708 



HORTICULTURE 



November 19. 1910 



Seed Trade 



The Canners' Troubles. 

 The canners are baving troubles of 

 their own in securing suitable varie- 

 ties of peas for planting the coming 

 year; in fact, they are going to find 

 it difficult to get any kind of desir- 

 able seed. Most of them use certain 

 varieties and have a trade which re- 

 quires them to use these particular 

 sorts, consequently it is very impor- 

 tant to secure just these particular 

 varieties because although the ordin- 

 ary individual may not know it. each 

 variety of peas produces a different 

 looking article in the can. In spite 

 of their disinclination, however, to 

 use substitutes, it may be taken as a 

 settled fact that they will be com- 

 pelled to do so. Many of them do not 

 appreciate the very great shortage 

 this year, and are expecting plenty of 

 seed to make its appearance late in 

 the season as has been the case so 

 often in years past; but this season 

 is not like any within the recollection 

 of any. actively engaged in either can- 

 ning or seed business. Many of these 

 gentlemen are likely to find it impos- 

 sible to secure what they want or 

 even anything in the nature of a pass- 

 able substitute, if they delay their 

 purchases too long. The canners are 

 not alone in the belief that there are 

 more peas in the country than the 

 seed growers would have them be- 

 lieve. Many seedsmen take this view, 

 and they, too, are doomed to the same 

 disappointment; for unless we are 

 very badly informed, it will not be so 

 much a question of prices as of getting 

 the varieties at all, within the next 

 sixty days. The situation confront- 

 ing the canners is a particularly un- 

 fortunate one for them as for the first 

 time in three years, their business is 

 in an especially favorable 'condition, 

 and they are anticipating large sales 

 of futures and consequently most of 

 them have been planning an increased 

 acreage of peas and corn over the past 

 few years. We believe tbey will not 

 be able to secure seed peas enough to 

 satisfy their demands hut in the mat- 

 ter of seed corn they will have no dif- 

 ficulty in securing all they require, as 

 the crop from all reports was a very 

 good one. In fact, with the exception 

 of peas, they will be able to secure all 

 the seed they want for other lines of 

 their industry 



The Outlook for Prices. 

 While the catalogue seed men have 

 no doubt determined on the piices they 

 will ask for peas the coming year, 

 many others are still struggling with 

 the problem, and doubtless when they 

 are compelled to reach a decision it 

 will not be satisfactory to them. 

 There is much uncertainty regarding 

 many items besides peas, and one in 

 particular we learn will be (xtremely 

 short is Hubbard squafh. It looks 

 now as if the price of this item would 

 soar above the dollar mark, and it is 

 doubtful if a sufficient supply will ma- 

 terialize even at this price 



Early Orders Advised. 



In last week's issue, we ventured 

 the opinion that a few at least of the 

 very heavy growers of peas and beans 

 would be reducing their seed stocks 

 of the former, partly because they 



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Mixed Colors (every shade known) 



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HENRY F. MICHELL CO. 



Now at 518 Market Street, 



PHILADELPHIA 



wished to take advantage of the pres- 

 ent high prices as an offset to the 

 losses they have sustained this year, 

 and partly because it will be next to 

 impossible to get out as much seed 

 which they planted a year ago; and 

 this in spite of the fact that prices 

 have been advanced to the farmers 

 from 20 to 50 cents per bushel. One 

 of the largest growers of peas we 

 learn planted about 70,000 bushels of 

 seed stock the past year, and they be- 

 lieve it will be next co impossible to 

 get as large a quantity taken the com- 

 ing season. When one realizes the 

 large amount of capital tied up in 

 such an enormous seed stock, with all 

 the risks involved, they cannot won- 

 der that the house in question has de- 

 cided to reduce their risk by reducing 

 their seed stock. This is likely to be 

 something of a misfiirtune to the can- 

 ners and seedsmen, as the demand 

 for peas of the 1911 crop is likely to 

 be larger than ever before, and larger 

 instead of smaller seed stocks will be 

 necessary to meet this demand; but 

 those who are familiar with this busi- 

 ness assert that the losses are so enor- 

 mous and the acreage this individual 

 firm plants annually is so great that 

 the profits of several good years are re- 

 quired to even up matters. In view 

 of these facts, it looks as if it wouia 

 be the part of wisdom for both can- 

 ners and seedsmen to place their or- 

 ders as early as possible and at what- 

 ever prices are quoted them by the 

 responsible growers, as there will cer- 

 tainly come a time before the close 

 of the season when every grower will 

 be contracted to his capacity, and if 

 he has due regard for the interests 

 of his customers he will be compelled 

 to refuse further orders, and the late 

 comers may find themselves unable 

 to get their orders taken. 



As the bulb season is now nearly 

 over the trade in general are turning 

 their attention to seeds once again 

 and are beginning to take note of 

 their shortages. Many of those who 

 were late in giving this matter atten- 

 tion are likely to be disappointed in 

 securing items which their trade will 

 require, and have cause to regret that 

 they did not give this matter earlier 



attention. 



Notes. 



Mechanlcsburg, Ohio. — The addition 

 to the warehouse of Wing & Bros. 

 Seed Co. has been completed. This 



is fire proof construction throughout. 



San Francisco, Cal. — At the end of 

 the present month the Trumbull Seed 

 Co. will retire from business and dis- 

 continue the store at 61 California 

 street. 



Manhattan, Kans. — The erection of 

 a new seed storage house was recent- 

 ly begun by George T. Fielding & Sons. 

 It will be about 35x75 feet, three 

 stories in height and equipped with 

 modern seed cleaning machinery. 



Des Moines, la. — K. H. Guthrie has 

 organized the Des Moines Seed Co. 

 and they have purchased the business 

 of E. J. Hohberger, located at 409 and 

 411 East 5th street. Mr. Guthrie has 

 sold his interest in the Guthrie-Lo- 

 renze Co. of which he was manager, 

 severing his connection with the com 

 pany to take up this latter proposition. 



Sac City, la. — The seed house for 

 Conger Ball & Co., which has been 

 under construction for about three 

 months, is now practically completed. 

 This building is three stories in 

 height, 32 x 100 feet, containing office, 

 cleaning room and storage room. 

 Modern cleaning machinery is in use 

 and electric power installed through- 

 out. The cost of the building is about 

 $8,000. 



BURLAP MATS 



For Cold Frames 

 $1.25, $14.50 DOZ. 



WM. ELLIOTT & SONS. 



42 Vesey St., New York. 



VEGETABIE PLANTS 



Per loo Per leoo 



C4BBACE— Wakefield aod 

 Succession. aoc. $i.oo 



LETTUCE' Grand Rapids, 

 Big Boston, Boston Market 

 and Tennis Ball. 3ot. x.oo 



PARSLEY- 30C. 1.35 



R. VINCENT, JR., & SONS CO. 



White Marsh, Md. 



