valuable characteristic by its correlation with one, which while easily seen, is of itself of but little importance and does not effect the value of the plant for our uses. For instance a purple blossom on a plant of Extra Early Pea is of itself of no importance but is a certain indication of a tendency toward interior flavor in the green pea. On this account, accurate and detailed descriptions of varieties are of importance; where can we get them? The reply comes at once from seedsmen's catalogues, but can we? And ought we expect to do so? Their catalogues are published and distributed at great expense and are issued primarily for the sake of selling the seed they offer. They answer the purpose for which they are designed in proportion as they secure orders for seeds. Will this be measured by the accuracy and completeness of their descriptions? What ever your answer may be, the answer given by the catalogues themselves is no. Looking through the 1906 catalogues of 125 seedsmen who list Davis Wax Bean, we find that 77 speak of its good quality, 82 speak of the beauty of its pods, 96 speak of its vigor and productiveness of vine. 30 call it stringless and only 7 admit that it is stringy or not of best quality. Now this bean has been in cultivation long enough so that everybody knows of its character and value but I ask if a description which fails to mention the distinctly stringy character of its beautiful pod can be called complete? This is not an exception but a typical case, very rarely is any quality which could be considered as a defect, mentioned, while those which are valuable are spoken of in exaggerated terms of praise. If we cannot obtain full descriptions from the catalogues, where should we look for them? It seems to me that it is the duty of any one offering seed of what is claimed as a new sort, to furnish a full and complete description of the varietal characteristics not only of the usable product but of the plant. He can make whatever claims he chooses as to its desirable qualities but seedsmen and gardeners should not accept any new sort as such, unless it is accompanied with a description which will enable them to identify it. Often what are simply superior stocks of some old sort are offered under a new name. If this is done, the claim for a name should be accompanied with a statement of in just what respect the strain differs from that in common use. It seems to me that this Association can do much to secure such action by its members and that by doing so it would do much to bring about uniform conditions. But what of old sorts? It seems to me that here there is a field in which the United States Department of Agriculture and our Experiment Stations can work to great advantage, not so much through the trials aimed simply at determining which sort will give them the largest crop, is of the best quality and the most desirable, for this is often largely determined by varying cultural and commercial conditions, but at formulating complete and accurate descriptions of the exact character of the different varieties, which if accepted and used by seedsmen and growers would result in great uniformity and consequent value in the seedstocks in commerce. If our seedsmen could but unite as to the exact type each of the varieties now in cultivation should be, and our seed growers use only seed from plants of that exact type for stock seed and continue to do so for five generations, the betterment of conditions for both seedsmen and growers and of the quality of the vegetables in our markets would be greater than has come from the development of new varieties by hybridization or selection for the past twenty-five years. It is not so much new

and better sorts that we need, as better and truer stocks of those we now have, and these can only come through more exact definition of precisely what a plant of any given variety should be.

. President Grenell: We will now hear a report from our delegate to the National Council of Horticulture, Mr. C. E. Kendel.

Secretary Kendel: I will take this report up from the begining of the organization of the National Council of Horticulture, so that you can understand the matter better than you could otherwise.

REPORT OF DELEGATE TO NATIONAL COUNCIL OF HORTICULTURE.

The Committee appointed November 1st, 1904 at the World's Fair in St. Louis, consisting of the following persons: Professor Samuel B. Green, Professor L. H. Bailey, Professor L. R. Taft, J. H. McFarland, H. C. Irish, J. H. Hale, J. C. Vaughan, for the organization of a Horticultural Council, met, pursuant to call, July 20th, 1905, in Chicago. There were present of the Committee above named, Professor L. H. Bailey, Professor L. R. Taft, H. C. Irish and J. C. Vaughan.

Also, by invitation, C. E. Bassett of the Michigan Horticultural Society, O. C. Simonds, and M. Barker of Chicago.

Following a full discussion, the aim, scope, and composition of the organization was adopted as follows:

NAME

National Council of Horticulture.

OBJECT

To fraternize and concrete the Horticultural interests of North
America.

To consider the questions of public policy and administration,
which are so common to these organizations.

To act as a bureau of publicity in the interests of reliable information pertaining to Horticulture in its broadest sense. COMPOSITION

The membership shall consist of two delegates selected or appointed by Each National Horticultural Society, with nine delegates at large.

