256 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



there is in it; for how it is possible to get any profits out of the nursery 

 business at the prevailing prices, I fail to comprehend; and still farmers 

 and prospective fruitgrowers are protesting our prices. Why, it takes 

 about all the ingenuity of the modern nurseryman to make ends meet. 

 This will eventually have but one result. Some will be crowded to the 

 wall, while others will profit by the experience of their brethren and put 

 the business on a paying basis. 



Many vexed questions are being considered, to effect that end, one of 

 which is, shall nurserymen be specialists in growing certain lines of 

 nursery stock? Many are doing this, but planters and growers do not 

 approve of this plan. They dislike dividing their orders, and usually 

 purchase where they can get what they want. Whoever will tell us 

 just what varieties to grow deserves not only the thanks of the trade, but 

 something more substantial, in a big lump. 



Public favor is a fickle thing; it is as variable as the weather. The Mich- 

 igan planter wants Hill's Chili; the Ohio planter, Smock or Salway ; while 

 another, in Indiana, clings to Crawfords. In one locality nothing but 

 Golden Drop or Early Michigan is wanted; in another, the leaders are 

 cast aside and sorts of local reputation only are in demand. After all, 

 it is a lesson from experience, that nurserymen must use their own 

 judgment, and grow a general line of leading and best-recommended 

 varieties, which usually find their markets. 



As to what trees are best for orchard planting, we learn from experi- 

 ence that two-year-olds are most in demand, and hence are considered 

 best for transplanting. If I remember correctly. Brother Garfield advo- 

 cates the planting of one-year-old trees. He no doubt refers to the one 

 year-old budded, which are indeed very desirable for transplanting, pro- 

 vided the trees have attained sufficient growth from bud the first season 

 so they can be headed in at the proper height to form a desirable head. 

 All things considered, I believe that apple, pear, plum, and cherry trees 

 are at their best for transplanting at two years old. 



What shall I say of the future of the nursery industry? May we not 

 expect a change sooner or later? The brisk trade of the past two seasons 

 has encouraged nurserymen throughout the country to greatly increase 

 their plantings, under the impression that the present demand would 

 continue. I venture to say that, should this great impetus for orchard 

 planting in any way diminish, we will experience the greatest over-pro- 

 duction in nursery stock this country has ever seen. What results may 

 we expect from such an overproduction? In my opinion, very disastrous 

 ones to the nursery industry of this country. 



And now one more word about our meeting. We hail with delight any 

 means that helps to enlighten us on horticultural matters. It was a 

 happy thought of our government to appropriate so liberally for the 

 scientific and practical experimenting and testing of fruits, and for horti- 

 cultural meetings and institutes held under the auspices of our pro- 

 fessors and societies, for the special benefit of those who are engaged in 

 agricultural and horticultural pursuits. It is easy to point out people 

 who attend these meetings. They are a more intelligent class, and better 

 posted in horticultural matters, and hence more pleasant to deal with. 

 The organization of horticultural societies is also in keeping with the 

 progressive spirit of the times, as these gatherings are excellent oppor- 

 tunities for the interchange of knowledge and experience. 



