944 



HORTICULTU RE 



December 31, 1910 



Seed Trade 



"A Bird," Found in the Ginger Jar! 



Editor of HORTICULTURE; 



Dear Sir: — The writer's ginger jar 

 has not been opened much of late. 

 The times have been so strenuous for 

 honesty, all over the world, that there 

 has been spice enough in our daily 

 lives to suffice in the condiment line. 

 But — there has been a lull for a while, 

 and in sheer ennui, the ginger jar 

 owner thought he might as well un- 

 screw the lid and see if there wasn't 

 a touch of something inside to relieve 

 the monotony. "Was there? There 

 sure was! Pickled ginger? Yes! And 

 also— A pickled Bird!— A CUCKOO! 



■We are not very strong on Natural 

 History, and if we went into it much 

 we might formulate as many . mis- 

 takes as Oliver Goldsmith, and 

 make the crocodile shed tears — as 

 Oliver told us that bird did. But 

 we are thoroughly posted on the 

 cuckoo! Everybody is! The cuckoo 

 is known the world over as "The Rob- 

 ber Bird." This comes from the fact 

 that the cuckoo does not make a nest 

 of its own; but appropriates that of 

 some other bird. Not by open-and- 

 above-board-robber-methods, mind you, 

 but by throwing out the legitimate 

 eggs and making the victim raise the 

 robber's progeny. The Cuckoo is also 

 known as "The Echo Bird." It has 

 no song to speak of; but it likes to 



speak it — and then, listens to the 



circumambient atmosphere and thinks 

 it hears cuckoo music — whereas it was 

 onl.v the song of the lark, (sky high) 

 that was making glad the world. 



The application of this piece of pre- 

 served natural history may be found in 

 the efforts of a certain American hor- 

 ticultural magazine to befoul its own 

 nest, after having appropriated same 

 from its legitimate owners — the seed 

 trade of America. The seed trade of 

 America were the pioneers in blazing 

 the horticultural trail. Magazines 

 came after. No magazine could exist 

 without this previous cultivating of 

 its field of usefulness. And no maga- 

 zine can exist without the proper sup- 

 port of this same beneficent agency. 

 The proper field for an American horti- 

 cultural magazine is therefore as a 

 helper of the American seed trade — 

 an auxiliary; — cordial, loyal and sin- 

 cere! But instead of that, what do we 

 see in its latest pronouncements? 

 Words to this effect: — 



. The American Seed Trade — that made 

 . me and supports me — is NO GOOD! 

 . Come to my arms, O stranger, from 

 . beyond the seas! I am the Cuclioo! I 

 . will see that your Eggs are Hatched! 



We hear but few screams so far 

 amongst the victims of this extraordin- 

 ary "Robber Bird" but we fancy the 

 "American Eagle" has a squawk or 

 two left in him yet! 



GEORGE C. WATSON. 



P. S. Yes, "squawk" is right. The 

 Eagle can't "scream" just at present. 

 He's been hit by an axe in the hands of 

 a lad called B. Arnold. But — you wait 

 until he gets his second wind! 



G. C. W. 



The Man-^vhoknows-al'ways So'ws 



MICHELllS ' DlSTINCTIVE " SEEDS 



STOCKS 



Tr. pkt. Ol. 



Beauty of Nice, 

 pink, 50c $2.00 



Queen Alexandra, 

 lavender, 51c S2.00 



Victoria, pure white, 

 50c $2.00 



Write Today for Our 1911 Wholetale Catalog 



Henry F. Michell Co., 



518 Market St., 

 PHILA., • - PA. 



Obligations and Limitations of the 

 Seed Trade. 



We clip from the New York Sun of 

 December 13, the following communi- 

 cation which so admirably sets forth 

 the facts which the public should know 

 that we gladly give it space: 



To the Editor of the Sun: 



Sir: — Mr. Fredericli S. Diclisoii's letter 

 about the seed business in "The Sun" of 

 December Sth is unfair. In the flrst place 

 he does not quote the disclaimer with 

 which all members of the seed trade have 

 finnd it necessary to protect themselves 

 from claims of cultivr.tors who seemed to 

 expect that the seed men ought to guaran- 

 tee the crop. "If the purchaser," it is 

 said in this disclaimer, "does not accept 

 the goods on these terms (that is, without 

 a warraut.v) they are at once to be re- 

 turned." The seed trade nou-\\-arranty in 

 this respect does not permit the substitu- 

 tion of onions for gladioli or potatoes for 

 dahlias. The seed business is one of abso- 

 lute confidence, and the seed man who does 

 not supply his goods on that basis would 

 be out of it iu one season. 



