THE NATIONAL NUR8ERY.MAN 
247 
Can we go on Indelinitely and oxpeel men of exj)er- 
ienee, like Messrs. Pitkin. Youngers, Dayton, Meehan, 
Sizemore. Herekman. Smith and others to eontinue this 
John C. Chase. lie is of label fame and an 
enlhasiaslic member' of the order of “Yellow Dogs.’’ 
work graluiliously ? From a business standpoint our 
Association represeids interests having investments run¬ 
ning into millions of dollars, and were our work repres¬ 
ented by a eor})oration, or a private interest, our affairs 
would be conducted along business principles, with the 
idea that all expenditures are necessary and receiving 
sj)lendid results for expense involved. Our treasury to¬ 
day show^s a balance of some $6,000, the largest known 
in the history of the Organization, but a mere bagatelle 
wdien draw n upon to meet obstacles which constantly 
confront us, or to attain the object these committees 
could accomplish, w ere they given free reign. 
The matter of a salaried man to handle the affairs of 
this Association w ill be brought before this convention. 
Such a position is not a mere clerical one, and the duties 
and responsibilities w ill tax the abilities of a man of vast 
experience. Such a man will not be an easy one to find, 
but it is useless to look for such a person until w e pro¬ 
vide the means—cash—to sustain him. 
In previous conventions various methods were 
suggested for financing our projects. At present we 
have but one source of income,—our annual dues, sul- 
ficient to carry on our ordinary wmrk, but to provide a 
fund of from $5000 to $10,000 annually, if necessary, is 
a condition confronting us. 
Membership 
This year’s Badge Book shows a list of 410 members; 
since its issuance some twenty or thirty have been en¬ 
rolled, but the total falls short of last year’s roll of 473. 
You are familiar with Mr. MeHutchison’s work a year 
ago, in increasing the membershi]), securing over 100 
new'^ members. This lead has not been maintained, and 
though the campaign on the part of our State Vice Presi¬ 
dents has blow n hot and cold, results do not materialize. 
At the ])roper time 1 should like to have the .\ssociation 
as a w hole, discuss this matt(‘r. 
During the past year the mendiei-s of our Association 
have again suffer(Ml from inti'rnal troid)l(‘s, the never 
(Miding bugahoo of jirici^ ciiltiiig being strongly present, 
and the mattei' of (*redits has strained many otlierwise 
pleasant relations. For the fornuu' tlnu’i' is no remedy 
other than education and reason, and it is to he hojied 
that sonu' day w(i shall set' the evil of cutting prices in 
the hope of beating the other fellow to it. Credits are 
a matter of agreement, but the unw ritten law' is being en¬ 
croached uj)on with increasing friMpiency. The June 
1st accounts are dragging out into July and August, and 
accounts due for material, supplies, buds and scions, 
whose value is largely represented by labor or cash out¬ 
lay, should not be ])aid for June 1st follow ing, but w ithin 
thirty days from date of invoice. 
Tariff 
The Underwood Bill, effective last year, has given us 
a clear interpretation of duties upon imports. In es¬ 
sence it has lowered the specific tax on apples, pear and 
other fruit seedlings, from $2.00 to $1.00 per 1,000, and 
the ad valorem tax from 25 jier cent, to 15 jier per cent, 
on general lines not subject to specific tax. While the 
new law has undoubtedly saved our importers consider¬ 
able money, wdll it continue to do so? I predict that this 
decrease in cost to us will be offset by a raise in price 
upon the part of the foreign grow ers. 
In conjunction with this, are we protecting the inter¬ 
ests of home grown stock? In the vast area of the 
United States w e have districts suitable for the growuTig 
C. S. Harrison, York, Xeb., a veteran nurseryman and a 
lover and authorily on liorkg Mountain evergreens. 
of all stock. On the Pacific Coast we are suceessfully 
grow ing apple, pear, Mazzard, Mahaleb and Myrobolan. 
The propagation of roses, conifers and ornamental stock 
