THE NATION AT. NURSERYMAN 
57 
(UmuIiohs hybrids, Ilex crenata, Box, Azalea mollis, pon- 
tiea and the liardy evergreen sorts, Osmanlkus or the 
ehoieer kinds of evergreens, shrul)s or trees. If there is 
an overstock, it is hecanse the particular niirscryinan is 
unfortunately situated and cannot get them on the mar 
ket through being too far removed from it. 
LAM) SC apt: 
ARCHITECTS AM) NUKSEUYMEA 
GETTING TOGETHER 
Eor some years it has been felt that there should he 
closer relations between the Landscape Architects and 
the Nurserymen. While each is pursuing his own line 
of work, one is more or less dependent upon the other. 
The Landscape Architect must liave nursery stock, and 
through his work and efforts the nurseryman disposes ot 
large quantities of material. 
Over a year ago the Ornamental Growers Association, 
and the American Association of Nurserymen each ap¬ 
pointed a committee to confer with a similar committee 
from the Society of American Landscape Architects. 
The Joint Committee held several meetings in New York, 
and acconq)lished a great deal, as will he seen by a i)e- 
rusal of the following re})ort issued by the Ornamental 
Growers’ Association. 
The work of the Joint Committee is by no means com¬ 
pleted, other meetings will follow^ until a satisfactory 
agreement on all points under discussion has been 
reached. 
HEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RELATIONS WITH LANDSCAPE 
.4RCHITECTS 
Held in Office of Ferruccio Vitale, New York City, May 31, 1917. 
authorized to be printed and distributed among the members 
of the Ornamental Growers’ Association, at their mid¬ 
summer meeting in New York City. 
The Conference was attended by the following Committee from 
the Society of American Landscape Architects on Relations with 
the Trade: Ferruccio Vitale, chairman, James L. Greenleaf, R. 
E. Wilcox. 
Committee from the Ornamental Growers’ Association on Re¬ 
lations with Landscape Architects: J. Edward Moon, chairman, 
Harlan P. Kelsey, Thomas B. Meehan, F. L. Atkins. 
Committee from the American Association of Nurserymen on 
Relations with Landscape Architects: Windsor S. Wyman, 
chairman. 
The Conference opened at 10 a. m. and continued, with the ex¬ 
ception of a recess for luncheon, until 4.30 p. m. During this 
time numerous phases of the relation of nurserymen to land¬ 
scape architects were taken up, and discussed at length in a 
friendly way, with the idea in mind of developing a code by which 
our business relations might be carried on more advantageously 
to all of the interests represented. 
The conclusions tentatively reached by the Conference, and 
which it was decided to present to our representative organiza¬ 
tions are set forth below. It is desired that all nurserymen shall 
read these carefully, consider them thoroughly, and then report 
their comments to the chairman of our committee, J. Edward 
Moon, of Morrisville, Pa. It is hoped that from these comments 
some conclusions may be reached and presented at a future joint 
Conference. Members will assist their committee very much by 
constructive comments, which will bring about the end which is 
very much sought by the nursery interests, as well as by the 
landscape architects. 
PRICES 
It seems that the consensus of opinion is that in so far as 
landscape architects perform a service to the nurserymen as 
representatives both of the nurserymen and of the client, and 
also in selecting, distributing and properly using the materials 
grown in their nurseries, that they should obtain, solely for the 
benefit of their clients, a discount from prices that otherwise 
would be made direct to consumers. 
It seems, also, that in order not to utilize such discounts as a 
means of soliciting work, this discount should not be so large 
that the ability to buy cheaply is a greater asset to the land¬ 
scape architect than is his ability to design and construct prop¬ 
erly. It was, therefore, decided at this meeting to recommend 
that the nurseries should not allow trade discounts, but that they 
make a redudetion upon their prices to consumers. 
In this respect a clear distinction was made between trade 
prices and wholesale prices. 
Trade prices represent the prices made by one nurseryman to 
other recognized nurserymen. 
Wholesale prices are prices to general buyers in proportion to 
the quantity of material purchased, and should always be higher 
than trade prices. 
BILLS 
“Bills rendered by nurserymen for planting materials supplied 
to clients of the landscape architect should be made out to the 
client direct, and rendered through the office of the landscape 
architect.” 
It was the opinion of the Conference that it should be recom¬ 
mended that all bills rendered by nurseries for planting materials 
supplied to clients by landscape architects should be made out to 
the client and rendered through the office of the landscape ar¬ 
chitects. Discounts, if any, should be shown on these bills. 
COMMISSIONS 
“Attitude of nurserymen toward superintendents and garden¬ 
ers in regard to discounts given to them and not shown on bills.” 
“Discounts given to gardeners in cash for the placing of or¬ 
ders with the nurseries.” 
It seems to be the consensus of opinion that the associations 
represented at this Conference should endeavor to detect and 
eliminate where it occurs, the evil of allowing superintendents, 
private gardeners and whoever in power to order nursery ma¬ 
terials for a third party, cash payment or other consideration, 
directly or indirectly, proportionate to the amount purchased. 
It seems to be agreed that the effort required to obtain results 
along these lines will only be successful if all nurserymen, land¬ 
scape architects, employers and others interested, do everything 
in their power to stop this custom entirely. 
We recommend that a statement be prepared and recommend¬ 
ed by our associations regarding the practice of giving direct 
commissions, or graft, to private gardeners, superintendents, or 
others who are in a position as trusted employees or agents; that 
this statement cite the legislations in different states intended to 
combat this evil; that gardeners, employees, and all others inter¬ 
ested be shown the evil results that arise from this pernicious 
practice and that business houses, contractors, professional land¬ 
scape architects, employers and employees alike be urged to co¬ 
operate in stamping out this insidious pract'ce. 
BIDDINL 
It seems to be the opinion that the prevailing custom of send¬ 
ing lists of plants for quotations is not satisfactory to any of the 
parties concerned, for the reason that prices are no criterion by 
which to judge nursery products, and it is the opinion that this 
system of competitive bidding should be eradicated as fast as 
possible, wherever not required by law. 
It was mentioned that in several instances clients of the land¬ 
scape architects send plans, planting lists and specifications, 
made for them by the landscape architects, to the trade in order 
to check the prices obtained by the landscape architect. 
This represents a practice harmful to the prestige of the land¬ 
scape architect and difficult for the nurserymen to handle. 
In regard to bidding, it was stated that the value of personal 
