THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
361 
SOUTHERN NURSERYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
Held at Hendersonville, N. C. 
President’s Address 
Milton Moss, Huntsville, Ala. 
T is a matter for congratulation that the place of meet¬ 
ing has been so wisely chosen; the beauty of its sur¬ 
roundings and its invigorating atmosphere will stim¬ 
ulate to renewed activity in the work to be done which, 
without doubt, will result in much good accomplished 
during the sessions. 
It is needless to say that our meetings are of great 
value, giving, as they do, opportunity for closer acquain¬ 
tance, an easier exchange of ideas, for promoting good 
fellowship and consequent stronger loyalty to the inter¬ 
ests of the association. I assume that we meet for mu¬ 
tual help and co-operation and that we aim to so shape 
our policies that the interests of all are advanced alike. 
The meetings do good also because they enlarge our 
views, give encouragement and increase the desire within 
us to do better work and help each other. Then, too, 
they always offer much of an enjoyable nature that tones 
up for further endeavor. 
Every nurseryman should read the excellent presiden¬ 
tial address delivered by Mr. Henry B. Chase at the Con¬ 
vention of the American Association, recently held in De¬ 
troit, for, I believe, it would inspire far greater confi¬ 
dence in business and help materially to raise prices of 
nursery stock. Incidentally, I quote a few lines as some 
of the questions they embody may call forth profitable 
discussion: “With last season’s troubles behind us let us 
now cheerfully and bouyantly face the problems of the 
coming season and of the coming years. What are 
they? There is just one problem that I shall dwell on 
—only one—and that is this —can this Association by any 
change in its methods or organization make of itself a 
more efficient organization? An organization that will 
really help to control production, and to eliminate price 
cutting? An organization that can keep closer watch 
on Legislative and Transportation matters than is pos¬ 
sible under our present system of working through com¬ 
mittees? Can it be done? How shall we go about it? 
As the author of the foregoing is to tell you, “What they 
did at the Detroit Convention,” I shall not further poach 
upon his preserves. 
The past year has been one of most unsettled condi¬ 
tions, commercially, economically and financially, as you 
well know, and it is hardly necessary to enumerate the 
many features that have entered to make it a year of un¬ 
certainty and apprehension, especially for those dealing 
in perishable commodities for which there is an ex¬ 
tremely variable demand. The European war has had 
a very depressing effect on demand and prices and has 
caused doubt as to how the present and future conditions 
are going to affect trade. We should, however, be 
cheered by the late reports of bumper crops, as upon the 
prosperity of the farmer depends largely our own pros¬ 
perity. 
Perhaps a few words with reference to prices may not 
be amiss here. As you are aware, many 1 utile attempts 
have been made in the past by nurserymen to establish 
more uniform prices, prices that would be fair to all 
parties concerned. In the making of prices so many 
diverse elements, having a direct bearing on the problem, 
need to be considered that I am gratified we are to have 
a paper on the subject by one well qualified by exper¬ 
ience and intelligent grasp to ably handle the question, 
which I trust will be freely and broadly discussed. 
While attending the last meeting of the American As¬ 
sociation of Nurserymen I was more convinced than ever 
of the importance of closer affiliation between that or¬ 
ganization and state and sectional societies. It may be 
that some of the members belonging to a State or sec¬ 
tional society can ill afford the time and expense required 
to also attend the meetings of the American Association. 
But every nurseryman who can do so should attend and 
give it all the active support possible for the common 
good. The re-organized American Association is to 
work along the broadest and most comprehensive lines, 
as partly outlined in Mr. Mayhew’s paper, read at the 
Detroit meeting. The greatest benefits to the nursery 
industry of this countrv should come through this re- 
organized Association. Would it not be wise—a step in 
the right direction, for the Southern Association, the 
Western Association and all State Associations to throw 
their entire strength and support to the American Asso¬ 
ciation? This is something for us all to think about. 
It requires all the united strength and ability that the 
nurserymen of the United States can contribute to help 
shape and carry through the policies that are desirable 
for the speedy promotion of our mutual interests, and we 
should necessarily be willing to sacrifice something to 
that end. Moral obligation and unselfishness are a 
requisite in serving each other and wherever these ob¬ 
tain in largest degree, there the best results are to be 
found. We must live for the other fellow and the more 
we do it, the more we get in return. 
You will recall that an active campaign to swell our 
membership list was begun at the Chattanooga meeting, 
last year, the result of which effort will be given in the 
Secretary’s report. A considerable increase in the num¬ 
ber of members is so necessary that I feel constrained lo 
dwell upon it and to urge that you persistently endeavor 
to add to the list. 
We cannot lay too much stress on the need of eo-oper- 
tion. In our present complex civilization it is more 
necessary than ever before. Things move along 
smoothly when harmony prevails and the very opposite 
where discordant elements exist. 
We should be reasonably optimistic at all times. It 
puts us in tune for greater achievement. W hy should 
we look ahead with doubt and fear when we have such a 
master pilot, a wise, just and humane man at the helm 
of the ship of State? Everything works according to 
the eternal law of an all-wise Intelligence and we should 
have faith in the ultimate outcome. 
In closing I wish to say that I feel deeply grateful to 
the members who have so efficiently co-operated and as¬ 
sisted in trying to make the meeting successful. It 
