330 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
President Easterly’s address was instructive and sugges¬ 
tive. He called attention to several important features. 
“The finst of these I would mention is the policy of replac¬ 
ing stock at less than full value. This question has been 
before this association before, and I trust will have due 
consideration at your hands, and hope that you will de¬ 
termine what is the best for us to pursue. If its practice is 
conducive to a greater eonfidence between the nurserymen 
and the planter, if from every view point its influence is 
good, if it is right from principle and is making us money, 
it should be continued; if not, we should have the courage to 
abolish it. I believe that the principle of a thing is either 
good or bad, and believe in dealing with it along these lines. 
“Another important subject which should have your 
consideration, is ‘Standard of Uniform Grades,’ or a more 
uniform description by grades than now in vogue. In no 
branch of industrial activity are standards of greater neeessity 
than in the nursery business. A No. i tree undefined may 
mean one thing to one man, and a very different thing to 
another grower. Unless some fixed standards or descrip¬ 
tions are adopted to define qualities of nursery stock, how 
shall we decide that a given grade' represents a No. i tree? 
It is certainly most this in definiteness as to what a No. i, 2 
or 3 tree represents, whieh is responsible for many misunder¬ 
standings arising between nurserymen in their dealings. 
The ideals of one nurseryman may be graded up high, 
while those of another was relatively low as to what consti¬ 
tutes a eertain grade. I believe that much of this sort of 
misunderstandings could be obviated by establishing des- 
eriptions whieh would more elearly define grades of nursery 
stoek. For more complete plans for the standardization 
of grades I would call your attention to the papers read 
deforest he Ameriean assoeiation at St. Louis by W. F. Heikes, 
of Alabama, and E. P. Bernardin, of Kansas, and also the 
actions taken by the Western and Paeifle Nurserymen’s 
assoeiation s. 
GENERAL DISCUSSIONS 
Following President Easterly, papers were read by C. F. 
Barber, of MeClenny, Fla.; Charles T. Smith, of Concord, 
Ga.; and R. C. Berckmans, of Augusta, Ga. Mr. Barber 
diseussed the interesting question of “Pecans and Their 
Possibilities,’’ showing the great value of the pecan today 
and predicting that in time its value will be greatly enhaneed 
if the tree is given the proper care and environment. “To 
the coming generation,’’ said Mr. Barber, “the value of the 
pecan as a food product, a shade tree, and an ornament will 
be inestimable,’’ A free discussion, in which many questions 
were asked and answered, followed the paper read by Mr. 
Barber, intimating the great interest exhibited in this tree 
by the nurserymen. 
“Fraternity Among Nurserymen’’ was the subject of Mr. 
Smith’s talk. He stated that the interchange of ideas and 
thoughts that had been made by the nurserymen during the 
13 years of their organization was largely responsible for the 
ever inereasing prosperity and suecess of the members of the 
association, and that indications point toward even a brighter 
future. He desired that the fraternity spirit be promoted 
and the nurserymen be brought closer to each other. 
R. C. Berckmans gave an instructive talk on “How the 
Southern Nurserymen May Increase the Demand for 
Ornamental Stock of All Kinds.’’ Mr. Berckmans said that 
shade or ornamental trees should be planted not with the sole 
eonsideration in mind of their beauty, but of their adaptabi¬ 
lity to the soil. ‘‘The nurseryman,’’ he said, “should know 
the soil in his section and should make it his duty to advise 
his eustomers as to the best trees for the respective soils.’’ 
E. G. Hill, of Richmond, Ind., a prominent member of the 
Northern Association of Nurserymen, and one of the leading 
rose growers in the United States, made a short personal talk 
to the delegates. He advised them to make establishments 
attractive and as pretty in appearance as possible, otherwise 
the neighboring people would not be so likely to ornament 
their yards and parks with his products. At the conclusion 
of Mr. Hill’s talk the meeting was adjourned for dinner. 
THE AFTERNOON SESSION 
The afternoon session was ealled to order by President 
Easterly at 2 o’clock. The session was given over almost 
entirely to an address by Professor W. N. Hutt, state horti¬ 
culturist, of Raleigh. Professor Hutt gave a highly instrue- 
tive talk, using young trees on exhibition to show more plainly 
the points carried out in his lecture. The annual business 
report of the association was made by secretary A. I. Smith, 
of Knoxville, Tenn., after which the meeting adjourned in 
order that the visitors might attend the baseball game be¬ 
tween Greensboro and Winston-Salem as the guests of the 
loeal nurserymen. 
The following prominent Southern Nurserymen attended 
the Greensboro eonvention; W. A. Easterly, president, 
Cleveland, Tenn.; Aubrey Frink, vice-president of Win- 
ehester, Tenn.; A. I. Smith, secretary-treasurer of Knoxville, 
Tenn.; R. C. Chase, of Huntsville, Ala.; A. A. Newsom, of 
Knoxville, Tenn.; J. C. Hale, Winchester, Tenn.; C. J. 
Griffin, Jacksonville, Fla.; C. F. Barber, MaClenny, Fla.; 
W. T. Wood, Richmond, Va.; C. T. Smith, Concord, Ga.; 
R. C. Berkmans, Augusta, Ga.; J. C. Miller, Rome, Ga.; 
W. F. Heikes, Huntsville, Ala.; Prof. E. R. Sake, Washing¬ 
ton, D. C.; Harry Nieholson, Winchester, Tenn.; Prof. W. 
M. Hutt, State Entomologist, Raleigh; Messrs. John Van 
Bindley, 0 . W. Howard, Paul C. Bindley, John A. Young 
of Greensboro and M. J. Reitzell of Liberty. 
The convention selected Augusta, Ga., for the loeation of 
the meeting of the association next year, after which an 
election of new officers was held. E. W. Chattin, of Win- 
ehester, Tenn., was eleeted president; O. J. Howard, of 
Greensboro, vice-president; and A. I. Smith, of Knoxville, 
Tenn., was re-elected seeretary and treasurer. 
COMMENT ON SOUTHERN NURSERYMEN’S 
MEETING 
The program was carried out in full except as erased. 
There was an attendance of 50 who gave close attention to 
the proceedings including the festivities. Papers were of 
interest and called forth full diseussion. Visits to Van 
