"We are Luddites" - Peter George's article in RGQ 70 #1

I believe the seed distribution is both a big draw and a big turnoff for members. On the plus side, growers like me tend to join plant societies that have big seed lists with lots of rare plants. I don't join to socialize. I guess that makes me a plant geek, right? On the minus side, let's say I am trying to build up a stand of a certain rare species. First, it is almost never offered. Second, when it is offered, there may be four seeds in the packet, or the seeds may be dead or wrongly identified. A lot of work goes into sowing these seeds before the problems are revealed. Given those circumstances, can you see why it has taken me decades to get certain plants established? Often, I have had to make an end run around the seed lists and find other sources.

I believe the solution is obvious. If I were running NARGS, SRGC, NALS, etc., I would split off a small group of professional-level growers, and have them propagate rare and difficult plants from seed. I would then sell the resulting seed at a premium in the distribution. Advantages:
1. Very rare seed would not be wasted, and would likely result in plants and more seeds;
2. Very rare seed would become much more available to the membership;
3. Rare plants would be preserved;
4. Seeds from this program would be much more viable and true-to-type than seeds from the general membership, and you could put more seeds per packet, so growers like me would gladly pay a premium price;
5. The growers involved would have a sense of ownership and personal pride that would very likely strengthen their commitment to the club;
6. The general membership will be much happier when they can actually germinate the seeds from the seedlist, especially when they find that the plants are correctly identified.

This plan could also be extended to not-so-rare plants which are in high demand. Just get a good grower to make a commitment to grow some specimens in a place where they won't cross with closely related species. And give the grower credit for his "product". Advantage list is the same.

I am becoming more and more convinced that preservation should be a serious goal of plant societies, and not just lip service. You can't distribute rare seed to the general membership and expect to succeed. Let the experts build up the stock. The alternative is to watch these plants disappear. Also, preservation and environmentalism are highly saleable among the millenial generation.