The Bulletin herewith announces its intention to turn over 
many new leaves. All too well it knows and loathes its shortcomings 
and meekly bows its head to criticisms friendly or harsh. So far it 
has encountered few but gentle critics, constrained, perhaps, by 
tolerance for its youth or consideration for its editor's age. We 
beg its readers in the coming year to forget both and be frank if 
forbearing. 
There is one opinion expressed occasionally in the form of an 
accusation, which hurts, not because it is false but because it is true 
and misunderstood. It is said that The Bulletin is "amateurish." 
Of course it is. It pretends to be nothing more — or less. It 
is amateur, written by amateurs, for amateurs, and edited by an arch- 
amateur. It can be nothing else and desires no other name. 
Unfortunately the adjective implies reproach. It is for The 
Bulletin to prove that "amateurishness" does not mean inac- 
curacy, incompetency, stupidity and ignorance. An "amateur" is 
one who loves and we are garden amateurs. To The Bulletin we 
send praises of our beloved; we tell of eager service, hard- won suc- 
cesses, useful failures. It is to be hoped that some of us garden better 
than we write. It is certain that many writers write less well than we 
garden. 
It may be that this proud boast of amateurishness has spiked its 
guns, but might The Bulletin's editor humbly suggest a few leaves 
that could be turned by its contributors? 
Does it seem quite reasonable that out of the twenty or more re- 
ports contained herein, a dozen should be received in long-hand? 
That many of the slips sent out to the Member Clubs to ensure 
accuracy in the names and addresses of the officers, should be re- 
turned with a blank where the president's name should be? That 
lists of acceptable advertisers, issued for endorsement because the 
Clubs will not help to the small extent of sending endorsed names to 
The Bulletin, should be returned after long months checked but 
nameless and with the comment that "the list seems very incomplete"? 
The Bulletin is small, it is issued infrequently, it is amateurish; 
but the time, the energy and the self-control that go to its making 
would achieve prouder results if the few requests it made received a 
little more prompt and intelligent response. 
We beseech your forgiveness for this New Year's scolding and we 
send you a New Year's greeting. With high hopes, we quote from an 
ancient herbal : 
Things to best perfection come, 
Not all at once, but some by some. 
