184 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
and at times almost hopeless complications which have arisen, 
yet it must be remembered that STANDARDIZED PLANT 
NAMES is the first publication of its kind ever attempted and 
that any reasonable delay that would enable us to produce a 
work that will be a lasting basis on which to build in the future 
is justified. 
Perhaps only the sub-committee who actually prepared this 
work will ever fully realize the frightful chaos in plant names ex¬ 
isting in America today and the peculiar difficulties involved in 
standardizing existing common plant names particularly of hor¬ 
ticultural varieties. 
Some 1100 copies of STANDARDIZED PLANT NAMES have 
already been subscribed for and with its actual publication, we 
do not doubt that the necessary 2000 more copies will be sold 
that will clear all expenses and leave a working balance. The 
“dummies” presented with this report show accurately what you 
may expect and it is hoped that many more copies will be sub¬ 
scribed for at this convention. 
There is a balance of $500 still due this association from the 
American Joint Committee on Doan Account; with the comple¬ 
tion of this work we recommend that this amount be abated as 
the American Association of Nurserymen’s contribution for this 
year. This association has taken a leading part in forwarding 
this project and we hope will back up the American Joint Com¬ 
mittee’s work just as heartily in the future. Now that the prin¬ 
cipal work is done, it remains for the American Joint Committee 
to continue as an organization keeping a full record of plant 
name changes and new names so that after five or ten years a 
new edition may be published based on the experience of Ameri¬ 
can Horticulture in actually using STANDARDIZED PLANT 
NAMES in over a period of years. 
HARLAN P. KELSEY, Chairman. 
j. Horace McFarland 
FREDERICK V. COYILLE. 
REPORT OF VIGILANCE COMMITTEE 
President Lindley has stated that vigilance work is the life 
of our association. I can quite agree that during the two years 
while Mr. Lindley was chairman of this committee, the work was 
carried on so thoroughly and systematically that nothing hut 
commendation was heard. As a result, your present chairman 
has not been able to satisfy himself that the job is being done 
as well as it could be. 
During the year, cases of various character have been handled. 
The first was the Tingle matter carried over from last year, in 
which four parties asked for refund. This case was closed 
upon advice from all parties that their money was finally re¬ 
turned. Some of these parties referred the matter to the Post 
Office Department and no doubt this had something to do with 
the settlement. This saved any refund on the part of the asso¬ 
ciation. It will be remembered that a resolution was introduced 
by Mr. Moon authorizing such expenditure if necessary. 
A number of cases have been handled where cash with order 
had been sent and no stock, or stock unsatisfactory was shipped. 
One or two letters brought results and only in one instance 
did we receive a reply from non-members intimating that they 
were able to settle any difference with customers without the 
aid of the Vigilance Committee. However, I have on file evidence 
that the matter was promptly adjusted to the satisfaction of the 
party making the complaint. It is gratifying to note replies re¬ 
ceived. Let me quote from a few only: “We received this morn¬ 
ing $30.00 which settles the case stock matter satisfactory to 
us and we want to thank you again for your good offices.” “The 
matter has been settled, the nursery returning balance of money 
for which they did not furnish stock. Thanks for your prompt 
attention.” “I write at this time thanking you for the interest 
taken in my adjustment. I am pleased to advise that I have 
received shipment covering my loss. Again thanking you, I 
am.” 
The point I want to make is that the buying public is receiv¬ 
ing benefit from the American Association of Nurserymen. Dur¬ 
ing the year, I have found firms both in and out of the associa¬ 
tion quite ready to do the right thing and in doing vigilance 
work it is encouraging to receive such co-operation. Real pro¬ 
gress has been arid is being made year by year and there are 
less unethical trade practices notwithstanding what one would 
be led to believe upon reading articles in the various papers. 
One aired thoroughly a case where strawberry plants were sold 
at $60.00 per thousand and later this case was taken up by a 
paper in another state. How ideal if these same papers would 
give as much space to articles on the good our association is do¬ 
ing and how few are the firms conducting business along ques¬ 
tionable lines. To sit on the side line and criticize is a good 
deal easier than doing real constructive work. 
It is true there is a big chance for improvement and as nur¬ 
serymen we should be very careful not to invite censure. 
Don’t put out misleading literature, whether it be catalog or 
an adv. There should no no statements that cannot be backed up. 
On the other hand horticultural papers should be very careful 
in accepting questionable advertising for if the firm cannot make 
good it is only a kick-back on the publication. 
Do not hire unreliable salesmen for the slick treeman is a 
pest and therefore must go. Let us face this squarely. This pest 
may be on your sales force or may be a dealer trying to affect 
some sort of arrangement with you. What the American Asso¬ 
ciation stands for and what it should insist upon from its mem¬ 
bers, is a salesman backed by business ethics so high that a 
housewife would be only too glad to welcome him at her front 
door. Don’t permit jobbers or dealers to use your name. You 
cannot afford to take any chances. Don’t sell jobbers or dealers 
unless they measure up to the standards set forth by the Ameri¬ 
can Association of Nurserymen for by so doing you make it 
possible for the questionable dealer to remain in business. To 
illustrate this, last winter comes the report that the Charles E. 
Kirby Company of St. Joseph, Missouri, were operating in Den¬ 
ver and that they were selling roses at $3.00 each and collect¬ 
ing 40%, or $1.20 with the order. Just lately this firm has 
been working in Madison, Wis., and I have here for inspection 
a copy of one of their orders. The State Nursery Inspector of 
Wisconsin had a warrant issued and they were fined $25.00 for 
not having a license, which fine was paid. It is this class of 
so-called firms or dealers our association must deal with. We 
must not recognize such business tactics. Here is an example 
of what is above termed a pest and it is up to us to try and 
eradicate. 
Faking the blueberry business is another pest which needs 
eradication. We quote from an articles from the U. S. Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture issued on February 19, 1923: “Unfortunately 
a few nurserymen are taking advantage of the work that has 
been done in the domestication and improvement of the blue¬ 
berry to deceive the public by advertising blueberries in a very 
misleading manner. One nurseryman at Rochester, N. Y., has 
been using in an advertisement an illustration of a hybrid blue¬ 
berry taken from publication of the Department of Agriculture 
issued in 1916. The illustration is used in such a way as to lead 
the reader to believe that this firm has for sale blueberries of 
the kind shown in the illustration, when as a matter of fact 
ordinary wild blueberries first transplanted to a nursery, are fur¬ 
nished in response to the advertisement. Furthermore, adver¬ 
tisements issued by this firm give very misleading information. 
One of their advertisements, in the February number of a well- 
known garden magazine, states that “by repeated transplanting, 
we perfected the root system of the plants;” that “now, you may 
grow blueberries as easily as any other garden berries;” and 
that “starting with our nursery-grown plants assures success 
under all conditions.” These statements give a very erroneous 
and misleading idea of the conditions necessary for success in 
blueberry culture. 
I look upon vigilance work as educational. We are making 
splendid strides. We cannot hope to sit at the top of the lad¬ 
der unless we are willing to climb round by round, and as each 
sells himself with the idea of a square deal at all times, a mem¬ 
bership in our association will become more and more valuable 
as time goes on. 
Respectfully submitted, 
L. J. FENDER, 
Chairman Vigilance Committee. 
Overheard in Peacock Alley 
First Sweet Yount] Thing —What is this American As¬ 
sociation of Nurserymen? Have they anything to do 
with nurseries for babies? 
Second Sweet Young Thing —No. I think they grow 
trees and bushes. 
First Sweet Young Thing —Oh! I thought they were a 
crowd opposed to this birth control idea. They are aw¬ 
fully sweet. 
