470 



HORTICULTURE 



October 1, 1910 



Seed Trade 



The Seed Crop Outlook. 



Each week brings us nearer to defi- 

 nite knowledge of the various seed 

 crops, though exact percentages ot de- 

 livery of many items may be some dis- 

 tance in the future. This applies to 

 corn and most varieties of vine seeds. 

 As stated in last week's issue, beans 

 will be somewhat short, but barring a 

 wet harvest and resulting damage, 

 there ought to be sufficient crop of 

 most varieties to satisfy the demand 

 at slightly advanced prices. Boston 

 «an take heart again because Hubbites, 

 while they count their coppers care- 

 fully, will have beans, let the cost be 

 what it may, and though they must 

 pay more this year than some others, 

 they are spared the awful faint of a 

 winter without beans. 



The information which has just come 

 to hand indicates that even late varie- 

 ties of sweet corn will not yield as sat- 

 isfactory crops as was expected up to 

 within a very short time. This infor- 

 mation may not apply generally, but 

 the source is such that we are bound 

 to give it credence as effecting certain 

 localities at any rate. We advise ac- 

 cepting this latest crop news with re- 

 serve until we are able to confirm or 

 deny the same. All we have been able 

 to learn up to within a few days, was 

 that late varieties of corn were expect- 

 ed to produce fairly good crops, and 

 we are not altogether convinced of the 

 opposite fact at this writing. It has 

 been generally agreed that if killing 

 frost held off until after October 1st, 

 most varieties of late corn would be 

 safe, and it is said that field varieties 

 have to a very considerable extent 

 reached this condition. However, a 

 week or two more will remove all 

 doubt, clearly disclosing the real situa- 

 tion. 



There is nothing that we can add to 

 the last reports about vine seeds. All 

 we learn is to the effect that these 

 will be short. We are unable to get 

 anything more definite. In tact, the 

 growers themselves do not know the 

 exact conditions. Harvesting will be- 

 gin within a few weeks, and then the 

 situation will develop more rapidly 

 and it will not be long thereafter be- 

 fore we get a pretty good line of what 

 the various crops will be. 



In our last issue we mentioned the 

 fact that sweet peas would be some- 

 what of a short crop in California, and 

 remarked that so far as we were able 

 to ascertain, they were the only item 

 on which there would be any material 

 shortage. Since then, we have learned 

 — though we cannot vouch for the ac- 

 curacy of our information — that dwarf 

 varieties of Lima beans will also show 

 a considerable shortage and it is said 

 that other varieties, especially the pole 

 sorts, will not be a full crop. 



Notes. 



An interesting novelty on exhibition 

 at Stumpp & Walter's New York store 

 is a group of Kevitfs Everbearing 

 strawberry in pots, loaded down with 

 a profusion of fruit in all stages. 



Mr. Alfred Emerich, representing 

 Messrs. Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., 

 Paris. France, is expected to arrive in 

 New York about October 1st, per S. S. 

 "La Provence," on his annual visit to 

 the American Seed Trade. 



'Tis a mixed situation affecting cer- 

 tain members of the seed trade of Bos- 

 ton just now and outsiders must care- 



fully observe the neuLraiity laws. Al 

 the same time we may be permitted 

 (o express the hope that all differences 

 may be soon amicably adjusted. 



We are informed that there is a seed 

 business for sale in a good growing 

 town of Central New York and in the 

 midst of a splendid farming commun- 

 ity. It is an old-established busines.^ 

 but through neglect and mismanage- 

 ment, has been allowed to run down; 

 but there is a foundation for a good 

 and profitable business if the right 

 parties should secure control and any- 

 one interested can write HORTICUL- 

 TURE for other information. 



In a suit by Charles E. Cole of De- 

 troit and Wm. H. Morgans of Pontiac 

 against John Pinton and Joseph L. 

 Gillespie of Detroit and Charles W. 

 Latham of Chicago, directors of the 

 -American Seed Co., of Detroit, to set 

 aside a transfer of 50 shares of stock 

 to Latham, it is alleged that the com- 

 pany has of late years been making 

 considerably over 100 per cent, on the 

 investment, the surplus last year be- 

 ing $80,000, while the capital is only 

 $25,000. May 12, a special meeting was 

 held, at which the directors voted 50 

 shares to Latham in spite of the pro- 

 test of the complainants, who allege 

 the deal was made merely to give the 

 directors a majority ot the stock. A 

 temporary injunction was granted by 

 Judge Hosmer. 



