19G 
THE NATIONAL NUKSERYMAN 
believe this regulation offers the nurserymen many opportunities 
to serve the nation. 
EDUCATION 
One of the great lessons we learned from this war is the value 
of efficiency in our every day work. Education is the greatest 
handmaiden to efficiency. Here lies the greatest opportunity for 
any body of forward looking men. In your business, the per cent 
of education runs higher than in the general course of men be¬ 
cause you are specialists. For this reason, the promotion of 
education among our people becomes a greater duty for you. 
We must improve our rural schools. Let us improve our sec¬ 
ondary schools; let us advance vocational edudcation. We must 
advance agricultural education. Never in the history of the 
country has the importance of agricultui’al education been so em¬ 
phasized as now. We are fast approaching the time, if it is not 
already here, when agriculture will be taught in every school, in 
every grade from the humble one-room school house in the dis¬ 
tant rural community to our highest universities in our greatest 
centers of population, on a broader and bigger scale than ever 
before. 
We must see to it that our land grant colleges are adequately 
provided for in order that they may render the necessary ser¬ 
vice to the public during the new era that is before us. Not 
many years ago a college graduate in agriculture was looked 
upon as somewhat of a luxury by the great m ss of farmers. If 
he made good upon a farm it was because his rather backed him 
or because he had unusual luck; if he failed, it was because he 
was educated away from the farm and spent his time trying out 
the theories of some professor. 
Now this attitude is all changed. The college graduate in agri¬ 
culture is in the greatest demand. Farmers are depending upon 
these men as county agents in our extension work, to lead them 
right in this crucial period when a blunder, due to ignorance, 
means so much. Agricultural education means today, my friends, 
in many phases of agriculture, the difference between success 
and failure. 
The American Association of Nurserymen can wield a wonder¬ 
ful power for advancing education in general and agricultural 
education in particular among our people. 
PROBLEMS OF LAND AND LABOR 
You should take a leading part, gentlemen, in assisting the 
Government to decide upon a policy for the rehabilitation of the 
returned soldier upon land. You should see to it that such a 
policy is adopted as will first aid the soldier to begin life anew. 
We cannot do too much for him. He is not, however, a subject 
of charity. He is a hero who desires an opportunity to live and 
prosper among his fellow countrymen. 
While we should develop our land resources as worldwide con¬ 
ditions demand, yet, we must see to it that all available unused 
land is brought under cultivation and propei’ly manned before 
large new areas are reclaimed. I should be glad to have your 
body consider Maryland’s policy in regard to this important mat¬ 
ter. 
We must improve labor conditions in the country. This is a 
large subject which I cannot discuss at this time. It is a prob¬ 
lem, however, in which one and all can render a great service to 
agriculture. 
As citizens and representatives of a large and important in¬ 
dustry, you should study the great transportation problems of 
this country. This includes not only the futui’e policy to guide 
the conduct of our railroads, but also means by which we can 
profitably use the great merchant marine that has been built by 
American genius and industry. 
These and other problems of national import demand our at¬ 
tention. 
Finally, let us put on the armor of righteousness and justice to 
all men and face the future with determination and faith; up¬ 
holding the high ideals of American democracy and embracing 
every opportunity to render service to our fellowmen, to the 
great industry which we represent, and to the perpetuation of 
those ideals for which this great nation was established and for 
the defense of which our gallant heroes braved the dangers of 
the U-boat, machine gun, shrapnel, gas and liquid fire. 
THE BABY RAMBLEBS AT THE CONVENTION 
Tlie Baby Ramblers were much iu evidence at the con¬ 
vention and proved the truth of the old saw “A chip of 
the old block;” when serious business was on hand they 
were right on the job, cariying messages, handing out 
programs, hunting up different members and looking 
after things in general. 
On Wednesday at 10 a. m. after being properly washed, 
dressed and fed they held their annual meeting with all 
the seriousness and dignity of the grown-ups. 
After talking over plans for the coming year one fat 
little cherub gravely suggested that as the officers had 
conducted themselves in such a way as not to he caugnt 
in doing anything forbidden by their nurses it would not 
he wise to take a chance on new ones. 
This was unanimously agreed to. 
The subject that received the most serious considera¬ 
tion by the meeting was Gan Baby flourish under the 
new order of things? A scarcity of milk, uncensored mov¬ 
ing pictures, the toughness of chickens, were mentioned 
as some of the things that retarded growth and pre¬ 
vented healthy bloom. 
As nursie did not seem disposed to take action that 
would change things no decision was aiTived at, instead 
they all contributed the nickles and dimes they had been 
saving for a year to have a real good time. 
With the connivance of wet nurse, Mrs. Ben Davis, 
Baldwin, Mich., they stole away from the convention the 
same evening. As no reporter accompanied them and all 
were sworn to secrecy little is known of the glorious 
time they had but there was evidence of it the day after 
in whispers of Kelly’s Band, the Green Mill, Springy 
Chickens and the tired happy faces. 
HEARD AT THE CONVENTION 
Rice Bros., Geneva, New York, took orders amounting 
to $10,000 while at the convention. 
An orchard syndicate is acquiring title to orchards in 
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and other states, paying 
as high as $750 to $800 per acre for bearing orchards-. 
This is doing much towards stabilizing values. 
The shortage of homes in the United States will do 
much to stabilize values in ornamental nursery stock 
when building operations once begin. 
A sale of 60,000 peach trees %6ths at 22 cents w^as made 
at the convention; 25 cents was mentioned for apples, 
and 30 to 35 cents for cherry and plum. 
The hook “Fruits for the Home Grounds” prepared for 
the American Association of Nurserymen by U. P. Hed¬ 
rick, Horticulturist, New York Agricultural Experiment 
Station and from the J. Horace McFarland Press, Harris¬ 
burg, Pa., received much favorable comment from the 
different nurserymen at the convention. 
It seemed to fill the bill in every respect. 
It is primarily intended for nurseiymen to secure in 
(juantity, have their name printed on the cover and dis- 