The Council shall elect an executive committee of nine persons, at least five of whom shall be delegates at large.

As a basis for the first permanent organization of the Council, the preliminary organization was retained and the following added to the committee, making nine delegates at large as follows:

Professor L. H. Bailey, Professor L. R. Taft, Professor Samuel B. Green, Professor E. J. Wickson, Univ. Calif., Berkley, Professor W. T. Macoun, Ottawa, Can., Exp. Sta., J. H. McFarland, H. C. Irish, J. H. Hale, W. W. Tracy, Washington, D. C.

Three of whom were to serve one year, three for two years, and three for three years, or until their successors are elected by the Council.

J. C. Vaughan was retained as Chairman, pending the final organization, and H. C. Irish as Secretary.

The first work outlined for the organization was to enlist the active co-operation of the leading National Societies on the lines named in the objects of the society as above.

The Secretary was instructed to prepare a circular letter, placing the matter before such societies at their next annual meetings, or through the officers or executive committees.

Messrs. Taft, Irish, and Bassett were appointed a committee to attend the meeting of the American Pomological Society at Kansas City.

The meeting adjourned, subject to call of the Chairman in October next, when it is hoped to meet with the American Civic Association at Cleveland, Ohio.

A letter was sent in September to Pres. Grenell requesting that he appoint two delegates to represent this Association at a meeting of the Council to be held in Cleveland, O., Oct. 4-6.

In response to which Mr. Grenell appointed Mr. J. C. Vaughan and Mr. C. E. Kendél to act as such. The report of this meeting is as follows:

The first regular meeting of the National Council of Horticulture was held at the Hollenden hotel, Cleveland, Ohio, Tuesday, October 4. Meeting with the representatives of the preliminary organization were the delegates from the American Association of Nurserymen, the Society of American Florists and the American Seed Trade Association.

The occasion of the meetings was opportune; it being the week of the annual meeting of the American Civic Association, and the public sessions of this body and the consultation afforded with its officers made clear to the delegates of these national societies, the possibility and the great opportunity for exploiting horticulture through the public press-a side of the horticulture council work which seemed to promise great and immediate results in all lines of the work.

The possibilities of the work of the council was gone into in considerable detail. Its standing and power in case its influence might be needed in a national way on questions of customs, postage or like work with the transportation companies: its power internationally considered on questions of nomenclature and other similar lines.

The delegates from the national bodies above mentioned while having no authority to bind definitely their organizations, did, however, express themselves as fully satisfied that great benefit might accrue to their respective societies through the plans proposed if rightly worked out, and all pledged themselves to recommend to their respective societies that a union on the general plan outlined by Professor Bailey for the formation of the council in July last, be carried out as early as practical.

But the question of promoting horticulture in a broad way on the nursery, florist and seed lines appealed so strongly to those present that it was decided-pending the definite action of these three societies themselves at their next annual meetings, which will not oc

cur for many months-to make a good preliminary trial of the proposed press news by means of private subscriptions to be taken up from leading members of the above trades, firms largely interested in horticulture in their respective lines. To this end a letter was ordered to be prepared, which should be sent out under the heading of the national council and signed by its officers. The letters to the leading florists to be signed and sent out by Philip Breitmeyer, representing the society of American Florists, J. H. Dayton, of the Storrs & Harrison Company for the American Association of Nurserymen, and by C. E. Kendel, for the American Seed Trade Association.

It was believed that by means of such letters requesting a nominal contribution from prominent firms, this experiment which has worked such wonders for the benefit of the American Civic Association could be tried in a similar way for horticulture, and the results when laid before these associations at their next annual meeting would afford them good and reliable data on which they could intelligently decide regarding their support of the proposed national council.

The meeting was greatly aided by the advice of J. Horace McFarland, president of the American Civic Association, and D. J. Thomas, of Springfield, Ohio, of the same association, and who is to be credited with the preparation of much of the news matter which has been sent out by that association. J. C. Vaughan acted as chairman of the meeting, and H. C. Irish, secretary.

Among those present during the sessions were: J. C. Vaughan, H. C. Irish, Philip Breitmeyer, J. H. Dayton, C. E. Kendel, J. Horace McFarland, J. F. Sullivan, Wm. Gammage, J. A. Griffith, D. J. Thomas and Adam Graham.

