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THE NATIONAL NUESERYMAN , 
I ION. LOUIS C. Nurserymen will naturally be inter- 
(HtAMPTON ested in the personality of the Hon. 
Louis G. Grainj)ton, of Mieliigan, the 
author of the ])ro])osed “Crainpton Bill” which so seri¬ 
ously threatens the nursery industry. 
Through the courtesy of Mr. J. Edward Moon, Chair¬ 
man of the Legislative and Tariff Committee and Mr. 
Harlan B. Kelsey, President of the American Associa¬ 
tion of Nurserymen, we have had the pleasure of read¬ 
ing a speech made hy Mr. Crainpton before the House 
of Representatives at Washington, on the subject of the 
(iraml Canyon of the Colorado, in which he defended the 
rights of the American public against s([uatters and 
land grabbers that were encroaching on the puhlic do¬ 
main. 
As President Kelsey says: It is good reading and 
shows what a really fine man and faithful representa¬ 
tive of the people he is. 
Such a man will not want any unjust nursery hill 
enacted. 
Mr. Moon has been given rather definite assurance 
the Crainpton Bill will not he passed at this session. 
The danger however still remains and it is up to the 
nursery trade to prove to such men as Mr. Crainpton 
and the puldie at large that the trade itself does not and 
will not tolerate crooks in its membership and that spec¬ 
ial laws are not required to protect the puhlic when 
buying plants. 
ONE WAY OF SOLVING THE LABOR PROBLEM 
The labor problem is a serious one with the nursery¬ 
men in most localities, especially where the nurseries 
are located near large centers of population, where re¬ 
cently the demand for labor usually exceeds the supply. 
The nurseryman is at a great disadvantage competing 
for it as he can not pay the high wages, which other 
more profitable lines of industry can afford to bid. 
The Thomas B. Meehan Company, Dresher, Pennsyl¬ 
vania, found that during the war the employment of 
farmerettes in the nursery were very successful in many 
lines of work and could he used to good advantage. 
This spring it was decided to try them again 
so the following advertisement w^as put in the local 
])aper: 
“FARMERETTES: Fifteen white girls to work in one of the 
oldest and largest nurseries in this section. To plant and take 
care of small shrubs and plants. Employment from April 1st 
to August 1st. Healthy occupation out of doors for spring and 
early summer. Comfortable lodgings and board provided and 
good pay. Only girls between 18 and 30 years acceptable. Must 
be of unquestionable character and be able to give best refer¬ 
ences. Eighteen miles from City Hall, Philadelphia. Write 
for circular descriptive of work and conditions. THOMAS B. 
MEEHAN CO., Dresher, Penna.” 
From this advertisement were received 305 replies, to 
these were sent the following information, printed upon 
a folder, accompanied hy an application blank. 
The advent of women in the field of agriculture occurred in 
the early stages of the war and was due to lack of men workers, 
who had gone “across” or taken up vocations in factories, muni¬ 
tion plants, etc. 
The women took naUirally to the field w'ork_ assisting in 
planting, caring for and harvesting the various crops and in 
other ways, doing their part in producing food; a very essential 
necessity. 
Since the close of the war women have continued farm work 
to more or less extent,—in fact they are loath to give it up as 
their experience in the previous years has shown them that the 
life in the open afforded a good healthy occupation and was i 
remunerative as well. 
The year followng the close of the war, we employed five 
women in our nurseries. The next year we had eighteen, com¬ 
mencing work the first week in April and from then until the 
middle of May they planted approximately 200,000 one and two 
year old shrubs in our nurseries. 
From the middle of May until the first of July they propo- 
gated approximately 150,000 small shrubs. From the first of 
July until the first of August they hoed and kept free from 
weeds^ all of the young plants they had planted out in the early ^ 
spring'. i 
This year we will employ twelve to fifteen girls in the same | 
line of work. To one who enjoys the open air this work will 
prove to be both healthful as well as remunerative, and a whole- '1 
some out-of-door vacation. i 
We have recently built a dormitory which is set apart as ex¬ 
clusive headquarters for the girls. It contains a sitting room, j 
bed room, lavatory, dining room, kitchen and outside shower 
bath and everything necessary for their comfort. They are | 
given ample, good plain food and every care is exercised to ^ 
make them comfortable. 
This house is conducted under our personal supervision, and 
nothing permitted that will cast any reflection on the charac¬ 
ter of those who occupy it. No girl will be employed who can¬ 
not give us unquestionable references, and any one who does 
not maintain the standard of deportment or efficiency will be 
requested to leave at once. ' 
The girls who engage in this work are usi;ally stenographers, 
bookkeepers, salesgirls, etc., who take this as an opportunity 
to get out of the city for the spring and early summer. ;' 
CLOTHING, ETC. | 
We furnish cot, blanket, mattress and pillow. Girls must 
bring their own sheets, towels, and necessary clothing suitable j 
for the work required and must take care of their own laundry. 
A par of heavy soled shoes are absolutely essential, with 1 
heavy cotton stockings and leggins. , 
Skirts must be short, otherwise they interfere in stooping in ) 
work. Girls have found that a pair of khaki trousers, with ; > 
blouse are most comfortable. Some wear a pair of blue overalls. ? 
During the spring season, a warm short coat or heavy sweater ^ 
will be found very comforta1)le and necessary. A cap with visor 
for spring, and an ordinary farmer’s broad brimmed straw hat ' 
for summer. i 
Our firm has been established over 60 years and is honorably 
known throughout the entire country. 
Dresher is a small country village located three miles from 1 
Ambler, three miles from Willow Grove, and three miles north 
of Glenside. It is eighteen miles north of City Hall, Philadelphia. I 
We refer to the Pelham Trust Co., Mt. Airy, Philadelphia; I 
The Robinson Publishing Co., Hatboro", Pa., or any nurseryman I 
or florist in Philadelphia. i? 
RULES AND REGULATIONS i 
Hours of work are from 8 to 12 A. M. and 1 to 5 P. M. i [ 
(8 hours). 
Up to the first Saturday in July work continues Saturday af¬ 
ternoon, but from then up to the first of August, Saturday after- j 
noon is “off” but counted as a full day. 
Wages paid per hour, including board and lodging. Lost time, 
no matter what may be the cause, will be deducted. Lost time J 
may not be made up by working over time on other days. Im- > 
possibility to work on account of bad weather is figured as lost 
time. • i 
Girls must be at their places in the nursery where they are j 
working at 8 A. M. and 1 P. M. and must not stop work before \ 
12 noon and 5 P. M. Going to the store or Post Office during 
working hours will not be permitted. ? 
Girls must keep their sleeping room clean and make their i 
own beds. | 
Girls must be in the house or on the grounds immediately sur- ['■. 
rounding it by 9.30 P. M. and be in bed by 10 P. M. at which j 
time the house will be closed. J 
We do not drive our working force, but we expect them to 
conscientiously live up to our working conditions. ;•! 
The house is under our personal care and every effort will be if 
made to provide for the comfort and health of the girls work- |, 
ing for us. | 
To this, sixly applied for work, from wliieh the re- I 
quired number were seleeted. The Company has pul 
up a huildiug eoiitaiuiu" dormitory, mess I’oom, with all • 
eouveiiieuees for the comfort and health of the workers ' 
and they have every eoufideuee the ex])erimeut will jirove 
successful and in a measure help to solve the dilfieult 
labor situation. 
