698 



HORTICULTURE. 



December 22, 1906 



SEED TRADE TOPICS. 



Through the classes in botany in 

 the various high schools and universi- 

 ties of the Province of Ontario, Can- 

 ada, a few of the more enterprising 

 seedsmen have secured specimens of all 

 of the noxious weeds native to that 

 Province. These have been most care- 

 fully pressed and dried, and placed in 

 lon.g narrow frames and hung con- 

 spicuously in the stores. The common 

 and botanical name of each weed is 

 given and each specimen occui)ies a 

 separate compartment, protected from 

 dust and handling, by glass. 



It is needless to say that these 

 specimens are a source of interesting 

 and profitable study, not only to the 

 seedsman and his employees, but to 

 the farmers and his customers in gen- 

 eral. The specimens if properly pre- 

 served have a very natural appear- 

 ance, and groups of farmers may often 

 be seen in animated discussion of 

 them. As an educator, the idea would 

 seem to commend itself to seedsmen 

 in general, and particularly those who 

 make a specialty of grass and field 

 seeds. 



Speaking ot grass seeds, it may be 

 recalled that it was predicted in these 

 columns many weeks ago that clover 

 was likely to soar to higher figures 

 even than last year. This prediction 

 has already been verified. Starting 

 around five dollars, it has now passed 

 the nine dollar mark, but according to 

 the best authorities it is high enough. 

 Sppc\ilation may boost it yet hi.gher, 

 but it is quite as likely to break as to 

 advance, and ultimately lower levels 

 are expected on thi? crop. 



f51ue grass is still strong, genuine 

 fancy Kentucky being about 14c., 

 while the Canadian article is quoted 

 around fie. per lb. in quantity. 



By the way, the question is often 

 asked, even by those in the seed trade, 

 whose education has been more theo- 

 retical than practical, what the dif- 

 ference is between Kentucky and Can- 

 adian blue grass. Briefly it may be 

 stated that during the heat of summer 

 and particularly daring dry spells, the 

 Canadian will usually turn brown, 

 whereas the Kentucky will retain its 

 fine natural color. As blue grass is 

 the basis of all good, lawn mixtures, 

 the importance of the variety used be- 

 comes evident 



Thii scramble for onion seed has 

 been temporarily satisfied, but whether 

 there will be enough to go around will 

 depend on the demand. By .March 

 first this question will be answered. 

 If onions are low in pric? as now 

 seems probable, there will be seed 

 enough. If however onions aro in good 

 demand and l)ringing only fair prices, 

 it will be diflicult to supply the de- 

 mand, and prices will advance. Onions 

 will be the barometer. Watch them. 



It is worthy of note that those in 

 close touch with present conditions, 

 the large handlers of apples, potatoes, 

 onions, etc.. are practically unani- 

 mous in the opinion that these com- 

 modities are not going to winter well, 

 and that their condition at the present 

 time is about what it should be in 

 February. 



THE FREE SEED HEARING. 

