So we are kind of in a mess there right now. We'd be glad to have the
Association meet at Beltsville, and we have right good facilities there
for meetings, but as far as any plantings in the area, a lot of the work
we are doing, we are kind of going through a period of change right now
and getting re-established, and I want you to know the situation.
President Davidson: Well, we have been forewarned. It's a case, I judge,
of not being unwilling to see us, but you are not so anxious, for us to
see you, is that it?
Dr. Crane: I wouldn't want you to come there under false hopes that you
would see a lot.
Mr. Gravatt: I would like to say we have done quite a lot of work in
breeding chestnuts and also work with forest types, crossing American
chestnuts and Chinese. But I agree quite with Dr. Crane, that we haven't
so much to show you there. Of course, it's a dog-gone good thing to get
familiar with these diseases and see what you are up against, because
all through the history of nut culture, and so forth, one of the basic
defects has been the failure to appreciate the importance of insect and
disease factors. And we are very much in need of more basic research
along those lines, but I agree with Dr. Crane that at present we have a
limited amount to show you there.
Of course, there is the Plant Industry Station there with a lot of
experimental work, greenhouse work and all sorts of basic research work,
fertilization work, and so forth, going on there. A lot of people like
to come to Washington. Our plantings are pretty much the same condition
as Dr. Crane's and not a display proposition such as you have here at
TVA.
President Davidson: Suppose we regard this report, then, as temporary
and hear more from you later.
I think that concludes the reports.
The Board of Directors, unless there is some other order of business to
be taken up, have some recommendations to make to the Association. One
is the recommendation that the Association place the annual membership
fee at $3, the supporting membership fee at $10 and the life membership
fee at $75. They didn't wish to take the responsibility of doing
anything more than referring that matter to this Association.
Dr. MacDaniels: That could be handled in the by-laws under the
constitution.
President Davidson: We still also have another rather important matter
that's been referred to the Association, and that is the matter of a
sufficient amount of remuneration to p
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