346 



/i O R T I C U L T U R K 



Septeml>er 29, 1906- 



SEED TRADE TOPICS, 



Mr. Edward Dungau. manager for 

 Wm. Henry Maule is now in California 

 and it is said liis business is to find 

 onion seed. It was reported last weelv 

 in Pliiladelphia that Mr. Howard 

 Earl, manager for W. Atlee Burpee & 

 Co., was about to leave for the Pacific 

 Coast, on the same errand. Now if 

 any one out there is trying to hide 

 onion seed, and has not found a cave 

 near the summit of Mount Hood, he 

 had better surrender at discretion, as 

 these two gentlemen can smell onions 

 or onion seed from afar, and once they 

 are on the trail, nothing can throw 

 them off, and they will surely get 

 what they are after. 



Speal<ing on this subject of onion 

 seed, it really does seem as though the 

 shortage is a fact and not a false 

 alarm. Reports have been conflicting 

 regarding crop conditions, but there 

 now seems little room for doubt that 

 we are facing the shortest onion seed ' 

 crop since seed growing was estab- 

 lished in California. 



The failure of the radish seed crop 

 in France appears to be nearly com- 

 plete, and we must get along with seed 

 from other parts of the world. Ameri- 

 can grown radish seed, particularly 

 of the turnip and olive shaped varie- 

 ties, generally develop more top, and 

 grow pithy and hollow much sooner 

 than the iDest strains of French-grown. 

 In the long varieties the difference 

 is not so marked. However there will 

 he enough radish seed to carry us 

 through the coming season and no 

 unusually high prices need lie ex- 

 pected. 



It is reported that Kentucky Blue 

 Grass is very short and that the seed 

 has been cornered by some three or 

 four firms, and if this proves correct 

 inflated prices may be looked for. 

 Already quotations are up nearly 100 

 per cent. 



Potatoes are generally regarded as 

 a good average crop, and as the latter 

 part of the season has been generally 

 dry, the quality should be good. How- 

 ever reliable data is not now at hand, 

 hut we should know conditions pretty 

 accurately in a few weeks. 



Up to this time weather has been ex- 

 ceptionally favorable for corn and 

 there is little doubt of a good crop and 

 it should be exceptionally well 

 matured consequently of high vitality. 



The Iowa Seed Co., in addition to 

 the seven new greenhouses that are 

 going up on their property at 30th 

 street and Kingman boulevard. Des 

 Moines, la., are erecting a warehouse 

 with a storage capacity of 25,000 

 bushels at Altoona. Manager Page 

 considers that the land in the vicinity 

 of Altoona produces the best crops in 

 that section. 



Woods Floral Co., Wilmington, Cal., 

 has just placed their new watsonia 

 bulbs on the market and they are ou 

 sale in the different seed houses in Los 

 Angeles. These watsonias were award- 

 ed the silver cup in the Pasadena 

 Spring Flower Show and special award 

 of merit in the Los Angeles Horticul- 

 tural Society Show. 



Conrad Appel's report on the 1906 

 crop of grass and clover seeds: — 



Concerning Grass-Seeds the result In 

 Europe ina.v on an average be called pretty 

 satisfactory, so that prices fur most of 



thi'iu Mill probably not rule higher than 

 last year. 



A good crop is to be expected of Ajrros- 

 tis stolonifera (Genuine German Floriu- 

 irrass) provided that the wi-alher will be 

 further favorable. 



The same refers to Aira caespitosa 

 (Tufied Hair Grass), which variety will 

 be harvested in the course of Scplembcr. 



.Vila tiexuosa (Yellowish Oat (irass of 

 the trade) however will yield a medium 

 crop only: qualities are diftcrcnl; nice well- 

 lerained seed is much asked for; average 

 qualities will likely be obtainable at last 

 year's prices. 



Alopecurus pratensis (Meadow Koxtail). 

