672 



HORTICULTURE 



November 12, 1910 



Seed Trade 



About Peas. 



The situation regarding peas does 

 not loosen up any, and for that mat- 

 ter is not likely to this season, at 

 least to any marked extent. If any 

 of the seedsmen are waiting for lower 

 prices before buying such varieties as 

 are being offered, they are doomed to 

 disappointment. As a matter of fact, 

 we are reliably informed that a certain 

 large wholesale house which has been 

 offering some three or four varieties 

 of dwarf peas has become so nearly 

 sold up that they have advanced prices 

 from 50c. to $1.00 per bushel over their 

 opening figures and will accept or- 

 ders now only in very limited quanti- 

 ties. As tor there being any chance 

 of any of the large podded varieties 

 cropping up later in the season, any 

 one entertaining such a delusive hope 

 had better face the facts at once, for 

 we do not hesitate to predict that none 

 of these varieties will be for sale in 

 quantities this year — not unless in the 

 remote event of some one ot the seed 

 growers' deciding to sell his seed 

 stocks at the present high prices and 

 retire. Reference is made to this 

 possibility because we learn that there 

 is just a chance of such an event. It 

 seems strange that any seedsmen 

 knowing the present scarcity would 

 refuse to buy good reliable pea stocks 

 simply because the prices seem rather 

 high. Last year we are informed, 

 some of the seedsmen would not buy 

 certain varieties of the dwarf peas be- 

 cause they thought the prices were too 

 high when, as a matter of fact, we 

 were informed that they could have 

 bought several different varieties at 

 prices ranging from $4.50 to $5.00. 

 There were instances where these deal- 

 ers were compelled to turn away -re- 

 tail customers who wanted to buy in 

 such small quantities as pints and 

 quarts. This with a full knowledge 

 of the fact that they could procure 

 the varieties at any lime at very 

 reasonable figures. This may be good 

 business but we are unable to see it 

 that way. 



Owing to the great scarcity of the 

 large-podded varieties, it seems to us 

 that the only possible substitutes are 

 such varieties as Notts' Excelsior, 

 Gems, Advancers and Horsford's Mar- 

 ket Garden, provided they can be pro- 

 cured. As we understand the situa- 

 tion, varieties like Everbearing, York- 

 shire Hero and other half dwarf va- 

 rieties, are just about as hard to pro- 

 cure as the large-podded sorts, there- 

 fore the seedsmen can find no relief 

 by using these. Take it altogether, it 

 looks as if it would be good business 

 to secure any variety of garden peas 

 which may be offered at reasonable 



prices now. 



Bean Prices. 



Although beans promise to be a fair- 

 ly good crop, prices seem to hold 

 rather high. We understand that Red 

 Valentine will be somewhat short 

 and learn that one or two growers who 

 are able to offer moderate surpluses 

 of these are holding them at $3.75 and 

 $4.00. while the common gieen-pods 

 are held by growers at from $3.25 to 

 $3.75. The stringless green-pods will 

 be short and very few are being offered 

 by either giowers or dealers. As re- 

 gards wax-pod varieties, these are be- 



FOR EASTER 



SOW NOW 



Michell's Flower Market Stock 



The stock every good florist knows 

 Nothing better for cutting 



Colors: White, Flesh Pink, Rose Pink, 

 Light Blue, Dark Blue, Blood Red 



Mixed Colors (every shade known) 



H Trade Pkt. Trade Pitt. Ol. 



.30 



.30 



.50 $3.50 

 .50 $3.50 



HENRY F. MICHELL CO. 



Now at 518 Market Street, 



PHILADKLPHIA 



ing quoted from $3.50 to $5.00, accord- 

 ing to variety. Whether these prices 

 will be maintained or whether there 

 will be a break to lower levels, is 

 something we would not venture to 

 predict, but following the usual coarse 

 of events, there is likely to be a break 

 in prices towards spring, such as is 

 usually the case where prices are firm 

 and high early in the season, and 

 when, as in the case of beans, there is 

 a liberal stock to meet requirements. 



