such relations and intimacies between the members as exist in all standard social organizations; and through and in that firmer business relation in which all can stand together in the effort to improve and perfect a standard of business integrity, which shall include purity of stocks, honesty of representation, carefulness of obligations, and promptness in execution. Also the discussion of all subjects of interest to, or belonging to the Seed Trade."

These were the first meetings ever held by seed dealers at which the heads of the various institutions have come together in such a friendly way that a feeling of frankness has been engendered. When we meet here we throw business restraint to the winds and each profits by the experiences of others, and I am safe in saying that the trade has been greatly benefitted in every way.

From the small beginning our Association has grown until we now number 165 members, including most of the prominent seed firms in America. The organization is not only strong in numbers, but also in the character of its membership and in its power for accomplishing much for the benefit of the trade. While we have not accomplished all which we hoped, still the older members will remember many changes which have been wrought through the influence of our meetings. It may be well at this time to call attention to some of them.

It was through the direct influence of a committee appointed by this Association that the postage on seeds was reduced from 16 cents to 8 cents per pound.

It was another Committee which secured special concessions in rates from the express companies on seeds, plants and bulbs.

It was through the work of the Association that the Cental System was adopted and has become nearly universal throughout the United States, thus doing away with the vexation of handling seeds by the bushel when the legal weight in the various states has differed so greatly. While onion sets are still sold by the bushel, the uniform agreed weight of 32 pounds per bushel has been almost uniformly adopted and it saves much vexation in measure

ments.

Our Legislation Committee have done good work in securing the adoption of certain favorable laws and the defeat of other proposed legislation which would have proved unfavorable to the trade at large.

The Committee on Tariff and Customs has striven to secure favorable rulings and united action on certain matters which have come up with the Custom House.

During the past year we have secured certain regulations in the Postoffice Department which permits the mailing of catalogues, circulars, samples of seed, etc., in quantities of 2,000 pieces or more at the same rate of postage heretofore paid, but without

the labor and expense of attaching postage stamps to each pack

age.

It is with pleasure that I congratulate the Association on securing this pleasant place of meeting, and I think that at the close of our three days here, you will agree that the Thousand Islands is a most delightful summer resort. We are greatly indebted to VicePresident Grenell for the arrangements which he has made for the meeting.

Thanks are also due to the Executive Committee and Secretary for their very efficient work. They came hundreds of miles to attend the session of the Executive Committee which was held on January 11th in Cincinnati, and I desire also to mention the hospitality of Messrs. Albert and J. Chas. McCullough who provided so bountifully for our welfare at that time.

I am more than pleased that this session is held as we might say, on the line between the United States and Canada, and am sure we are all glad to welcome the Canadian seedsmen who are present here to-day. We urge them to take a more active part in our Association hereafter, and remember that it is not simply an Association of the United States seed dealers, but Article III of our Constitution plainly states that it shall include members of the trade in Canada also.

We have much yet to strive for, and I hope that we can solve some problems during this meeting which will make the road easier for profitable business hereafter, and doubtless many subjects will be brought up for discussion by the various Committee reports to be presented here.

I am sorry to announce that since our last meeting there have been three deaths among our members, namely:

J. S. Reynolds, the veteran seed dealer of Kansas City.

J. M. Kimberlin, the pioneer seed grower of the Pacific Coast, and Frank Seeberger, the well-known field seed dealer of Crown Point, Ind.

During the past year I have been in correspondence with the Presidents of the American Association of Nurserymen and the Society of American Florists, and I would recommend that we co-operate with these societies in securing the adoption of any legislation which would prove favorable to any one or all of these allied interests. The Nurserymen held their meeting last week and I hope to receive some communication from them which will be presented for your consideration. We should also be ready to make our requests known to these two societies, either by special committee to be appointed here, or through our Executive Committee or officers.

I would also recommend that we have a special Transporta

tion Committee which would include the consideration of express rates and freight classifications in the east, west and south, and to secure, if thought desirable, a uniform classification instead of the great diversity which now exists, not only on seeds, but on other classes of goods generally handled by seed dealers.

I would also call attention to the great amount of seed adulterating which has been done during the past few years. This is a very serious and growing evil which we as an Association and all honest, reliable seed dealers should use every effort to discourage. During the past few years immense quantities of yellow trefoil have been imported and mixed with alfalfa and red clover, thus causing a great deal of complaint. There are very few seed dealers who are able to distinguish the difference between these seeds, especially when but a small per cent. of the trefoil is mixed in, and as trefoil is imported for no other purpose than as an adulterant, I think we should petition Congress to prohibit its importation, or put a special duty on it so high as to be practically prohibitive.

As the Secretary has informed you in his announcement of this meeting, the Question Box is now open, and I hope that the members will make free use of it. Anything of interest to you, will undoubtedly be of interest to other seed dealers, and much information can be gained by this class of discussion.

The President: We will now have the Secretary-Treasurer's report, and after that, if there is nothing more before us as an executive session we will have a recess in order that the members may invite their guests to be with us in open session. We have some very fine speakers and we would like the guests to hear what they have to say.

The Secretary-Treasurer then read his report, which was as follows:

SECRETARY'S REPORT.

Mr. President and Members of the American Seed Trade Association:

Gentlemen-It has been customary for the Secretary to call the Annual Report of the Association, his report, but this year it seems that an additional report is to be expected.

It may not be necessary to refer to the Annual Report to recall a resolution that the address of Mr. Geo. H. Maxwell

of Chicago on "The Possibilities of a Ten-Acre Farm," which was delivered before this body at St. Louis last year, be printed in pamphlet form and sent out for the use of members and anyone interested.

Five thousand of these pamphlets were printed. Upwards of 4,000 were sent out to the members, to Mr. Maxwell and others, and something over 100 were mailed to every agricultural paper in the United States and Canade having a circulation of 5,000 or more. There are about 1,000 on hand.

In addition one of our members asked to have printed and paid for, 2,000 copies for distribution among his customers through his catalogue.

Since June, 1904, following the convention there has been a loss in our membership of ten. One has sold out, two have resigned, there has been one death and six have been dropped from the rolls, leaving a total of 158.

Mr. McCullough: Mr. President, before this executive session is closed I would like to say a word. It has been customary in the past to appoint an Auditing Committee, and have a report from it. It seems to me that in justice to our Treasurer such a committee ought to be appointed, and I would move that such action be taken.

Which, being duly seconded, was adopted, and the Chair appointed Messrs. J. Chas. McCullough and J. H Ford a committee to ardit the books and vouchers of the Treasurer, and to report at a later meeting.

It was then moved by Mr. G. B. McVay and duly seconded "That we do now adjourn this executive session, to meet again in open session in fifteen minutes.

And the meeting thereafter adjourned, to meet again at II:30 A. M.

THIRD SESSION.

The third session was called to order at 9:30 A. M., on Wednesday, June 21st, 1905. The President, Mr. Charles N. Page, being in the chair.

The President: In calling this session to order I wish to say that we have a large quantity of business to get through, and we will have to "hustle" in order to get it finished in time.

We have several reports to come before us, and I think this would be as good a time as any to receive and discuss them. Some of them are in the hands of the Secretary, and I would ask him to read them.