880 



HOETICULTUEE 



December 19, 1914^ 



Don''t \A/orry 



ABOUT LILY OF THE VALLEY 



Our pips have arrived from Germany as usual. They are in prime 



condition. Prices not advanced. 



R. J. FARQUHAR & CO. 



ISI, - - . - IVIAS3. 



SEED TRADE 



AMERICAN SEED TRADE AS50aATI0II 



Officers — Preiaiflent. Lester Li. Morse. 

 San Fruncitii'o, Calif,; Firnt Vice-PreMl- 

 denl. .1. M. Liiptnn. Mattltuck. L. I.; 

 Heronil Vire-Fre?<ident, K. C. Diiniean, 

 Ftilladelplila, Pa.; Secretary and TreaH- 

 orer, C. E. Kendel, Cleveland, O.; As- 

 BWtant Secretary, S. F. U'illard, Jr., 

 Cleveland. O. 



Low Figures on Peas. 



The annual campaign of the seed 

 pea growers among the canners of the 

 country is under full swing and has 

 been running on "high" for some 

 weeks. The prices named are the low- 

 est for several years. Such varieties 

 as Alaska. Advancer, Admiral. Hors- 

 ford Market Garden, are quoted at 

 $3.00, white Surpise is generally 

 quoted at $3.50. Notwithstanding these 

 low prices, one or two of the habitual 

 price cutters who always try to shade 

 the figures made by their more reliable 

 and responsible competitors, have seen 

 fit to cut the present price 25c. per 

 bushel on one or two varieties. It is 

 more than doubtful if they write 

 enough more business to compensate 

 them for the loss of this 25c. and 

 where prices are so close as this year, 

 25c. per bushel often represents all the 

 profit in a transaction. According to 

 the statements of the more conserva- 

 tive growers, $3.00 is very close to cost 

 and it is said that Alaskas will cost al- 

 most if not quite that figure. This is 

 due to the fart that in Montana and 

 Idaho where the bulk of the seed peas 

 are now grown, it is necessary to pay 

 more for Alaskas than for the other 



A HANDY TOOL FOR GUTTING GLASS 



"RED DEVIL" No. 6 



Ilns Blx wheels In tbe handle and 



outki,<ts six ordiunry glass tutirrs In 

 efllclcncy and economy. Sent postpaid 

 for 30 cents. Booklet on reiiuest. 



SMITH & HEMENWAY CO. 



181 Chambers St., New York City. 



varieties above named with the ex- 

 ception of Surprise. Strictly on the 

 merits, Alaskas should be 25c. per 

 bushel higher than the other three 

 leading Sweet Wrinkled varieties, as 

 the cost to the grower is estimated at 

 30c. per bushel more. 



Canners Backward. 



Notwithstanding these low prices 

 which are so near cost, many of the 

 canners and particularly those in Wis- 

 consin are holding off and not buying 

 their full requirements. Many are 

 only contracting for about 50 per cent., 

 while quite a number have not up to 

 date bought a bushel of future seed 

 and several say they will not, but will 

 take their chance on the open market 

 next fall. To those familiar with the 

 situation, this is a very foolish atti- 

 tude on the part of these canners. 

 There is hardly one chance in ten that 

 under any circumstances seed will be 

 lower next fall than present prices on 

 futures, while should there be a short 

 crop there is a strong possibility of an 

 advance of from $1.00 to $2.00 a 

 bushel. Were prices on futures $4.00 

 as they were two or three years ago, 

 or even $3.50 as last year, there might 

 be some logic in not buying, but the 

 mind of the average canner is a mar- 

 velously complex bit of mechanism 

 and usually works in inverse ratio to 

 facts. The seed growers have stated 

 that they will not plant any great ex- 

 cess acreage over their sales of fu- 

 tures, and this decreases any possi- 

 bility of lower prices after next har- 

 vest. 



Perhaps a reason for the very er- 

 ratic course of the canners may be 

 found in the agitation now going on 

 among them over the seed proposi- 

 tion. A large number during the past 

 few years have considered only one 

 factor in their purchase of seed, and 

 that has been the price. They refuse 

 to recognize any variations in quality 

 and all seeds look alike to them. As a 

 result they have bought seed of every 

 conceivable shade of quality, the con- 

 sequence being the packing of a very 

 low grade of goods, so poor in quality 

 that they cannot get more than about 

 60 per cent of cost out of them. There 

 is a large surplus of canned peas in 



the warehouses of the canners, espe- 

 cially in Wisconsin, where it is esti- 

 mated that they are carrying at least 

 two million cases. This has, as migli,t 

 be expected, a very depressing effect 

 on values, but were these peas of good 

 quality, all of them would doubtless go 

 into consumption between now and 

 next spring at a figure that would let 

 the canner out, if without profit, at 

 least without loss. 



Unreasoning and Unreasonable. 



Now for all this the regular seed 

 growers are held responsible by a con- 

 siderable number of the canners, and 

 aided by a few so-called scientific ex- 

 perts, whose heads are buzzing with 

 theories and with little or no practical 

 knowledge of the matters they are dis- 

 cussing, an agitation has been going on 

 to compel the seed grower virtually to 



CHRISTMAS 

 GREENS 



PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW 



HOLLY (Loose) 



HOLLY WREATHS 



MISTLETOE 

 LYCOPODIUM (Loose) 

 LYCOPODIUM 



WREATHING 

 LYCOPODIUM WREATHS 



Henry F, Michell Co. 



518 MirKet St, PbiladelplHa. Pa. 



