704 



HORTICULTUEE 



May 9, 1914 



SEED TRADE 



AMERICAN SEED TRADE AfiSOOAnON 

 0«c«re— President, Chas. C. Massie, 

 MlajieapaUs, Minn.; 1st Tic»-preeident, 

 S M. Lnpton, Mattltack, N. T.; 2nd 

 »!«• - FMsldent, W. F. TherkUdson, 

 PKlBMTllle, O.; secretary, C. E. Ken- 

 dal; aasUtant ••oretary. S. F. Wlllard, 

 «r„ ka«l> at Clardaad, O. 



Vicissitudes of the Weather. 



It seems somewhat monotonous to 

 be repeatedly commenting on the 

 weather and the lateness of the spring, 

 but the fact is that the weather has 

 such a very important bearing on the 

 seed trade In general and especially 

 counter-trade, which is a very large 

 factor with many of our seedsmen, 

 that it is difficult to get by without 

 reference to the subject. Old Father 

 Neptune seems to be spilling rain 

 abundantly on this part of the earth 

 and whether this means that later in 

 the season we shall suffer from the 

 opposite condition is a question that 

 only the future can solve, but if we 

 may judge by past experience it looks 

 very much that way. A tew prophets 

 are already predicting a cold wet sum- 

 mer and a very light, poor corn crop, 

 ■which usually follows such a summer. 

 We do not wish to be pessimistic and 

 only refer to these prophecies, and our 

 readers can take them at their own 

 valuation. 



Notwithstanding the unfavorable 

 spring, it seems to be an established 

 fact that the mail order houses have 

 had a very good business, most of 

 them expressing satisfaction and many 

 claiming an increase over any previous 

 year. 



Maine Seed Potatoes. 



More or less has been said about 

 Maine seed potatoes being affected by 

 disease, and it is charged that fraudu- 

 lent certificates have been issued on 

 diseased stock which has gone into the 

 hands of farmers in different sections 

 of the country. While there is doubt- 

 less some truth in these charges, we 

 are inclined to think they are some- 

 what exaggerated; although the mat- 

 ter was considered serious enough to 

 justify a warning from the Secretary 

 of Agriculture himself. Prices of po- 

 tatoes according to recent Information, 

 have advanced within the past ten 

 days, though the reasons are not clear. 

 Quite possibly those engaged in the 

 business may understand, but no satis- 

 factory explanations have reached us. 



Beans and Peas. 



We have been expecting to see beans 

 of various varieties included in the 

 surplus lists issued from time to time 

 by numerous houses in the trade, but 

 while some varieties have been listed, 

 the sorts reputed to be scarce appear 

 on but very few lists, showing con- 

 clusively that the shortage was a real- 

 ity and not a dream. Many dealers 

 early in the season expressed the opin- 

 ion that there were more beans in the 

 country than most of the trade be- 

 lieved, and that they would be coming 

 out towards spring; for once these 

 prophets must admit they were mis- 

 taken. 



While doubtless there will be a con- 



siderable carry-over of peas, we have 

 been advised by several dealers during 

 the past week, that with the excep- 

 tion of two or three varieties they will 

 be nearly cleaned up on peas by the 

 end of the season. We should not 

 be surprised if the surplus proved 

 smaller than most persons believed pos- 

 sible a month or six weeks ago. The 

 general line of seeds seems to be hold- 

 ing out well and with the exception 

 of the Globe varieties of onion, stocks 

 are plentiful and prices have not ad- 

 vanced over those ruling early in the 

 season. 



We have from time to time referred 

 to certain houses in the trade which 



have attracted attention, and now have 

 in mind Chas. F. Saul, of Syracuse, 

 N.- Y. Mr. Saul has been in busi- 

 ness many years, and has established a 

 reputation for quality and integrity 

 which may be truly called "gilt edge." 

 He does a big business, especially in 



VEGETABLE PLANTS 



C.4BBAGE— Jersey & Chas. Wakefield, All 

 Head. Earlv & Late Flat Dutch, and other 

 varieties at 20c. per 100; 75c. for 500; $1.00 

 per 1000; 10,000 and over at 85c. per 1000. 



LETTUCE — Grand Eapids, Boston Mar- 

 ket & Big Boston, 20c. per 100; 75e. for 500; 

 $1.00 per 1000. Cash with Order. 



R. VINCENT, JR. & SONS CO. 



White Marsh, Md. 