 'I'he weather in Finland, the principal dis- 



triit of productic f this sort, seems to 



h.nc been favorable to the growth of this 

 1-laiit. for all indications point to a large 

 yield. As to quality and prices nothing 

 delinite can be said as yet; to judge from 

 several samples submitted so far, sonic 

 lots seem to be filled heavily with larvae, 

 which, of course, reduces the quality, t'oii- 

 Iracts could not be concluded, for som^' 

 speculators have paid prices recently to 

 fanners which are unreasonable consider- 

 ing the large crop and which will not be 

 maintained. We shall see normal prices 

 soon again; of course the business in the 

 artiile will consequently be somewhat 

 late. 



.■Vmnoxantum odoratum (Sweet Vernal 

 tiuei is gathered' also this year in very 

 small quantities only and will cost again 

 more than last season, yualitics arc very 

 different and really tine seed is scarce and 

 much asked for. Anthoxantiim pnelli 

 yielded well and will be obtainable in 

 good qualities at last year's prices. 



Avena elatior (Tall Oat Grass) is re- 

 ported from France to have suffered in 

 some districts by continued drought; a 

 good medium crop seems however to be 

 expected all the same. Some of the sam- 

 ples subm'tted so far show very line quali- 

 ties, for which prices have opened some- 

 what higher than last season. Of Austiian 

 and Silesian seed, which as a rule is In- 

 ferior to the French prodtice, offers are 

 also at hand; these districts arc complain- 

 ing if small yields. 



Regarding Avena flavescens (Yellowish 

 Oat Grass true) nothing definite can be 

 said before next month, bromus mollis 

 (ISrome) has likely given a good result 

 again. but Bromus Inermis (Awnlcss 

 Ilromegrass) has apparently suflered by 

 unfavorable weather. Anything reliable 

 cannot be said, however, before next 

 month; the same Is the case with Bromus 

 pratensis (Meadow Brome). 



C'ynosarus cristatus (Crested Dogstall) 

 promises a satisfactory crop. Some cen- 

 tres of production give reports already on 

 the pr'tbable result, but It all depends 

 upon the weather yet during the next 

 fortnight, how the crop especially as to 

 quality will turn out. 



Dactylis glomerata (Cocksfoot) New 

 Zealand no doubt has had as to quantit.v 

 a giiod result; qualities, although of heavy 

 bushelweight do not show, however, or 

 scldiiin only, the bright color which we 

 are accustomed to expect of this produce, 

 iteports of an excellent crop in America 

 have weakened the prices for New Zealand 

 seed. Samples received so fjir from America 

 show a fine color, but are poorly dressed 

 and contain a good deal of shelled grains. 

 The larger part of the .\mericaii crcip is 

 reported by American shippers to be un- 

 suitable for export, and really fine, wi 11 

 cleaned qualities will apparently not be 

 offered. New Zealand produce therefore 

 secni* to lie preferable to American seed. 

 The German Cocksfoot, which has had a 

 good result, too. shows very seldom a 

 reall.v pure sample; most of the lots con- 

 tain * sorrel and other weeds, also much 

 Ryegrass, which, to take out. causes a 

 good deal of work and makes the seed too 

 dear. Farmers got pretty high prices all 

 tlie same and it remains to l)e seen if the 

 trade will take up the seed at the respec- 

 tive figures. The crop in Anstila Is re- 

 ported well. France is said to have a 

 small .vield on account of drought and 

 Scandinavia speaks about a good cron 

 concerning quality. 



Festuca arundinacea or elatior (Tall 

 Fescue, true) has been harvested to satis- 

 faction and prices for this much preferred 

 grass will likely rule lower than in the 

 past season, although as yet no contracts 

 could be concluded with owners. 



IJ'esttica ovina and Festuca duriuscula 

 (Shecps and Hard Fescue). Owing to the 

 low prices the acreage of these two va- 

 rieties liave been considerably reduced. 



on the whole the crop turned out pretty 

 well, but the qualitv is not always as it 

 should be, so that for nice pure lots, free 

 from weeds, higher prices are allowed. 

 Many lots are of light weight and contain 

 a good deal of sorrel and oilier weeds, 

 which causes that the loss in cleaning is- 

 rather large and prices for fancy seeds 

 must consequently be higher in proportion, 

 t'cstuea ovina angustifolia (Fine leaved 

 Fescuei no doubt yielded a mediuin cro[> 

 as to quantity, but the qualities differ 

 greatly. Good heavy seed is in brisk de- 

 ma I'll" and will maintain its prices. Fes- 

 tuca heterophylla (Various leaved Fescue) 

 and Festuca rubra (Red Fescuei of genu- 

 ine 'lerman growth are harvi sted only In. 

 smallest quantities. Qualities are fair and 

 prices will be about same as last year. 