 Walter P. Stokes reports that the 

 hearing given bj' tlje Hoi^se Com- 



mittee on Agriculture to parties in- 

 terested, en Wednesday and Thursday 

 of last week in Washington was very 

 interesting and was productive of some 

 telling points. One of the most ef- 

 fective of these points occurred when 

 a member from Texas inquired sarcas- 

 tically if they had any resolutions 

 against free seeds from Texas. It so 

 happened that one of the strongest 

 resolutions came from the Growers' As- 

 sociation of Texas and this was 

 promptly produced and read. The gen- 

 tleman from Texas was very much 

 astonished and kept very still after 

 that. The editor of the Southern 

 Planter made one of the brightest ar- 

 .guments and accused the Southern 

 members of misrepresenting the senti- 

 ments of their constituents on the mat- 

 ter. Professor Massey also made a 

 very good speech. Representative 

 Davis of Minnesota was frank enough 

 to acknowled.ge having purchased from 

 the runners of the department extra 

 supplies over his quota. Mr. Forbes of 

 New York exhibited the remains of a 

 carload of free seeds which had been 

 refused by various voters and were 

 finally burned to get rid of them, some- 

 where down in Lon,g Island. The prob- 

 abilities are that a majority of the 

 committee will report to the house 

 against free seeds. It is an open secret 

 that the officials of the department are 

 themselves anxious to get rid of the 

 incubus. Among those present at the 

 hearing were Alexander Forbes of 

 Peter Henderson & Co., N. Y., W. Atlee 

 Burpee, Wm. Henry Maule, and Walter 

 P. Stokes of Philadelphia. Henry C. 

 Wood, Richmond, Mr. Wood of Wood, 

 Stubbs & Co., Louisville, Mr. Hathe- 

 way representing Crossman Bros.. 

 Briggs Bros., and other Rochester in- 

 terests, F. W. Bolgiano of Washington. 

 Mr. Rackhelm, Professor Massey. and 

 Mr. Smith, the secretary for parties in- 

 terested on the opposition. 



OBITUARY. 

 Alfred F. Conard. 

 .Alfred F Conard, senior member of 

 the Conard & Jones Co.. of West 



ill SPiiS 



A late importation just received in 

 extra fine shape, all suitable for 7 

 and 8 inch pots. 



Per dnz. — 100 — 1000 



Glads'one $1.50 $8.00 $75 00 



Astelboides Fioribunda .70 4.25 40.00 



Washington 



1.25 7 00 65.00 



BERLIN VALLEY 



Fine large well rooted crowns from 

 the best grower in Europe. 



Per 100. $1.25 $10.75 per 1000 



$25.00 per case of 2500 



We are one of the largest valley 

 importers in the U. S. 



Write today for our Florists' combi- 

 nation Older sheet and catalogue of 

 flower seeds. 



HENRY F. MICHELL CO. 



1018 Market St.. PHILS., PA. 



apoplexy. Mr. Conard was a Quaker 

 of the old school, and spent all his life 

 in Chester County, Pa. W'ith Charles 

 Dingee he was one of the pioneers in 

 the mail trade in young roses and 

 other plants. Some forty years ago 

 they started the b\isiness of sending 

 young roses through the mails at low 

 prices, and in the course of time the 

 business grew to gigantic proportions, 

 until their customers nutnbered hun- 

 dreds of thousands located in all parts 

 of the world. He was one of the real 

 pioneers in making the wilderness 

 blossom like the rose reaching the 

 most remote and inaccessible parts 

 with their lovely products. That fact 

 is the true monument to the memory 

 of Alfred F. Conard. Many have fol- 

 lowed in the same blazed trail but his 

 firm was the real pioneer. Sixteen 

 years ago through family differences 

 Mr. Conard retired from the Dingee & 

 Conard Co. and started the Conard & 

 Jones Co. which has proved very suc- 

 cessful on the same lines and has 

 achieved an enviable reputation, es- 

 pecially in the improvement of the 

 canna. Mrs. Conard survives the de- 

 ceased but he leaves no children. He 

 was a member of the Orthodox 

 Friends. 



Urove, Pa., died on the 15th inst., aged 

 71, Death was due to a stroke of 



A DESIRABLE HOLIDAY GIFT FOR 

 YOUR EMPLOYEE. 

 Tliere can be no more useful and 

 appropriate Holiday present than a 

 subscription to HORTICULTURE. 

 The more he reads HORTICULTURE 

 the better service he will render you. 

 If you want to give five or more we 

 will l)e glad to make a special dis- 

 count, on application. 



Other Useful Holiday Gifts. 



The Dahlia. By L K. Peacock. 

 Price, .lO cents. 



The American Carnation. C. W. 

 Ward. Price, $3.50. 



Manual of the Trees of North Ameri- 

 ca. C. S. Sargent. Price. $6. no. 



The First County Park System. F, 

 W. Kelsey. Price, $1.25. 