Letters and telegrams were read from Prof. L. H. Bailey, Alex. Wallace, Prof. John Craig, Prof. L. R. Taft, Prof. E. J. Wickson, Prof. S. B. Green, W. W. Tracy, Wm. Scott, T. R. Wilson, secretary American Apple Growers' Congress; E. Albertson, president American Association Nurserymen, T. V. Munson.

As agreed upon a letter was sent out to twenty-five of the largest seed dealers in and out of the Association, in reply to which contributions were received in ten-dollar sums to the amount of fifty dollars from the following firms:

Vaughan's Seed Store, Johnson & Stokes, Wm. Henry Maule, W. Atlee Burpee and Jos. Breck & Sons, which was turned over to Sec'y Irish by draft June 6, receipt for which is attached hereto.

A meeting of the Council was called at Chicago Monday, Feb. 5, 9:30 A. M. at the flower store of P. J. Hauswirth, Auditorium Annex. The report of this meeting is as follows:

One of the most representative meetings of the National Council of Horticulture that has yet been held was that at the Auditorium Annex, Chicago, February 5. There were in attendance Chairman J. C. Vaughan, Prof. W. W. Tracy of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., Prof. S. B. Green, of St. Anthony Park, Minn., Secretary H. C. Irish, C. E. Kendel, representing the American Seed Trade Association, L. A. Goodman, secretary of the Missouri State Horticultural Society, and on invitation O. Č. Simonds, P. J. Hauswirth, J. H. Burdett and M. Barker, Chicago. Some economical plans for the circulation of press matter in furtherance of the objects of the council were discussed and it was arranged to make an experiment

along these lines with the funds at present in hand, some $210. The results of this experiment will be watched with much interest by the entire trade in all its branches, as from the exchange of opinions at the meeting it was learned that the nurserymen, seedsmen and florists of the country are rapidly awakening to the importance of the work which the council has outlined.

Prof. S. A. Beach, Ames, Ia., was selected to take the place of J. H. Hale, of Glastonbury, Conn., resigned. Mr. Goodman assured the council that the American Pomological Society desired to be represented on the council as soon as its objects were fully understood. It was arranged to request Secretary Wilson of the Department of Agriculture to have the department regularly represented at the meetings by two delegates, the number accorded each national society interested in horticulture. Committees were appointed to confer with Warren H. Manning on the classification, standard of excellence, etc., to be adopted in connection with the Jamestown exposition of 1907. At both the forenoon and afternoon sessions there was much discussion of the general plans of the council and good results are looked for early with confidence.

Acting upon request from the landscape designer of the Jamestown Exposition for advice and co-operation, the National Council of Horticulture at its last meeting designated different committees for this purpose. These committees have since been approved by Warren H. Manning, landscape designer of the exposition. The members are as follows:

Classification, Prof. L. R. Taft, Agriculture College, Mich. ; S. B. Green, St Anthony Park, Minn.

Prof.

Awards, L. A. Goodman, Kansas City, Mo.; Philip Breitmeyer, Detroit, Mich.

Standards of Excellence, Prof. W. W. Tracy, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.; J. H. Dayton, Painesville, Ohio.

Preparation of Call for National Congress, H. C. Irish, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Mo.; J. C. Vaughan, Chicago, Ill.

Special Events and Programs, Philip Breitmeyer, L. R. Taft, W. W. Tracy, L. A. Goodman. H. C. IRISH, Sec'y.

An informal meeting of the National Council of Horticulture was held at the Sherman House, Chicago, May 22, the occasion being the visit to Chicago of J. H. Hale, of Connecticut, one of the delegates at large. An informal report was made by James Burdette, who has had charge of the preliminary press work. At the meeting were Professor L. R. Taft, Secretary H. C. Irish, and J. C. Vaughan. This was Mr. Hale's first meeting with the committee, and he expressed himself well pleased with the preliminary publicity accomplished. Mr. Burdette's report, it is expected, will be ready next week and given to the trade papers. Data will be furnished for committees of the nurserymen, florists and seedsmen on which to base their reports to the annual conventions, two of which occur next month.

Report on experimental press service furnished by the National Council of Horticulture to 2,500 newspapers for ten weeks. To Prof. H. C. Irish,

Secretary National Co ncil of Horticulture.

Dear Sir:

The tenth installment of the experimental press service con