Contract Growing Prices on Peas. 



Contract-growing prices on peas of 

 the 1911 crop will doubtless show a 

 marked advance over those of 1910. 

 For several years each one succeed- 

 ing has given us smaller crops and 

 higher prices, the crop of 1910 being 

 in great degree a failure while prices 

 on the 1911 crop will be higher than 

 have been paid by the trade in many 

 years. The seedsmen and canners 

 will not be pleased with these condi- 

 tions, and will grumble at the seed 

 grower, but if they will place them- 

 selves in the letter's position, and 

 take into account the value of the 

 seed which he puts in the ground each 

 year, and the wretchedly disappointing 

 returns, each of the several last sea- 

 sons showing an actual loss to most 

 of the growers, they will appreciate 

 that the attitude of the growers is not 

 unreasonable but is based on the neces- 

 sity for self preservation. Each suc- 

 ceeding poor crop discourages the 

 farmers; makes them reluctant to 

 plant peas, and they can only be in- 

 duced to do so by the offer of a liberal 

 advance over the preceding year. This 

 advance cannot be borne by the seed 

 grower, consequently he in turn must 

 advance his price to the seedsman 

 and the canner, and it is only fair to 

 say that even at the high prices which 

 were ruling this year the seed grow- 

 er is making less money than when 

 peas were selling at from 50c. to $1.00 

 per bushel lower. It will take several 

 good years to make up for the past 

 several bad ones, and the seed grower 

 is certainly justified in asking every 

 penny that he will for the crop of 1911. 

 Many have been in this business the 

 greater part of a life time and they 

 have very little to show for their 

 lives' work excepting a comfortable 

 living. Considering the investment re- 

 quired and the great uncertainties of 



the business, it surely is not very at- 

 tractive to a man who wants to acquire 

 wealth rapidly. No one with this am- 

 bition should engage in any depart- 

 ment of the seed business, and particu- 

 larly the growing ot peas and beans. 



Notes. 



New York, N. Y.— W. Russell, form- 

 erly with W. W. Rawson, Boston, is 

 now employed by Arthur T. Bodding- 

 ton. 



Indianapolis, Ind. — The Warren 

 Seed Co. has purchased the business 

 of George Swain and will continue it 

 along the same line. 



Sacramento, Calif. — The Valley 

 Seed Co. has been incorporated to 

 buy, sell and deal in seeds, fertilizers, 

 bulbs, vegetables, etc., capital stock 

 $10,000. Incorporators: W. A. Ward 

 and F. O. Ward, of Sacramento, G. 

 W. Thomas, of San Francisco. 



Lincoln, Nebr. — A new warehouse 

 and office building to be erected on 

 the site of the warehouse burned last 

 summer has just been started by the 

 Griswold Seed Co. It is to be three 

 stories and basement in the front and 

 five stories of elevator structure in 

 the rear. The estimated cost, includ- 

 ing machinery to be installed, is be- 

 tween $35,000 and $40,000. The local 

 office and retail store will still be re- 

 tained. 



Gunnison, Utah, Oct. 27.— The al- 

 falfa seed business in the Gunnison 

 valley has been very lively during the 

 past two days. Last evening 11 buyers 

 were registered at the hotels in Gunni- 

 son, and all are trying to secure the 

 entire lot. It is thought there are 

 about 20 cars for sale and it looks as 

 though the farmers will get their own 

 price, 141/2 cents being offered. It is 

 thought that before long over 15 cents 

 will be given. 



VEGETABLE PLANTS 



Per too Per looo 



CABBAGE-Wakefield and 

 Succession. aoc. $i.oo 



LCTTUC E- Grand Rapids, 

 Big Boston. Boiton Market 

 and Tennis Ball. aoc. i.oo 



PARSLEY- 30c i.=5 



R. VINCENT, JR., A SONS CO. 



White Marsh, Md. 



