TIIE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
227 
Tin: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION 
The splendid work performed by Gouneellor Curtis 
Nye Sinitli for the nurserymen of America, entitles him 
to their lasting gratitude. In 1918, with the help of ex- 
President May hew, he kept embargoes from nursery 
stock, thus permitting the nurserymen to ship their pro¬ 
ducts at a time when almost every other commodity was 
restricted. 
lie also kept the nurserymen posted in reference to ad¬ 
verse legislation and guarded their interests in many 
ways. 
With the embargo troubles cleared away, the war over, 
and with Quarantine No. 37 enforced, there seems to be 
less need for Mr. Smith’s seiwices, hence the executive 
committee of the National Association released him. 
The Credit and Collection Bureau which Mr. Smith 
was so successful in conducting, will be provided for as 
soon as arrangements can be completed. 
The unexpected action of the nurserymen in taking 
over the Market Development movement, as a department 
of the National Association has certainly placed a respon¬ 
sibility upon the OlTicers of the Association. The man¬ 
agement of this department or bureau is going to require 
a tremendous lot of executive and detail work, and until 
the work is organized, the officers of the National Asso¬ 
ciation will naturally feel their responsibility. 
Tbe Convention in Chicago also went on record as 
seeking aid of the Federal Government in securing crop 
reports on nursery stock, so that nurseiymen may more 
intelligently propagate and plant. 
Legislative matters in general have to be looked after, 
and these it was felt, could be seen to by an executive 
secretary, capable of managing the affairs of the Asso¬ 
ciation and the Market Development movement, as well 
as developing new activities of the Associaton and merg¬ 
ing the activities of kindred Associations, thus centraliz¬ 
ing as far as possible the nursery interests of America. 
It became known in Chicago that Mr. John Watson had 
severed his connection with the Princeton Nurseries. The 
executive committee sought him for the position of exe¬ 
cutive secretary, to give his entire time to the affairs of 
the National Association. It was thought that he could 
watch horticultural legislation in Washington, and when 
necessary appear before the right authorities there and 
do much to bring about a better feeling between the nur¬ 
serymen and the Department of Agriculture, which it 
must be admitted, as a result of Quarantine No. 37, be¬ 
came somewhat strained. 
The Market Development movement, from its inception, 
has had Mr. Watson’s support and help in its manage¬ 
ment at every turn. It was thought that there is not 
another man in the entire membership so well acquainted 
with the nurstuymen of America, their requirements and 
[)ersonalilies. This influenced the executive committe(' 
to recpiest Mi'. Watson to consider the propositon ol be¬ 
coming the Association’s executive secretary. 
Members of the Association would think themselves 
fortunate, indeed, if they could get so prominent a nur¬ 
seryman and one so eminently fitted, to look after their 
interests in this capacity. 
While waiting for the decision of Mr. Watson, the work 
of the organization has been largely suspended, but it is 
earnestly hoped he will come to a decision and accept the 
offer at a very early date. 
If he accepts, the duties now falling upon the legisla¬ 
tive committee, the President and other officers of the As¬ 
sociation, will in a large degree be delegated to tbe exe¬ 
cutive secretary. Should Mr. Watson decline, other ar¬ 
rangements will have to be made for the Credit and Col¬ 
lection Bureau, legislative matters and other problems of 
the Association. 
The officers of the Association expect, before our next 
issue, to have everything definitely settled, so that an 
announcement can be made in the National Nurseryman, 
as to what arrangements have been made for carrying on 
the work of the Assoeiation. In the meantime, Mr. 
Charles Sizemore, Louisiana, Mo., will attend to the sec¬ 
retarial affairs as he did a year ago. It is intended to 
retain Mr. Sizemore to carry on the Traffic Bureau, 
which he so successfully handled for us a year ago, 
hence the engagement of Mr. Watson would not in any 
way affect Mr. Sizemore’s position, except that some of 
the duties he is now performing would be taken over by 
the executive secretary. 
FUTURE STOCK 
American Nurserymen have been depending upon the 
imports from the old country for many choice ornamental 
plants that they will now have to raise themselves. Things 
that propagate easily will no doubt soon be in ample sup¬ 
ply, even thought large quantities used to be imported 
from Europe before Quarantine 37 went into effect. 
The choicest plants, however, as a rule are more dif¬ 
ficult to propagate and take longer to grow. With many 
things it is even necessary first to establish stool plants 
or stock grounds on the nurseries before propagating can 
be commenced with any degree of efficiency. 
Take plants like the Chinese Magnolias Magnolia con- 
spicua, Soulangkma, Halleana, and other kind that were 
originally imported in large quantities. They have to be 
propagated by layering, and with some kinds it takes two 
years to root before they can be taken off the mother 
plant. 
Where budding or grafting is necessary the stoeks 
must be raised first, which takes several years. 
Unless some Conipany with a large aggregation of cap¬ 
ital organizes a large propagating nursery to sup[)ly the 
growers w ith young stock, it will be necessary for each 
nursery to a greater or less extent, to go into the propa¬ 
gating business. The first essential is to establish a stock 
ground w here the stool plants can be placed for layering, 
inarching, or to supply wood for budding or grafting, or 
wdiatever })rocess is necessary to increase the particular 
kind desired. 
The i)lot of ground reserved for this purpose can he 
made very profitable, and should really be a part of the 
equipment of every nursery that carries a line of orjia- 
mentals. It should be a ])lece of ground, sheltered, and 
where it will not interfere w ith economic w orkings of 
the rest of the nursery, and of course if w^ater is available 
it would be an insurance against failure, although it is 
not absolutely essential. Some nurserymen have an idea 