It would not be possible for any firm 

 selling carnation seeds to guarantee, after 

 the seeds left their hands and without per- 

 sonal knowledge of the ability of the gar- 

 dener, either the germination of the growth 

 of the plants after they germinated. 



Regarding the mixing of dead seeds with 

 live ones, nmst seeds are sold on a basis 

 of percentage of growth iu test trials un- 

 der ideal conditions. The seed man who 

 reduced the germination of the stock would 

 be the direct loser. 



As to specimens of clover seed which 

 the writer says contained 10 per cent, of 

 foreign seed, all clover seed is now mar- 

 keted b.v sample, and the price charged 

 accordingly. Farmers who produce clover 

 seed wo. k under no law regarding the up- 

 rooting of weeds growing in the crop, 

 which is really the place to control weed 

 seed distribution at its source. If certain 

 varieties of weed seeds are grown and har- 

 vestel in a clover crop it is impossible to 

 remove b.v mechanical means. 



Clover seed grown in many parts of Eu- 

 rope and America differs iii hundreds of 

 ways in purity, and any planter receiving 

 seed from an .\merican seed man which 

 is not satisfactor.v on examination (even 

 microscopic) has according to the rules of 

 all reputable seed houses the right to re- 

 turn the seed at once, and the money 

 which has been paid will he refunded. 



Mr. Dickson leaves it to be inferred that 

 the seed buyer cau have no knowledge of 

 the qualit.v when he examines the seed, but 

 practicall.v speaking he has the same 

 knowledge which the seed man has who 

 is selling it, the use of his eyes and of the 

 microscope and the opportunity of sprout- 

 ing tests. 



The seed and plant business in this 

 country is In the main carried on under 

 customs established for many years and 

 based on securing and maintaining the ab- 

 solute confidence of the trade. It cannot 

 possibl.v be carried on on any other basis. 



The accusations made by your corre- 

 spondent where they impl.v intentional dis- 

 honesty touch at most only that very small 

 minority of wrongdoers which can be 



found even among ministers and profes- 

 sional men. J. C. VAUGHAN. 

 Chicago. December 9. 



North Dakota State Association of 

 Seedsmen. 



The meeting of North Dakota State 

 A.ssociation of seedsmen held at Fargo 

 on December 1.5, was an interesting 

 success, well attended, and will have 

 a beneficial influence on the relations 

 of the seed trade, the government in- 

 spectors and the farmer.s of the North- 

 west. The meeting was called by Os- 

 car H. Will of Bismarck, and was for 

 the purpose of discussing the condi- 

 tions of work arising under the en- 

 forcement of the pure seed law. State 

 Seed Commissioner H. b. Bolley and 

 Assistant C. A. Stevens were present 

 to explain such points as might arise 

 and to aid the seedsmen in getting as 

 clear-cut an idea and understanding 

 of the various features as possible. The 

 consensus of opinion was that the seed 

 laboratory at the Agricultural College 

 is able to do much for the seedsmen 

 of the state. Some also expressed the 

 wish that an effective noxious weed 

 law might be put into operation to 

 cover ground as indicated by the state 

 seed law. 



In his address before the meeting 

 Mr. Bolley recommended that the seed 

 men unite with those growers of the 

 state who are able to produce clean, 

 seeds of high quality, to form a state 

 seed trade and state seed breeders' as- 

 sociation. The members thought high- 

 ly of this suggestion and it is prob- 

 able that another meeting will be held 

 in the near future to inaugurate this 

 organization, possibly in afiiliation 

 with the Tri-State Grain Growers. 

 Among those present at the meeting 

 were: 0. H. Will of Bismarck; T. 

 Smith of Grand Forks; Harry Magill 

 of Fargo; Orville Barnes of Grand 



Forks. 



The Voice of the Charmer. 



W. Atlee Burpee's annual Christmas 

 remembrance to his legion of friends 

 this year took the form of a paper 

 weight adorned with a beautiful pansy 

 portrait in colors surrounded by the 

 legend, "Seeds That Grow." The other 

 side of the paper weight is a plate 

 glass mirror and an accompanying 

 card expresses the hope that when the 

 weight is turned "upside down" the re- 

 flection will be pleasing. Oh, you flat- 

 terer! 



