236 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
prised to learn of the number of gardeners, who appear never to 
have heard of the association, notwithstanding the publicity it 
has received during the past years, and how readily they become 
interested when approached on the subject. If each member 
would undertake to enroll but one new member, it would mean 
much towards strengthening the influence of the association in 
its field of endeavor. 
M. C. EBEL, Secretary. 
ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT JOHN BARNET, THE NATIONAL 
ASSO. OF GARDENERS, DELIVERED AT ITS CON¬ 
VENTION IN PITTSBURGH, AUGUST 14TH 
Fellow Members, Ladies and Gentlemen: 
It is indeed a great pleasure for me to welcome you on behalf 
of the National Association of Gardeners to the “Smoky City.” 
Again we meet in convention to review what has been accomp¬ 
lished during the past year and to make plans for the year to 
come. 
Many more members, I am sure, would be with us were it 
at all possible for them to get away. Assistant gardeners are 
almost unprocurable and day labor is beyond reach for our work, 
because business is such that wages are being paid far beyond 
what many owners of private estates are prepared to pay. 
Let us hope that 1924 will be better. I believe that we ought 
to be optimistic, especially since we now have visions of the 
young men entering the profession through the training offered 
by some state colleges. These young men will be able to relieve 
gaideners and superintendents for short periods at least while 
they are preparing to fill our places eventually. The talk of low 
salaries being offered is fast diminishing and rightly so, thanks to 
the efforts of the National Association of Gardeners. I think 
that the time is not far distant when gardeners’ salaries will com¬ 
pare favorably with any of the other professions. What is needed 
is publicity of some kind that will set forth the advantages to 
be obtained by being employed in such healthful occupation, the 
satisfaction of achieving something through contact with Nature; 
and the compensations received which cannot be measured in 
dollars and cents. 
Honesty and fearlessness for the right will always be reward¬ 
ed, and while there are employers who are not above being sus¬ 
picious, it is to be regretted in many cases that they have been 
made that way by many of the so-called gardeners, whom, I am 
pleased to say, the National Association of Gardeners has and 
will continue to bring to light as time goes on. 
It has been my good fortune to hold office during the inaugura¬ 
tion of the course of the Massachusetts Agricultural College in 
co-operation with the national association. While the number of 
students was not all that was hoped for, the coming term holds 
forth greater promise. It might be of interest at this time to 
announce that the Pennsylvania State College has acquired by 
the v ill of a wealthy resident of the state a fine estate, com¬ 
prising some two hundred acres, which will be at the disposal 
of the faculty for horticultural training. They are willing, I 
understand, to co-operate with the National Association of Gard¬ 
eners along the lines of the Massachusetts Agricultural College. 
When this subject comes up for discussion at our business ses¬ 
sion, I hope you will give it your earnest consideration and that 
a workable solution may be derived. 
An unfortunate incident occurred during the present adminis¬ 
tration when the integrity of the gardener and his profession 
was attacked, but the association ably defended the cause for 
which it stands (thanks to our worthy secretary), which created 
a closer fellowship between the local gardeners’ organizations and 
the national association, for practically all local organizations 
East of the Mississippi and some west of it passed resolutions 
endorsing the action of the national body. Let us at all times be 
ready to guard zealously the interest of our association and what 
it represents, whether it be the individual’s, association’s or the 
press, strike out for the right without hesitation. I might call 
attention at this point to the fact that while the officers of the 
association are ready and willing at all times to do their full 
share, without the co-operation of the members at large, they are 
handicapped in their efforts to advance the cause of the profes¬ 
sion, and that this lack of co-operation is not always due to an 
unwillingness on the part of the members to do their part, but 
rather to the inclination to “pass it along to Sweeney.” 
The secretary’s report will show that while we have lost some 
members during the year, the new members acquired will offset 
the loss, and the membership has therefore not diminished. It 
is to be regretted, however, that more members have not induced 
their employers to become sustaining members. The events at 
New York, Boston and Pittsburgh clearly illustrate how much 
interest estate owners have in the gardeners’ national associa¬ 
tion. To those who contemplate doing so, I suggest that they 
emphasize the point that our association is by no means a labor 
union in any sense of the word, but a means to an end whereby 
gardeners of the proper training can secure better positions and 
employers obtain the services of better gardeners. 
I am pleased to draw your attention to the interest being 
manifested in the local branches. It is not so long since we had 
only one; last year we had five and before the end of this year 
that number will be doubled. There is no doubt in my mind 
that if we are to advance for good, it has to come through the 
local branches. We may have to amend our Constitution and 
By-Laws, but that surely is permissible in an association such 
as ours. 
When we met in Boston last year, outside of the important 
business to be transacted, it was to be expected that we should 
see some of the finest and oldest places in the country. But in 
Pittsburgh, otherwise known as the “Workshop of the World,” 
we cannot begin to boast of things horticulturally though what 
you will see and judge for yourselves referring to the “Work-shop 
of the World.” I may be pardoned for repeating for I am sure 
it will be of interest to many from a distance, some of whom 
may look with scorn upon the smoke, but let it be clearly 
understood, that when we have no smoke, we have no business. 
Pittsburgh leads the world in the manufacture of iron, steel, 
glass, electric machinery, tin plates, air-brakes, fire bricks, white 
leads, cork and aluminum, pickles and preserves. Pittsburgh 
products have an annual tonnage two and a half times greater 
than New York, London and Hamburg combined. The value of 
Pittsburgh’s manufactures is two and a half billion dollars a 
year, which exceeds that of each of forty states. Pittsburg is 
the center of a county whose assessed valuation is greater than 
that of each of thirty-six states in the Union. 
Pittsburgh has labor pay-rolls of two and a half million dollars 
a day. Pittsburgh’s banking surplus is one hundred million dol¬ 
lars and is exceeded only by New York and Philadelphia. De¬ 
posits per capita are the greatest in the United States. Sewick- 
ley, where you will visit some of our estates, is Pittsburgh’s 
leading suburb. 
I should like to say a few words in closing with a view to 
expressing my appreciation of the co-operation and hard work 
of our local committees. They have met with obstacles and 
disappointments but have nevertheless worked out what I con¬ 
sider will prove to be a very interesting, instructive, and amusing 
convention, and while I am delighted to have the honor of wel¬ 
coming you today, the credit for your enjoyment belongs to the 
men on the committees. 
KEEPING MILDEW OFF ROSES WHILE IN STORAGE 
II. II. Faber, of The Pontiac Nursery Company, Pon¬ 
tiac, Michigan, writes knowing that a good many nur¬ 
serymen are having trouble keeping mildew off the roses 
in winter storage. The following information might be 
of value to some of them: 
“The last three years I have sprayed the roses with 
Bordeaux Mixture as soon as they are heeled in. The 
tops must be covered entirely with the mixture and also 
all the smaller branches. I am using 8 oz. of Bordeau to 
one gallon of water. Ever since we used this we have 
had no .trouble with mildew and our roses come out in 
the spring just as healthy as we put them in in the fall.” 