 New Zealand produce is quoted at very 

 high figures and a perfect failure Is re- 

 ported. 



Ibdcus lanatus promises well both as to 

 quality and quantity. 



Loliuni perenne and itallcum English and 

 Iialhin Ryegrass). According lo reports 

 received from the centres of production a 

 goed full crop of fine quality is expected, 

 but of lighter bushel-weight than In the 

 past season. Prices will likely be same 

 as la.st year, perhaps even somewhat lower, 

 but much depends upon the weather yet 

 during the next fortnight. 



I'halaiis arundinacea (Reed like Canary 

 Grass) has in our district not .succeeded 

 well, better in the North and will proba- 

 Itly maintain last year's prices. 



I'hleuiu i'ratensc (Timothy). Specula- 

 tors have_ early in the season ab-eady made 

 tin ]>rices rise, pretending a short crop on 

 ■lie, milt of a reduced acreage and enor- 

 niou.s drought; we shall see. if this was 

 justilied. In Germany it looks as if the 

 result is going to be a good one, and in 

 such case, and if the prices are not too- 

 higli. no doubt German seed will be pre- 

 ferred to American. 



I'oa nemoralis (Wood Meadow Grass) a 

 •ledlnni crop; qualities turn out very dif- 

 ferent, so that good heavy seed is not 

 ublaliiabic much below last year's prices. 

 Under such circumstances the purctiaslng 

 is rather dith'-ult, and it is probable that 

 this favorite grass, cleaned up to the dif- 

 ferent grades, cannot be sold below last 

 year's prices. 



Poa trlvialis (Rough stalked Meadow 

 Grass) has given in the North a good yield 

 both as to quality and quantit.y and prices 

 for this valued grass will not be higher 

 than last year. 



< 'lover and Agricultural seeds. Trlfoli- 

 um pratense (Ited clover). Reports on the 

 European crop are confiicting, but In face 

 of the fact that stocks arc perfectly 

 cleared out, very low prices cannot be 

 expected, even if the crops w-111 turn out 

 satisfactory. Trifollum repeiis (White 

 Clover) a good yield as tu quantity, but 

 quality could often be better. Market Is 

 ver.y quiet, owing to buyers holding back, 

 aiul prices will rule lower yet th;in last 

 year. 



Trlfolium hybridum (Alslke) has done 

 well both In America and In European cen- 

 tres of production and Is quoted cheaper 

 than last year. Qualities are good. Trifo- 

 llum Incarnatum (Crimson Clover) In both 

 France and the Austrian and German dis- 

 tricts had a large yield, so that the high 

 opening prices could not be maintained, 

 but had to be reduced before aii.v im- 

 portant transactions were concluded. 

 French grown seed was generall.v pre- 

 ferred, because it was not materiall.v 

 dearer but much better than Austrian 

 seed. 



Lotus villosus and corniculatus (Small 

 and coarse grained Bird's foot Trefoil) a 

 medium crop. 



Meilicago lupulina (Trefoil) a good re- 

 sult and prices lower than last .year. 



Medicago satlva (Tjueerne) promises well 

 in Italy, but it said to have suffered In 

 i''ranee' considerably from drought, so that 

 the l*rovince will only have a weak medi- 

 um crop— nothing can be said as yet about 

 q lality. There will be a good average 

 crop of Turkestan Alfalfa. 



.\iithyllis vnlneraria (Kidney Vetch) Is 

 offered already in quantities from Austria: 

 no information can be had yet from 

 France. 



Iledysarum onobrychis (Sainfoin) was 

 saved under very unfavorable conditions; 

 samples received so far ,show a dark color. 

 All average yield Is expected. Prospects 

 for Iledysaruiii bifera (Sainfoin, 2 cuts) are 

 ri^lxirted from France to be r;itlier bad: 

 considerable drought has damaged the 

 growth. 



