206 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
tion, but one word I will say and that is, beware the idea that the 
war will soon be over or even won in a few years. As yet this 
great and prosperous nation has not felt the heavy hand of want 
and privation and death and sorrow—but before victory is ours, 
we shall pay the price. So when you lay your plans and build 
your foundation, look the situation straight in the eye and be 
ready with a ship so strong that she will weather the storm. 
Once you have adopted your plan of action stand to your 
guns without flinching, remembering always that old army axiom; 
“A fair Battle Plan of Action 
well executed is better than the 
perfect plan poorly done.” 
As I see it from a distance, for the time at least, the “Price 
Problem” seems to have about solved itself. 
Transportation is the greatest problem before the nursery¬ 
men to-day—no one thing, not even the most drastic legislation 
can so quickly cripple or even destroy the whole nursery pro¬ 
fession, as thoughtless, ill-advised and needless freight em¬ 
bargoes and the like. In any plan of action you adopt be sure 
that transportation matters are given every possible considera¬ 
tion and that they are placed in hands of men who know the 
ropes at Washington and can get results and score hits when 
an emergency barrage is called for from the Front Line Trenches. 
There are of necessity many able though inexperienced men 
sitting in high places in Washington these days. Lack of know¬ 
ledge as to the perishable nature and great value of trees as food- 
producers by some of these men, may cause trouble. 
Let “preparedness” be your watchword concerning both leg¬ 
islation and transportation. Sleep with one eye open and keep 
that eye trained on Washington. 
I have faith in the future of the nursery business after the 
war and during the war. Of necessity, during the war, those of 
us who can should raise all the grain and food products we are 
able to grow. That is our Patriotic Duty. Those who can, and 
do not are purely slackers of the worst order. No matter what 
befalls, no matter what business disasters loom up ahead, keep 
your nerve and your head and stand by the organization to the 
last ditch. Just remember that some poor devils somewhere— 
thousands, perhaps millions of them—are willingly standing the 
gaff, clear to the hilt, dying game and lighting till the last man 
bites the dust, if need be. They are keeping their nerve—and 
they’ve got to have good team-work or they will lose their own 
skins. 
I am delighted to see that co-operation, tolerance and faith in 
each other is developing to a higher degree than the most san¬ 
guine optimist of a few years back could haye hoped for. 
Brother Nurserymen, it is the straight and narrow path to suc¬ 
cess—and we are on our way. 
Like the nation itself, there is no longer that sectional feeling 
and lack of co-operation—no longer a North, a South, nor East 
nor West—one nation and one great National Organization— 
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSERYMEN. 
Once more fellow members permit me to thank you for your 
confidence and the great honor you bestowed upon me last year 
in Philadelphia. My only regret is that I could not serve as 
your President, but I am serving your country to the best of my 
ability. 
And now my friends—each and every one of you—, Good-bye, 
Good Luck and God bless you and yours. 
Major Lloyd Stark, 
On the Firing Line, 
Somewhere in France. 
June 28, 1918. 
Dear Mr. President and Friend: — 
In accordance with the instruction of the Association, we de¬ 
sire on its behalf to most gratefully acknowledge receipt of 
your “message,” addressed to the Association, which was read 
at its opening session in the City of Chicago on the 26th inst. 
It was anticipated one year ago, when you were chosen as the 
head of our organization, that we would have the privilege of 
hearing your annual address delivered in person, but the fate of 
the civilized nations decreed otherwise. 
While we were disappointed in this anticipated privilege, the 
prevailing situation had greatly increased the appreciation with 
which your message from across the seas was greeted. 
We, as members of the greatest organization of nurserymen 
in the world, are inexpressibly proud of the fact, that our Presi¬ 
dent should so gladly hear and promptly accept the call of his 
Coimtry to service in the gigantic struggle, which shall deter¬ 
mine the fate of the civilized nations of the world. 
We shall be deprived of your pleasant comradeship and wise 
counsel in our deliberations during the Forty-third annual con¬ 
vention of your beloved organization. 
Our loss however, is incomparable with the expected value of 
your service to the cause of humanity at large, hence we most 
willingly bow to the inevitable. 
We desire, however, to again assure ycfu of the sincere ap¬ 
preciation with which your message was received and most 
heartily thank you for the same. 
We extend greetings from every member of this Association 
and assure you of our kindest regards and best wishes. 
May “He who holds the waters of the sea in the hollow of His 
hand” protect you from all bodily harm and return you ere long 
to your beloved country and friends, is the sincere wish of every 
member of this Association. 
Respectfully yours, 
J. W. HILL, 
HENRY B. CHASE, 
J. S. KERR, 
Committee. 
P. S. — “The gang’s all here” and gives three cheers for our 
President On The Firing Line. 
Various reports of committees were taken up and dis¬ 
posed of. 
Dr. E. C. Stakman, St. Paul, Minnesota, read a paper 
entitled “Banish the Barberry and Save the Wheat.” 
This paper called forth considerable discussion, which 
at times threatened to become heated, but the air was 
finally clarified by the passage of a resolution offered by 
J. W. Hill, in which the nurserymen agreed to destroy all 
common and purple Barberry in their nurseries. 
The Secretary’s report was very comprehensive, and 
its reading was followed with great attention. 
A most interesting discourse was given by L. D. H. 
Weld, Manager Commercial Research Department of 
Swift & Co., on “Marketing Methods.” 
At this point, Mr. J. W. Hill took the chair, and the 
resolution and amendment to the constitution offered at 
the Philadelphia convention last year, and carried over 
for action this year, was taken up. 
Mr. J. R. Mayhew was given the floor and read the 
following statement: 
WHY WE SHOULD ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION AND AMEND¬ 
MENT TO CONSTITUTION 
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen; 
I believe there are some good reasons why we should adopt 
this resolution and amendment to constitution as offered. With 
no intent to be extravagant, I believe this is the most important 
hour in the history of the American Association of Nurserymen, 
an hour fraught with wonderful possibilities, if we make no mis¬ 
take, and one which will redound to our irreparable loss if we 
fail to do the right thing. 
It is not my intention to make any extended argument for the 
adoption of this resolution and amendment to constitution, and I 
can scarcely hope to say more than has already been said during 
the past two years, because this whole matter has been before 
us for twelve months and, I take it, is pretty well understood by 
all; neither would I presume to offer you superior judgment con¬ 
cerning a matter about which you are as well or better qualified 
to judge for yourselves. It is, therefore, with the purpose of en¬ 
deavoring to assemble the argument I have heretofore made fot 
the adoption of this resolution, to get the whole matter before 
us as clearly as we may, that I speak, leaving it to your good 
judgment to accept or reject as you may elect. To say the 
least of it, no one can say, after the question has been disposed 
of, whether he be for the resolution or against it, that he has not 
been given an opportunity to express his views, for no matter 
ever considered by the Association has been given wider pub¬ 
licity, and the membership has been invited repeatedly to discuss 
it from any angle they might elect. Those of us who were fa¬ 
vorable to the adoption of this resolution at Philadelphia last 
June are responsible for its being held before us for a year, to 
the end that no mistake which due consideration would over¬ 
come, would be made by its hasty adoption. As was expressed 
by one speaker at Philadelphia, “if it will not stand the fire of 
criticism for a year it is not worthy adoption.” Your adoption of 
