THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
»9 
compilation of the insect laws of the states and Canada offered 
in pamphlet form by the National Nurseryman. 
THE COMING CONVENTION. 
The annual convention of the American Association of Nur¬ 
serymen is three months ahead ; yet in the busy weeks of 
that brief interim there is apt to be too little thought of the 
benefits that may be derived from well-laid plans for the 
annual gathering. It is true that article 2 of the constitution 
of the Association states as the first object of its existence, 
‘‘ relaxation from busine c s.” But there is a question whether 
there is not room for much that is of a business nature, as well 
as relaxation at these annual gatherings of a national organiza¬ 
tion in an age when time and opportunity count so greatly. 
The American Association is approaching the silver anni¬ 
versary of its establishment. In the quarter of a century of its 
existence there has been marvelous development in horticul¬ 
ture, and at the opening of a new century there will be found 
many problems for the nurseryman to discuss. The thought 
is suggested that now, in a period when improved business 
conditions are following a prolonged depression, the members 
of the Association should be in a mood to respond promptly 
to practical propositions looking toward the advancement of 
trade, and take advantage of the rising tide. Can the members 
of the Association afford to devote the time and expense of 
attendance at the convention of 1899 primarily to a relaxation 
from business ? 
The constitution further states that the objects of the Asso¬ 
ciation are also the cultivation of personal acquaintance with 
others engaged in the trade, the exhibition of fruits, flowers^ 
plants, or manufactured articles used in the business, and the 
exchange and sale of stock. All this is of interest and un¬ 
doubtedly of value to the members. But it is of the formal 
sessions of the convention that improvement is suggested. Can 
not the programme be arranged far enough in advance to per¬ 
mit the planning necessary to make it efficient in the highest 
degree for all concerned ? With only the sincerest interest in 
the welfare of the Association, we suggest that it is not too 
early to prepare a programme which shall arouse not only the 
members who attend the coming convention, but those who 
remain at home and read the proceedings, to the possibilities 
for individual and collective advancement in the trade that the 
Association has in store. May it not be that there are many 
members who feel they cannot afford the time and expense 
required to attend the convention as a relaxation from busi¬ 
ness ; yet who would make every effort to be present if, in 
addition to the fulfilment of the objects stated in the constitu¬ 
tion, they were assured of a programme crowded with features 
they could not afford to miss ? 
At one of the recent conventions of the Association there 
was a suggestion that biennnial instead of annual meetings 
be held because the small attendance seemed to indicate a lack 
of interest on the part of the members. With five or six 
thousand nurserymen actively engaged in so important a busi¬ 
ness in this country, it would seem that the national trade or¬ 
ganization should have a membership sufficient to warrant the 
holding of an annual convention. In twenty-two states of the 
Union have just been held horticultural society meetings 
attended by large numbers of orchardists enthusiastic in their 
efforts to absorb the practical information resulting from the 
experience of others. Nurserymen have been prominent in all 
these meetings. And now, as the nurserymen’s annual conven¬ 
tion approaches, there is time to prepare a vast amount of in¬ 
formation of the most practical kind for exchange at the 
Chicago meeting. There should be material for an interest¬ 
ing session of nurserymen to whom these fruit growers 
look for the stock to start their orchards. In this very issue 
of the National Nurseryman is a report detailing the 
topics before an enthusiastic meeting of Pacific coast fruit 
growers. 
It is suggested that, in the preparation of the programme 
for the June convention, the papers to be read deal with topics 
of paramount interest to the trade generally ; that they be not 
confined to conditions which can interest but a few of the 
members, and that they be as brief as possible, so that as 
many topics as the length of the sessions will permit may be 
touched upon ; that the members discussing the papers be 
limited as to time of speaking and that a question box be pro¬ 
vided and freely used. It was upon some such lines that the 
recent annual meeting of the Western New York Horticultural 
Society was conducted and it was unanimously agreed by the 
600 in attendance that the meeting teemed with valuable in¬ 
formation. Pencils flew over note books throughout the hall 
in efforts to jot down what overtaxed minds were endeavoring 
to retain. 
There are veterans of wide experience and young men with 
new ideas among the members of the American Association 
of Nurserymen who can exchange thoughts to the great advan¬ 
tage of all, under skillful direction. There are topics which 
are usually discussed in the hotel lobbies at the nurserymen’s 
conventions that would make the sessions spicy if they were 
reserved for or repeated there. The chances are ten to one 
that you will get more than you will give away. Many ques¬ 
tions occur to members long in advance of the convention 
which might be written now and gathered later in the question 
box—questions relating to the practical work of the nursery¬ 
man and likely to be answered by experts in such a gathering. 
There is a vice-president for each state in the Union and each 
of these who is on hand could present a brief report on nur¬ 
sery topics in his state which would be of interest, and those 
vice-presidents who were not present could send reports to be 
read by the secretary. 
A register of all present should be secured. The members 
after a spicy first session will leave the hotel lobbies and 1 e 
on hand to a man when the gavel falls after dinner. Four 
full sessions will be demanded. No better time for an enthu¬ 
siastic convention could be had than this year when the meet¬ 
ing is to be held in a popular convention city, centrally located, 
without the distraction of a big exposition, and in an era of 
good feeling. 
Doubtless there are many who have suggestions that will 
tend to build up the association by increasing its membership 
to what it ought to be and making its influence felt. There 
should never again be any anxiety over the question as to 
whether there were enough members present to secure the re¬ 
duced rates offered by the railroads. 
Send the suggestions in. Here’s for a rousing convention 
in Chicago on the second Wednesday in June, and may the 
membership on the twenty-fifth anniversary in 1900 be 
doubled ! 
