THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
179 
lions ('onnnitlee, and he will hiing you a snitahle i-eporl 
at the proper time. Yet 1 cannot pass this announeeinent 
hy witlioLit making special reference to our lime-honon'd 
and beloved treasurer, J. W. Hill, whos(‘ sudden death 
hut a few days ago is so keenly felt hy every memlxM’. 
We have not lost him, for his kindly ])ersonalily amt his 
friendliness and helpfulness to individuals and ollicially 
to our association were so marked that our memory of 
him will always he a happy and helpful one. Under the 
hy-laws it became my duty to ai)point his successor and 
Mr. L arl Needham consented to act for the unexpired 
term. 
STANDARDIZED PLANT NAMES 
The publication of Standardized Plant Names has cost 
over t}>15,000.()0 in printers’ bills alone, an amount far in 
excess of any advance estimate. The Nomenclature Com¬ 
mittee will give a deelailed report and I trust this asso¬ 
ciation will join in helping reduce the remaining liability, 
a burden borne by a few members of the Joint Com¬ 
mittee. 
PROGRAM AND ARRANGEMENTS 
The Committee on Program and i\rrangements co-op¬ 
erating with the Executive Committee have jirovided you 
with one of the best convention iirograms we have evt'r 
had. Knowing the special apjieal of the sad sea waves 
and the boardwalk to our landlocked members, a single 
session a day for our meetings was decided u})on. In 
return for the unstinted time and devoted labor of Messrs. 
Miller and Meehan and their committees in your Ijehalf, 
will you not show your thanks by helping carry out 
all arrangements according to schedule. 
During these business sessions, forget for a lime that 
order for Peegee Ilydrangeae and join your fellow mem¬ 
bers ill the convention hall. Your bigger business wel¬ 
fare is at stake as well as that of your fellow members. 
Lobby-loafers never helped the American Association of 
Nurserymen any more than ambulance chasers have 
helped the legal and medical professions. 
In closing, may I ask that you give the succeeding ad¬ 
ministration your heartiest sujiport and confidence. May 
I repeat that it must have your hearty and active help 
if it is to give you in return the service you may then 
rightly expect of it. 
Harlan P. Kelsey, President. 
SECRETARY AND TRAEEIC MANAGER’S REPORT 
EXPRESS COMPLAINT 
In January our formal complaint against the Express Com¬ 
pany for the restoration of the second-class rating on nursery 
stock was heard by Special Examiner in Chicago. The Secre¬ 
tary with Commerce Attorney and several representatives from 
the nursery interests were present and gave testimony as to why 
this rate should be restored. After the hearing had adjourned 
and in conversation with the Examiner, we were of the opinion 
that he was going to recommend to the Commission that the 
nurserymen’s plea for second-class rating be granted on all ship¬ 
ments five hundred pounds and less and first-class rating on 
shipments over five hundred pounds up to one thousand pounds, 
and above that one and one-half times first-class, but when his 
report was made to the Commission, for some reason, it was 
his opinion there was no justification for second-class rating 
on nursery stock shipments. 
We then arranged a hearing before the Commission in Wash¬ 
ington, which was granted for March 15th but neither Commerce 
Counsel nor Secretary could be present and it was postponed 
until June 28th, at which time we will endeavor to have the 
Commission restore the second-class rating, at least on all ship¬ 
ments five hundred pounds and under. 
REDUCED CLASSIFICATION ON BULBS, CARLOAD LOTS, 
SOUTHERN TERRITORY 
During the year we were successful with the Southeastern 
and Southern Lines in having carload rate of 4th class estab¬ 
lished on bulbs in lieu of the double first-class rating that has 
been in effect for some time. This makes a reduction of about 
63%. 
We have also been successful in lining up rates in certain 
sections of the country found to be out of line with other rates 
in such territory. 
MEMBERSHIP 
Last year 406 members. Out of this number 394 paid their 
dues and 12 dropped out, which shows a loss of 3%. 
This year 477 members. Up to this writing 426 have paid their 
dues, 43 have not and 8 have resigned. Should none of the 43 
pay it will show a loss of about 10%. 
The above shows an increase in membership of 83 since last 
Convention. 
FINANCIAL REPORT 
Total Receipts this Year .$43,842.88 
Total Disbursements .$26,179.79 
Balance in Treasury . 17,663.09 
$43,842.88 
RAILROAD CLAIMS AND COLLECTION BUREAU 
This year we have collected for the nurserymen railroad 
claims and collection bureau accounts $42,290.97. We have ac¬ 
counts and claims still pending amounting to $71,272.36, and 
continue to receive new accounts daily. 
Out of 477 members of the Association only 118 members 
placed their claims and collections with us. 
Respectfully submitted, 
CHAS. SIZEMORE 
Secretary and Traffic Manager. 
STARK RROS. NURSERIES & ORCHARDS CO. 
Concerning business for the season just closed, we 
are jileased to report that due probably to an exception¬ 
ally bard winter, business lagged somewhat until March. 
Since March each week has shown a consistent gain, un¬ 
til at close of season we believe that our total sales will 
equal or exceed last year’s total sales. Sales for future 
delivery are starting off in good shape. 
We have made no change in prices, which are the 
same as last year. To date our sales for future delivery 
are running ahead of the same lime last year, all of 
which indicates as good or better outlook for business 
than last year. 
Lloyd C. Stark, Vire President. 
ILLINOIS STATE NURSERYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 
The Illinois Stale Nurserymen’s Association will hold 
a mid-summer meeting at Urhana, Illinois, on July 31st. 
very interesting program has been prepared and a trij) 
through the horticultural buildings at Urhana, as well as 
a visit to Senator Dunlap’s large commercial orchards 
are a few of the interesting things that will he included 
in this program. In addition to the Illinois nurserymen, 
all ouside nurserymen are also cordially invited to at¬ 
tend this meeting. 
