THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
653 
of on the car length, as at present, will be more satisfactory 
and more equitable to the nurserymen. Mr. Wood, who is 
also a member of the Western Classification Committee, has 
consented to a further discussion of this very important 
subject at the next meeting of the Western Classification 
which will be held at Glen wood Springs, Colorado, early in 
July of this year. It is highly important that the Associa¬ 
tion of Nurserymen should have one or more representatives 
at this Glenwood meeting. The question of minimum 
weights is of such vital importance to all that we can not 
allow this opportunity to further discuss it with Mr. Wood 
and possibly settle it with the Western Classification Com¬ 
mittee to slip by. It is our belief that we will experience no 
trouble in securing a 14,000 or 15,000 lb. minimum on small 
cars and a correspondingly low minimum on larger cars on 
the cubic foot basis. 
For the nurserymen to realize how minimums figured on 
the cubic foot basis will effect their pocket books, a series of 
figures are necessary, and I have brought with me a supply 
of printed sheets containing these figures and asked the 
Chairman to distribute the sheets among all members. 
DELAYED SHIPMENTS 
This is a subject of constant worry and annoyance to all 
nurserymen and yet it is the opinion of this Committee that 
it is a trouble which must be solved by the individual rather 
than through the Association or the Transportation Com¬ 
mittee. It is our belief that this is more of a local question 
than one for the Association to handle, especially since such 
troubles have their beginning during the nurserymen’s rush 
seasons. The members of the Transportation Committee, 
while eager and willing to do everything in their power to 
solve transportation matters for members of the Association 
would find it impossible to look after the details of each 
member’s traffic department, and therefore does not seem 
feasible to us for the Transportation Committee to attempt 
to handle this problem for the entire Association. 
SUGGESTION FOR TRACING SHIPMENTS 
Personally, our plan has always been to diligently trace 
all shipments, and especially the larger ones. This we do 
through the General Freight Departments instead of through 
the local agents, and by routing all shipments through to 
destination, we have practically eliminated the delay diffi¬ 
culty. Our office records show that 98% of all shipments 
leaving our packing houses go through ahead of schedule 
time. It is not necessary to furnish way-bill reference on 
car load shipments, but on local shipments, better results 
are secured if it can be shown, although not absolutely 
necessary. 
FORCING HIGHER RATES 
Care must be taken by the nurserymen in their agitation 
of transportation matters. Some of our fellow nurserymen 
have suggested they would be willing to pay higher freight 
rates in order to get shipments through to their destination 
in quicker time. It is the opinion of this Committee that 
higher rates would in no way effect the time service rendered 
by the railroads, for delays find their source in other depart¬ 
ments of railroad operation. Practically all the railroads of 
the country bill nursery stock and trees on what is known as 
a “red-bill,” which signifies goods of a perishable nature and 
which must be rushed through. We again suggest that 
exceeding caution be exercised in the agitation of matters of 
this character since we are all familiar with the fact that 
railroads find occasion to raise rates often enough without 
suggestions from their shippers that they do so. 
THE PERSONAL FACTOR IN TRANSPORTATION MATTERS 
In our brief account of the San Antonio meeting of the 
Western Classification Committee, we dropped a suggestion 
as to the importance of cultivating the acquaintance and 
extending our friendships among railroad men. We believe 
every member of the American Association of Nurserymen 
will agree with us that we can spend both time and money 
advantageously in the cultivation of those men of authority 
in the Traffic departments of our railroads who can, and 
will, and do exercise their power and influence in the settle¬ 
ment of questions which so vitally effect us. Experience 
has conclusively proven that it is much easier to confer with 
and secure concessions from those with whom we are 
acquainted. 
SUMMARY 
The foregoing, we believe, covers in a practical way the 
more important results of the past season’s work on the part 
of the Transportation Committee. There is, however, much 
to be done in the future but with the same kindly considera¬ 
tion and co-operation from every member of the Associa¬ 
tion, such as we have experienced during the past year, we 
feel that the work can be accomplished. 
TREASURER’S REPORT 
The detailed report of the Treasurer of the American 
Association of Nurserymen will be published in the Aug¬ 
ust issue. Lack of space prevents its appearance this 
month. 
Doings of Societies 
THE AMERICAN GLADIOLUS SOCIETY 
The American Gladiolus Society was launched at Boston, May 
27th, 19to, with seventy-five charter members at its christening. 
Great enthusiasm was manifest from beginning to end. Ihis 
Societv is to be congratulated on the strong and representative body 
of officers it has selected for its first year’s work. 
An invitation has been extended to the new society to meet with 
the Society of American florists at its annual exhibition at Rochester 
N. Y., in August. The Department of Horticulture of Cornell 
University, Ithaca, N. Y., has tendered to them the use of its trial 
grounds for the growing and testing of varieties of gladioli. 
CANADIAN NATIONAL APPLE SHOW 
The British Columbia government has declined to make a grant 
to the first Canadian National Apple Show that it was proposed to 
hold in Vancouver next November. $19,000 was asked for from 
the British Columbia government, and a similar amount from the 
Dominion government. The city of Vancouver had pledged $6,000. 
This means that there is little probability that the show will be held 
this year. 
The Pacific Coast Association of Nurserymen will hold its annual 
meeting at Walla-Walla, Wash., July 13th. 
