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THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
The National Nurseryman. 
C. L. VATES, Proprietor. RALPH T. OLCOTT, Editor. 
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY 
The National Nurseryman Publishing Co., 
305 Cox Building, Rochester, N. Y. 
The only trade journal issued for Growers and Dealers in Nursery Stock of 
all kinds. It circulates throughout the United States and Canada. 
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSERYMEN. 
AWARDED THE GRAND PRIZE AT PARIS EXPOSITION, 1900. 
SUBSCRIPTION RATES. 
One year, in advance, ----- $1.00 
Six Months, .75 
Foreign Subscriptions, in advance, - - - 1.50 
Six Months, “ “ - - - 1.00 
Advertising rates will be sent upon application. Advertisements 
should reach this office by the 20th of the month previous to the date 
of issue. 
Payment in advance required for foreign advertisements. Drafts 
on New York or postal orders, instead of checks, are requested. 
Correspondence from all points and articles of interest to nursery¬ 
men and horticulturists are cordially solicited. 
AflERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSERYMEN. 
President, Robert C. Berckmans, Augusta, Ga.; vice-president, R. J. 
Coe, Fort Atkinson, Wis.; secretary, George C. Seager, Rochester, 
N. Y.; treasurer, C. L. Yates, Rochester, N. Y. 
Executive Committee—Peter Youngers, Geneva, Neb.; N. W. Hale, Knoxville, 
Tenn.; William Pitkin, Rochester, N. Y. 
Committee on Transportation—A. L. Brooke, N. Topeka, Kan.; William Pit¬ 
kin, Rochester, N. Y.; Peter Youngers, Geneva, Neb.; N. W. Hale, Knox¬ 
ville, Tenn. 
Committee on Legislation—C. L. Watrous, Des Moines, la.; Silas Wilson, At¬ 
lantic, la.; Charles J. Brown, Rochester, N. Y.; Howard A. Chase, Phila¬ 
delphia, Pa. 
Committee on Tariff—Irving Rouse, Rochester, N. Y.; J. H. Dayton, Paines- 
ville, O.; Thomas B. Meehan, Germantown, Pa. 
Annual convention for 1903—At Milwaukee, Wis., June 11-13. 
Entered in the Post Office at Rochester, as second-class mail matter. 
Rochester, N. Y., July, 1901. 
THE TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL. 
In point of attendance the twenty-sixth annual convention 
of the American Association of Nurserymen was the most suc¬ 
cessful in its history. Counter attractions, however, did much 
to detract from the attention to a programme which is essential 
to the transaction of business. There have been other con¬ 
ventions at which it was shown that due preparation therefor 
would have resulted in much benefit by reason of the general 
discussion that might have followed the presentation of one or 
more questions of direct interest to every member of the Asso¬ 
ciation. But it is probable that at no time was this fact more 
evident than it was at the convention at Niagara Falls last 
month. 
It was thought by the officers of the Association when a 
programme was under consideration, that the Pan-American 
exposition would so engross the attention of the members that 
an extended programme of papers and discussions would not 
be desired. However, the president had planned for a con¬ 
vention extending over three days, with sessions in the fore¬ 
noons, leaving the afternoons for recreation. This plan was 
excellent but there was not enough of programme to engage 
the attention of the members more than two forenoons. At 
least there did not appear to be, until just before adjournment 
when the reports of the standing committees on transporta¬ 
tion, tariff and legislation and the raising of the question of 
free distribution of nursery stock by the federal government 
brought forcibly to the front the fact that there was much 
business that might profitably engage the attention of the nur¬ 
serymen of the country in annual session, and led ex-President 
Brooke to remark that it was time the Association realized the 
advisability of making these annual meetings occasions for 
the transaction of business such as could only well be done at 
these times, instead of regarding the meetings as primarily for 
rest and recreation. 
It is not a new view of the matter. At almost every con¬ 
vention it is argued that once a year the nurserymen should 
meet and in making and perpetuating acquaintances rest from 
their labors ; that business should be laid aside. We are of 
the opinion as we have argued repeatedly that the members 
of the Association would not be greatly wearied by attention 
to topics on a carefully prepared programme presented during 
the forenoons and afternoons of two days—four sessions—and 
we believe that a programme could be prepared which should 
be of such practical value as to command the attention of the 
majority of those in attendance. In any event such a plan 
would enable those who wish to discuss important trade ques¬ 
tions in convention where the experience of many from many 
points could be exchanged, to do so, while others could reap 
the benefit by a study of the printed proceedings at their 
leisure ; it would make those printed proceedings of greater 
value. The intermissions and the evenings would afford 
opportunity for intercourse and recreation. 
GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTION. 
The subject of free distribution of nursery stock by the fed. 
eral government seemed to be new to a majority of the mem¬ 
bers of the American Association when it was brought up at 
the Niagara Falls convention. Yet two months ago, in the 
May issue of the National Nurseryman a column article 
called attention to it. 
It was shown then that the New York Times had published 
a special despatch from its Washington correspondent in which 
it was stated : 
“An investigation has been made to discover the varieties 
which will thrive best in the various localities and the distri¬ 
bution will be made in a manner somewhat similar to that 
employed in the seed distribution authorized by Congress- 
Especial attention will be given to trees of the nut bearing, 
shade and lawn variety, and oaks, ash and linden also will 
constitute a prominent portion of the distribution.” 
It was added that “the Secretary believes the idea will prove 
popular, and in view of the rapidly diminishing forest reserves 
will be a decided benefit to the country.” 
In view of the interest manifested in the subject at the 
Falls convention, and the fact that the Association passed a 
resolution opposing free distribution of nursery stock, we 
repeat the letter to the National Nurseryman, published in 
the May issue of this journal: 
