Mr. H. W. Wood: I think not. I think the applications have been made under the old By-Laws and been presented in that view.

Mr. McVay: It does not look fair to those gentlemen who made application in the belief that the initiation fee was $5.

Mr. Willard: Their names have not as yet been acted upon by the Membership Committee. Meantime this amendment has been adopted, and the initiation fee is $25. It goes in effect immediately upon its passage, and I think all the applications for membership would have to be governed by that.

Mr. McVay: I think that is treating an ex-president of the American Seed Trade Association very badly. I refer to Mr. Walter P. Stokes. I am satisfied he will not object to paying $25, and yet I do not think it is treating him right to inform him now that he must do so. I do not know how he may take it, but I just want to protest on behalf of Mr. Stokes to subjecting him to such treatment as that. I do not know that he will take any exceptions, because he is a broad-minded man; but I do not think it right to treat him that way.

Mr. A. McCullough: I think Mr. Stokes was present when most of the committee were working on that Article, and if I am not mistaken he helped them. He certainly had notice, and every other member had notice when they received the Secretary's report of the last annual meeting containing a record of the preliminary vote taken and that the matter after vote had been submitted to a committee to prepare a revision. I know that the majority of the applicants have been advised that they were subject to the action of the Association at this meeting. I do not know what the Secretary has done, but in every case where the committee have been asked as to dues, applicants have been told that it was impossible to answer that question definitely, that the old order of affairs was $5. but that an amendment had been offered and would be brought up for vote and they would be governed by the result of the vote, and so far as I know, it was agreeable to those who applied.

Mr. McVay: I was not aware of that, and under those circumstances my protest would not be justifiable at all. Of course, it is very desirable that they should have been notified to that effect. Since they have been so notified I can see no objection.

Mr. A. McCullough: There are one or two names that have been proposed.who do not wish to let their applications stand if the Association increases its dues; but if not, they would like to have their names put in accordingly; and that

we might treat all parties alike, their names have not been posted.

President Grenell: In my opinion I should rule that the initiation fee be $25 for all new members who come in after passage of the amendment.

Mr. Woodruff: With regard to Mr. Stokes' individual position, it seems to me that the latter part of Section I would cover his case: "All membership to cease whenever any change occurs whereby an individual, firm, or corporation would not, under our Constitution, be eligible for membership, and can be renewed only by vote of the Association." That, together with the understanding as Mr. Willard put it, would imply that the renewal should be made without an initiation fee.

Mr. Willard: Mr. Stokes has never been an individual member, and he would not be covered by that at all.

President Grenell: I think that answers the question. Our executive business being now disposed of, we will adjourn to the Toledo Producers' Exchange and continue our meeting in open session.

SECOND DAY-MORNING SESSION.

In executive session Wednesday morning the following business was transacted, President Grenell being in the chair: The Chair called for the report of the Membership Committee, which was submitted by Mr. Albert McCullough, as follows:

SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT OF MEMBERSHIP
COMMITTEE.

. Mr. President, your Membership Committee would beg leave to report on the names that have been posted. We make favorable report of the following: W. H. Moorehouse & Co., Toledo, O.; W. H. May & Son, Alexandria, Va.; Walter P. Stokes, Philadelphia, Pa.: Rudy & Gartner, Paola, Kans.; John A. Dunlap, A. H. Dunlap & Sons, Nashua, N. H.; John J. Buffington & Co., Baltimore, Md.

The other two names that were on the list that were posted are: The Wisconsin Seed Co., Milwaukee, Wis., and F. L. Hogue, Carpenteria, Cal. We beg leave to withhold for the time being at least.

We would also state that we have had presented to us the cards or names of several other parties which have come to

us in an informal and irregular way, so that it was impossible for us to take them up.

There are one or two names that we presume will be presented later, and if such is the case, we would like to have the opportunity of making a further report during the convention. We would ask that you ballot upon the names singly and not collectively. We would prefer to see all names balloted upon individually. That is the contemplation, or suggestion, that has been made by the Executive Committee, and we make that part of our report merely at their suggestion.

President Grenell: We will vote upon the first name, that of W. H. Moorehouse & Co. Shall we cast a viva voce vote? Mr. A. McCullough: Under the Constitution we can only cast the vote by ballot. If there is no objection the Secretary can cast such ballot, but if there is any objection to that method the vote must be taken by casting individual ballots. If there are no objections I move that the Secretary cast one ballot of the Association for the election of this applicant.

The motion carried, and the Secretary so cast the ballot. President Grenell: The next name on the list is W. H. May & Son, Alexandria, Va.

