THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
173 
a total increase of about 60%. The following is an exact 
copy of their petition to the commission: 
“There is a heavy movement of this traffic by ex¬ 
press” and in many instances, bales or boxes are of 
such size and weight as to make them difficult to 
handle on tracks and in trains, and we believe the 
shipping of this class of matter by express should 
not be encouraged by special rating. Nursery stock 
is neither food nor drink and should pay the First 
class rate. 
The change from Second to First Class was protested 
and the position taken that such change would only add 
to the burdens of the Nurserymen and would not de¬ 
crease nursery shipments by express as nursery stock 
was very seasonable and it was absolutely necessary for 
all small bales to move by express on account of the One 
Hundred Pound minimum of the railroads and poor 
freight service, etc. Also late fall shipments on account 
of the cold and late spring shipments on account of the 
warm weather made it necessary to ship large quantities 
of nursery stock by express regardless of the rate. 
However we did agree with the express people that 
600, 800 and 1000 pound bales or boxes were too heavy 
for express shipments and when asked what maximum 
size package should be allowed for express shipments 
advised them that from nurserymen consulted it ap¬ 
peared that a 400 or 450 lb. package would answer the 
purpose generally. I think this question should be dis¬ 
cussed here and a resolution passed stating what size 
package this Association thinks should be sent by ex¬ 
press and this information be given the express com¬ 
panies and the commission, otherwise if these large pack¬ 
ages continue to move by express its only a short time 
when they will raise the rates and prohibit such pack¬ 
ages altogether. 
Believe a favorable impression was made with the 
commission, but will not know until some time in July 
or August. 
Embargoes 
For nearly four weeks your Traffic Manager was 
working between Chicago and St. Louis with the em¬ 
bargo situation and while everything was not accom¬ 
plished that was desired by the nurserymen, feel confi¬ 
dent that those gateways would have been completely tied 
up if it had not been for such efforts as were put forth 
and it was on the first trip that we learned of the ruling of 
Mr. Kendall of the car service commission that nursery 
stock was not perishable freight and should be classed 
with wheat, corn, oats, etc. Do not think it is necessary 
here to mention this further as all of you no doubt are 
familiar with the whole proceeding so thoroughly ex¬ 
plained in the American Nurseryman and other trade 
papers. 
Claims 
290 Loss, Damage and over-charge claims have been 
collected during the year amounting to: $6567.65. 
$7700.00 in claims are still pending. Several of 
these are tied up by the R. R. Administration Red 
Tape who have ruled that all claims of $500.0 or 
more must be submitted and approved by them be¬ 
fore the carriers can make payment. Feel confi¬ 
dent that 85% of this $7700.00 will be collected. The 
increase in number and amount of claims this ypar 
over last shows that the membership is gradually 
taking advantage of this service. 
Executive Secretary John Watson, whose activities were 
endorsed ana efficiency appreciated at the Convention 
PLATFORM ON LEGISLATION ADOPTED BY THE 
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NURSERYMEN 
AT THE CHICAGO CONVENTION 
Preamble or General Statement of Position 
The members of the American Association of Nurserymen real¬ 
ize the necessity as fully as any persons in the United States for 
preventive and remedial measures, under government direction, 
to control and arrest the spread of insect pests or plant diseases, 
capable of injury to the nation’s Agricultural and Horticultural 
interests. As a group we have a fuller appreciation of the neces¬ 
sity of efficient, economic control of such pests in relation to Hor¬ 
ticulture than can any other; for in our industry of propagating 
and rearing young plant life, we can appreciate with fuller com¬ 
prehension in the event of annihilation, th utter inability of re¬ 
placing in any one generation our vast timber orchard and land¬ 
scape resources. 
We appreciate, too, and acknowledge gratefully the indefatigable 
efforts of many capable entomologists and plant pathologists who 
have labored with an integrity of purpose to prevent or arrest the 
spread of pests or diseases, injurious to plant life. 
As an Association and individually we do, however, protest 
against certain laws, both State and Federal, designed to protect 
plant life and the industries dependent upon it, but which in their 
execution, place greatly increased demands upon the nurserymen 
for production, while at the same time these laws have put in 
jeopardy the capital already invested in the nursery industry; 
have prevented the securement of sufficient additional capital 
with which to expand our business to meet existing demands upon 
it, and further they have stifled that fondness and enthusiasm for 
plant breeding and propagation that is necessary to develop any¬ 
thing requiring a decade or more to produce and market 
The American Association of Nurserymen propose the following 
articles as a general outline of requirements felt necessary for 
the safe-guarding and promotion of its industry, without conflict¬ 
ing with the protection and encouragement that may be requisite 
for other branches of Agriculture. For the securement of these 
ends, it instructs its officers to use their efforts and the facilities 
of the Association, and members will individually assist as ,may 
be required, or as opportunity affords. 
Inspection .and Certification Advocated for Pest Control. 
For the control of injurious insect pests and plant diseases, nur¬ 
serymen advocate the policy of inspection of nursery stock, and 
