the treasury was only secured 
through the strictest of economy by the management of the organi- 
zation, that out of the two dollars dues paid, one dollar goes 
towards the subscription of the official organ and one dollar into 
the association's treasury. If the association is to furnish but- 
tons, he argued, there would be little left for accumulation. Treas- 
urer Stewart concluded that if it were the wish of the members 
that the association furnish special printed reports of the pro- 
ceedings of the meetings and buttons, in order to keep the asso- 
ciation in sound financial condition, it would first be necessary to 
increase the dues, for there is now no money to spend for any- 
thing but necessary expenditures. 
Mr. Kleinbeinz responded that while the raising of dues did not 
affect him, as he is a Life Member, he did not believ 1 . the time 
opportune to increase them ; that he believed that aftir hearing 
the reports of the secretary and treasurer all will agrei with him 
that the items of expenditure have been kept very low and that if 
this can be continued for a couple of years the surplus should 
reach the five thousand dollar mark. Then, he said, we will be 
iu a position to consider other expenses. The discussion of the 
adoption of a button was finally dropped without any definite 
action being taken on the same. 
There being no further business to transact, on motion duly 
seconded and carried, the chairman announced that the annual 
convention of the National Association of Gardeners stood ad- 
joured sine die. 
A message sent to the convention by Vice-President Theodore 
Wirth was. through oversight, not delivered by the hotel man- 
agement iu time to be presented at the meeting. In this 
message Mr. Wirth expressed his regrets at not being able to 
be present and submitted several recommendations which could 
be adopted with much profit, by the organization. 
Previous to the evening session an executive meeting of the 
trustees and directors attendant at the convention was held. 
WEDNESDAY'S PROGRAM. 
Early on Wednesday the convention party went to the United 
States Botanic Gardens, where it was received by Superintendent 
George W. Hess, and escorted about the grounds and conservatory, 
where much of horticultural interest was found. After completing 
the inspection of the gardens the party proceeded to the wharf of 
the Mt. Vernon Steamboat Company and boarded a steamer for 
Mt. Vernon ; arriving there Washington's tomb was first visited and 
the wreath placed in the tomb by ex-President Kleinheinz. The 
grounds were next inspected, the old-fashioned gardens visited and 
the home of George Washington, where the party was photo- 
graphed. As a memorial of the visit of the members of the Na- 
tional Association of Gardeners to Washington's home an English 
Yew, to be donated by one of the members, will be planted in 
front of Washington's family vault. A committee consisting of 
William N. Craig, Wm. F. Gude. and George Hess was appointed 
to revisit Mt. Vernon and plant the yew, and an imitation will he 
tendered to all members to be present at the time of the planting 
of this memorial tree. 
On the return from Mt. Vernon to Washington the United States 
Senate, House of Representatives, and United States Supreme 
Court were visited, which had been previously arraugd by Messrs. 
Glide and Hess. From the Capitol the party proceeded to the 
Department of Agriculture, where the greenhouses and other de- 
partments were visited. This concluded the official program of 
the convention, although many members remained over the fol- 
lowing day to take in other points of interest. 
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FINAL RESOLUTIONS. 
RESOLVED, that a hearty vote of thanks and appreciations 
from the members of the National Association of Gardeners be 
tendered to Mr. William F. Gude, of Washington, D. C. for the 
many courtesies he extended to those attending the annual con- 
vention of the National Association of Gardeners, held in Wash- 
ington, D. C, December 5 and 6, 1916. and for the cordial hos- 
pitality enjoyed by the visitors, due to his untiring efforts. 
To Mr. George W. Hess, director of the association, who so 
ably arranged the entertainment and affairs of the convention. 
To the Bureau of Standards and Measures, the Smithsonian 
Institute, the Mt. Vernon authorities, the Mt. Vernon Steamboat 
Company, the Department of Agriculture, and the New Ebbitt 
Hotel management for the many courtesies exteuded the members 
of the National Association of Gardeners during their stay in 
Washington. 
THO.AIAS W. HEAD, 
JOHN W. EVERITT, 
ANTON BAUER. 
Committee on Final Resolutions. 
RAISING THE GARDENER'S STANDARD. 
Mr. E'hel, secretary: I should like to ask through the columns 
of the Gardeners' Chronicle how yon expect to raise the 
standard of the gardener when on the payment of $2 any un- 
trained laborer may become a member of the N. A. G. ? 
ENQUIRER. 
Newport, R. I. 
That the National Association of Gardeners has in a very few 
years established a most creditable reputation for itself will 
not he disputed in reliable horticultural circles, and it is only 
necessary to refer to the proceedings of the association's con- 
vention held recently in Washington (published elsewhere in 
these columns) to observe its progress. Therein will be found 
that one of the wealthiest private estate owners of the w T est 
sent his gardener to the convention to urge the association to 
come to Chicago in 1917; that the United States Department of 
Agriculture sent a representative to the meetings to urge co- 
operation between the association and the department; that 
(Continued on page 529.) 
