THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
307 
Samples of stock were submitted by the nurserymen 
showing that the roots could be made practically free 
from dirt by shaking, but without removing the film of 
soil and the small root hairs which are lost as a result 
of washing. 
After a long friendly discussion, the members of the 
Board present expressed themselves as willing to try 
once more the admission of plants without washing, pro¬ 
vided it would be with the strict understanding that the 
roots must be entirely free from any large particles of 
soil. The wording suggested was that the roots of plants 
imported under special permit “shall be free from all 
adhering particles of sand, soil, earth or peat.” In the 
case of rhododendrons or other plants where the soil can 
can not be removed sufficiently by thorough shaking, it 
may be necessary to wash them but washing will not be 
required. 
Dr. Marlatt made it plain that while the Board was 
willing to co-operate with the nurserymen to the extent 
of modifying the ruling requiring washing, shipments 
carelessly cleaned and packed, so that the soil is not thor¬ 
oughly removed, would have to be rejected. 
This modification of the ruling of the Board will be 
accepted as very good news by the nurserymen of the 
United States and undoubtedly will result in an increase 
in the importation of stock for propagation under the 
special permit ruling. 
F. F. ROCKWELL. 
SOLILOQUY OF AN UNPLANTED LOT 
Portion of Address Before Rotary Club of Raleigh, N. C., 
by Paul C. Lindley , President American Association 
of Nurserymen 
I am the unplanted lot. 
Build upon me a home not a house. 
Plant me with loving hands, and heartfelt interest, 
and plant me for your children’s sake. Plant me with 
care and with earth filled with humus. With this foun¬ 
dation, I will give you fruit and flowers. 
Plant me to last. Let oaks, hard maples, shade and 
protect the children of this and the next generation. 
Mow, lime, and reseed my lawn often to make me as a 
green carpet. 
Landscape me in harmony with my neighbors. Plant 
my street with one variety of permanent trees. Let me 
and my neighboring lots breathe and express the cheer¬ 
ful smile of blooms, the shade of trees. The world at 
the beginning was a garden, the first man and woman 
walked in beauty wheresoever they went. 
Locate my home back from the street, the noise, the 
dust Mv entrance path beginning at my most conven¬ 
ient corner, let wind to a welcome door step. Hundreds 
pass by to one who enters, plan to plant a welcome. 
Plant me for every month in the year. Plant in mass¬ 
es, avoid straight lines and leave lawn center open. 
Evergreens will give winter warmth, berried plants will 
attract the birds. Look out the living room door, the din¬ 
ing room window and from where Mother sits, sewing, 
from the inside the home is the place to properly locate 
shade and specimen shrubs. 
Plan before planting me. Make of me no checker 
board. Make flowers a part of my landscape but 
avoid pails perched on posts, kettles, old tanks stood on 
end. Be a good housekeeper in the “Outdoor Living 
Room.” Select plants with respect to the cost and style 
of the home. 
Planting me will make you a better man, a success¬ 
ful man, a better neighbor. Your family will be born 
here, will grow up here will live their happiest days with 
me. Beauly is a necessary commodity for happiness. Re¬ 
move all trees and plants from my city and it will be as 
the desert of Sahara. 
Plant me now, nature is striving to cover my bare 
spots, but help is needed, screen the harsh junction point 
of the ground and building, make of me a simple land¬ 
scape garden, remembering tho like your family atten¬ 
tion is needed; trees eat, trees drink, neglect them they 
die. 
AS I SEE IT 
BY M. T. NUTT 
• 9 
Few people realize the value of reading the adver¬ 
tisements which appear in weekly and monthly publi¬ 
cations. Not only does it broaden your views of what 
is going on in this, our vale of tears, but every once in 
a while you come across some real “horse sense.” 
Personally, I am very fond of the Saturday Even¬ 
ing Post, and religiously read it from cover to cover, in¬ 
cluding the advertisements. 
In a recent issue appeared a full page advertisement 
of the “Statler Hotels” and I was particularly struck 
with the following: 
“Don’t ever—don’t ever—let anybody leave dissatis¬ 
fied. If you sense that he’s disappointed about some¬ 
thing, or displeased, try to make it right, or call someone 
who can make it right. It is of the highest importance 
to this business that our customers be pleased and come 
back to us; and you must do your part toward seeing 
that our promises are kept. 
“And again, first, last, always, be courteous and gra¬ 
cious and helpful in every transaction—and not with 
guests only, but with your fellow-employees also.” 
This is something which everyone can take to heart 
and ruminate upon, and particularly nurserymen. Cus¬ 
tomers make complaints. Do you in your answer, ex¬ 
plain conditions and try to satisfy them? Or do you curt¬ 
ly dismiss the subject as unimportant? Some nursery¬ 
men. I know, look only at their own side of the case and 
cannot put themselves in the shoes of their customers. 
Usually there are two sides to a case and it is a pretty 
good policy to look at a question from the other fellows 
point of view. 
Anyhow, no matter if you are right or wrong, it pays 
to be courteous, and it pays to satisfy your customer, 
even at some sacrifice to yourself. 
A satisfied customer is a good advertisement but a 
dissatisfied one can do you a world of harm. 
Mr. Statler has the right point of view. 
