THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
35 
NORTHERN RETAIL NURSERYMEN’S ASSOCIATION 
The Convention of the Northern Retail Nurserymen’s 
Assoeiation was held at Ryan Hotel, St. Paul Minnesota. 
Deeemher 18th, 19th. and 20th, 1923. 
President Torgeson’s opening address ably summed up 
progress that had been made in the affairs of the asso¬ 
ciation. Mr. Torgeson strongly urged that a written Code 
of Ethics be adopted by this association setting forth a 
concrete and complete statement, our policies in respect 
to our dealings with each other and with the public. The 
controlling idea being to give full value in goods and 
service. 
The president’s suggestion was acted upon and a com¬ 
mittee appointed to draft a Code of Ethics. 
Mr. M. R. Cashman gave a good talk about the work 
being done by the American Association and called at¬ 
tention to the catalog of “Standardized Plant Names,” 
urging all nurserymen to secure a copy and USE it. 
It was unanimously adopted that the Northern Retail 
Nurserymen’s Association become affiliated with the 
American Association of Nurserymen. 
In order to foster more general interest in “Tree 
Planting Week” the committee was appointed to call 
opon the Governor of the State and urge him to proclaim 
“Tree Planting Week” in Minnesota, and arrange to get 
as much publicity of this movement as possible. 
“Horticultural Standards,” as adopted at the 1923 Con¬ 
vention of the American Association of Nurserymen, was 
given by C. H. Andrews and it was unanimously carried 
that the Northern Retail Nurserymen’s Association adopt 
them. A motion being carried for the Secretary to get 
copies of “Horticultural Standards” and send one to 
each member. 
A draft of the Code of Ethics was presented and 
adopted, it read as follows: 
First: To consider my vocation worthy, as affording 
me distinct opportunity to serve society. 
Second: To improve myself, increase my efficiency 
and enlarge my service, and by so doing attest my faith 
in the nurseiy business. 
Third: To realize that I am a nurseryman and a busi¬ 
ness man and ambitious to succeed; but that I am first an 
ethical man, and wish no success that is not founded on 
the highest justice and morality. 
Fourth: To hold that the exchange of my goods, my 
service, my ideas for profit is legitimate and ethical; and 
that it shall be my aim that all parties in the exchange 
are benefitted thereby. 
Fifth: To use my best endeavors to elevate the stand¬ 
ards of the vocation in which I am engaged. 
Mr. Robert Wedge gave an address on “Packing Nur¬ 
sery Stock,” treating of the various old and new mater¬ 
ials for wrapping packages. He showed a model of a 
machine he had invented for the economical use of a bur¬ 
lap-paper-asphalt wrapping that is a marked improve¬ 
ment over any bailing machine that has previously been 
constructed for putting up the smaller packages ot stock. 
Mr. W. G. McKay spoke about “Roadside Tree Plant¬ 
ing” but emphasized the need of after-care or it would 
work to the disadvantage rather than to the advantage of 
the nursery business. 
The Division of Horticulture, University ol Minnesota 
has been giving a short course for the past two years. 
They now propose to adapt the lectures the first week to 
the special needs of nursery salesmen and workers. The 
matter was presented by G. E. Cary, instructor in Land- 
scaj)e Gardening, and much interest was shown by tbe 
members, as this will supplement the instruction that is 
now being given their salesmen by many of the nurseiy- 
men. 
Mr. G. H. Ghinberg spoke on “Fair Play Between Nur¬ 
series,” an essential condition to harmony and a condi¬ 
tion that will prevail if the Code of Ethics is adhered to. 
“Recruiting a Higher Type of Salesman” was pre¬ 
sented by V. L. Rushfeldt who analyzed the various 
sources of material for order getters. 
“Problems of the Nurseryman” was ably discussed 
by R. D. Underwood. He took up in considerable detail 
the need of keeping costs of the various nursery opera¬ 
tions and emphasized that one or two crops will not give 
an absolute basis but the average of a series of years is 
necessary to give reliable data. This subject of cost of 
production and cost of distribution as well is one that 
those who lack practical experience in the business too 
often ignore to their own disadvantage. 
T. A. Torgeson gave us some additional facts and 
figures regarding “Getting Cash with the Order” which 
showed that his firm was collecting a good proportion 
in advance and that by proper presentation we all could 
collect much more. 
Professor A. G. Buggies gave a talk on “Pest Control 
and Fumigation.” In mentioning the White Pine Blis¬ 
ter Rust Prof. Buggies said that the Black Currant is 
most likely to carry the rust of any of the currants. It 
developed that the sales of black currants is comparative- 
ly.insignificant. There being a possibility that the quar¬ 
antine line might be moved westward under certain con¬ 
ditions, R. D. Underwood offered this resolution: “Re¬ 
solved that it is the opinion of the Northern Retail Nur¬ 
serymen’s Association that its members recognize the 
conditions relative to the black currant in relation to 
quarantine No. 26, and that they will discontinue the 
propagation of black currant; that this action be certi¬ 
fied to the Federal Horticultural Board with the recom¬ 
mendation that the quarantine line be moved west of the 
Great Plains area.” The resolution was carried. 
Landscape gardening as a phase of the nursery busi¬ 
ness that is one of the most promising and profitable for 
the nurseryman do develop, was the theme talked on by 
E. C. Hilborn who is quite proficient in explaining the 
principles governing the proper landscape development 
of home and public grounds. 
Memorandum was made to have the Legislative Com¬ 
mittee take up matter of a lien law in Minnesota so as to 
make it cover the furnishing of nursery stock, also a law 
to permit suit to collect a bill to be brought in the town 
specified as place for payment. 
E. C. Hilborn of Valley City. Nortb Dakota, was elect¬ 
ed to represent the Northern Retail Nurserymen’s Asso¬ 
ciation at the Convention of the National Nurserymen’s 
Association, in June 1924. 
R. D. Underwood moved that a committe be appointed 
to draft a resolution to memorialize the Forestiy Board 
regarding the State free distribution of trees, etc. 
Carried. The members appointed on this committee were 