Mr. H. W. Wood: I move that the Secretary be directed to cast the ballot of the convention for the election of this applicant for membership.

The motion was seconded, and there being no objection, was put by the Chair and carried.

Mr. W. A. Burpee: I move that the Secretary be instructed to cast one ballot for the election to membership of Walter B. Stokes of Philadelphia.

The motion was seconded, and there being no objection, was put by the Chair and carried.

President Grenell: The next name is that of Rudy & Gartner, Paola, Kans.

Mr. A. McCullough: I move that the Secretary cast one ballot for the election of this firm to membership. I would say that possibly the first names that were taken up were known by most of the people present. These gentlemen were endorsed by Mr. Peppard of Kansas City. I am not personally acquainted with them, neither is the other member of the committee that is here, but Mr. Peppard endorsed them very highly.

The motion was seconded, and there being no objection, was put and carried. The Secretary so cast the ballot.'

President Grenell: The next name is that of John A. Dunlap of A. H. Dunlap & Sons, Nashua, N. H.

Mr. Woodruff: I move that the Secretary cast the ballot of the convention for the election of Mr. Dunlap to membership. Motion seconded, and without objection, was put and carried. The Secretary so cast the ballot.

President Grenell: The next name is that of John J. Buffington & Co., Baltimore, Md.

Mr. H. W. Wood: I move that the Secretary cast the ballot for the election of this firm to membership.

Motion seconded by Mr. McCullough, and without objection, was put and carried. The Secretary so cast the ballot.

President Grenell: I will appoint Mr. J. C. Robinson and Mr. C. C. Massie as a committee to escort the members-elect into the convention hall and present them.

The committee later returned and introduced Messrs. Moorehouse, Buffington and May.

President Grenell: We will next hear the report of the Committee on Seed Adulteration, Mr. J. Chas. McCullough, chairman.

Which report, in the absence of Mr. J. Chas. McCullough, was read by the Secretary, as follows:

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SEED
ADULTERATION.

During the past year interest in this subject has almost wholly centered on the use of Trefoil Clover as an adulterant. Owing to the publicity given to this particular article by the officials of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, we believe it now opportune for our Association to institute some action in the matter.

Trefoil Clover is not grown in this country for a commercial crop, and it seems to be a reasonable proposition that only a small amount of the seed imported is required for legitimate

use.

While the members of this Committee of their own knowledge do not know that Trefoil Clover is used as an adulterant, they share the general belief that it is.

Assuming that to be a fact, the important question is how to prevent it in the future. We think this can be done by restricting the importation of the seed, and believe the imposition of an extreme high tariff on same will be the most efficient means of accomplishing this result.

We offer this as a suggestion only, and will cheerfully support any reasonable action taken by the Association,

Respectfully,

J. CHAS. MCCULLOUGH, Chairman.

President Grenell: Is there any gentleman who wishes to make remarks on the subject of seed adulteration?

Mr. A. McCullough: I would like to say a few words. If 1 could say all I want to say, it would not be only "a few words," but would extend a little beyond your limit of time and patience for listening to me possibly; but I think that the committee that have made that report have not given the subject sufficient attention for us to accept it as a final report, but that we can agreeably accept it as a preliminary report, and refer the matter back to the committee for further consideration.

This is a matter of vital interest to each and every one of us. While it is true that yellow trefoil is being talked about as an adulterant, and those who have been selling clover seed with a mixture of trefoil-and I am sorry to say there have been a good many of them-have been published by the Department of Agriculture under law, the Department has at the same time taken up other items as well, and have not confined themselves to clover. They have made a bigger fight and are today making a bigger fight on the adulteration of some other seeds than on clover-principally alfalfa. There have been more cases taken up in the last three or four years. As I happen to know, under the law the Department of Agriculture were authorized to fix rules and regulations of inspection, and to make their report and make the standard, and if samples and lots did not come up to their standard, they had full authority to, and did publish same, and such action has been taken by the Department in many cases rightfully. But it being an entirely new departure, they, like any human being, have made mistakes.

I believe that where mistakes have been made that they have taken steps, or are taking steps now, to correct same when their attention has been called to it, and if the seedsmen, or the Seed Trade Associations-the dealers-unite with the government officials and work together hand in hand, much good can be accomplished. If the seedsmen or the trade-the associations-who are interested in these items attempt to fight the government, they will make a mistake, or, if they withhold their assistance they will likewise make a mistake, for they must then expect the officials to get their information outside, and in any manner in which they can, whether it is