THE MICHELL TRIAL GROUNDS. 



Between the Bristol pike and the 

 Pennsylvania R. R. at Andalusia Sta- 

 tion, lie the twenty acres that at pres- 

 ent comprise the Michell testing 

 grounds. We had the pleasure of in- 

 specting same on the 2.3rd Sept.. under 

 the able guidance of Fred. Michell, Jr., 

 and M. M. Roberts. Mr. Roberts is 

 the superintendent and has done some 

 good work during the year he has had 

 charge. Some eight acres of the tract 

 has proved rather water-logged, and 

 many well planned operations in same 

 have been abortive; but on the whole 

 very satisfactory results have been 

 achieved. With proper drainage— 

 which is now under way — a different 

 story will be in order next year. 



The most striking feature when one 

 lands at the station is the scattered 

 blazes of crimson salvia that dot the 

 landscape in masses at various points. 

 Then comes the big sign 300 ft. long, 

 "Micbell's Evergreen Gardens," and 

 next the superintendent's residence, 

 around which are grouped the barn 

 and the glass structures, all ot which 

 are new and embody the latest up-to- 

 date ideas. There are SO frames al- 

 ready in operation, and 90 more are 

 under way. In addition to testing, 

 these will be used for producing a 

 large part of the herbaceous stock 

 which the firm uses in its business. 

 Among the items noted in the latter 

 connection at present were 5,000 hardy 

 chrysanthemums in 2%-inch pots, nice- 

 ly rooted and ot all the latest vari- 

 eties; 2,000 honeysuckles, 10,000 ampel- 

 opsis, and many other popular sub- 

 jects in proportion. Fifty thousand 

 celery plants were marketed from a 

 small patch this season. 



Comet tomato is being grown in 

 quantity for seed— this variety being 

 considered one of the very best for 

 greenhouse culture. The Lorillard also 

 comes in for a good share of attention 

 in the same connection. 



Of the many salvias seen the variety 



8<W«W«««mM«WI>M«MMWMAMAMMIb 



MIGNONETTE 



HOEHL'S GIANT 



(Orisinator's Seed) 



Mr. Hoebl, who specializes on this 

 strain enjoys the reputation of bring- 

 ing the best Mignonette to the Phila- 

 delphia Market. 



We offer the originator's seed saved 

 from exhibition ipecimen. 



50c Trade Pkt; Per Oz. $3.00 



If You Need Bulbs, Write Us | 



NENRYF. MICHELL CO. 



518 Market St., Philadelphia 



King of the Carpet seems worthy of 

 a good word. It is dwarfer than Bon- 

 fire and equally as free. 



Cosmos, petunias, balsams, mari- 

 golds and a whole host of other flow- 

 ers pass in lapid review, and do not 

 call for comment, as they are only 

 grown for test as to purity and truth 

 to type, and for the benefit of the in- 

 experienced at the seed store. 



The same may be said of the vege- 

 table tests which, while exhaustive, 

 comprehensive and interesting contain 

 nothing new for the advanced horti- 

 culturist, but are of great value to the 

 salesmen and the general public. 

 There are some fifty tests of parsley, 

 for instance, and if this object lesson 

 teaches anything, it means that the 

 fifty could be reduced to five. Which 

 is true of a great many other things 

 besides parsley. Bishmallah! I have 

 spoken. 



We hope and expect to see many 

 new developments when we go out 

 again this time next year. Good start. 

 Big possibilities. Let all hands wel- 

 come the Michell into the progressive 

 band — the leading spirits and investi- 

 gators into what is best — the pioneers 

 in the great and good — pro bono pub- 

 lico. G. C. WATSON. 



Sweet Pea 

 CHristmas 



Pink and White 

 Pure White 



$ .25 

 .25 



$2.00 

 2.00 



George C» Watson 



SEEDSMAN- 



DobsonBldg., Pthand Mar1<etSts., 

 Philadelphia 



flgi^ Other varieties of Sweet Peas at usual 

 maiket prices. 



Business For Sale ! 



Well estal>lislie(l seed biisiuess In a city 

 of 70.000 population is offered foi- sale. 

 This business has been well advertised and 

 Is growing every vear. Full partieulars 

 upon application. Address, "BUSINESS," 

 care of HORTICULTURE. 



