All hail to prosperous 1898! Those — and we know there are many — who have felt the 

 hand of business depression, bearing down heavily upon them, for the past four or five 

 years, will mentally shout for joy, that it has at last been lifted, and well they may; for it 

 has indeed, been a trying ordeal to them. It is our privilege to offer our heartfelt and pro- 

 found thanks to the hundreds and thousands of our patrons, who have stood by us through- 

 out the season of gloom; many of whom have sustained us by encouraging words as well 

 as their patronage. It is a source of exquisite pleasure to us, to be enabled at this hour to 

 manifest our appreciation of favors received, in a manner more substantial than mere words. 

 We refer to the good things herewith set before you. The Mersereau Blackberry, the 

 Lovett Plum, the Mrs. Lovett Rose, et ccetera; are they not a veritable feast for all lovers 

 of the good and the beautiful in nature ? Then again, look at the prices quoted, not only 

 of Seeds but also of Small Fruit Plants, Trees and Flowering Plants and Bulbs! Was there 

 ever before such an opportunity offered to obtain Horticultural Goods of high quality at 

 such low cost? We think not; in fact we are sure there never was! While speaking of 

 prices, permit us to specially invite your attention to our quotations for Blackberry and 

 Currant Plants, Grape Vines, Peach, Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry and other Fruit Trees. 



ALL ABOUT THE SAN JOSE SCALE. 



This much talked about and very loathsome pest was introduced into the East by one 

 of the largest nursery concerns of Missouri in 1887. Its presence was not suspected, much 

 less discovered, until 1894. Since then every effort has been made, and no expense spared 

 to stamp it out, which vigilance has, we believe, been successful. It has also been learned 

 that this pest is not so dangerous, as many imagine or have been lead to believe from pub- 

 lished accounts of it, as it is now known that it can be destroyed in different ways; a 

 method so simple as a single spraying of Kerosene oil, just as it comes from any country 

 store for use in lamps, is sure death to it; completely destroying the scale and every trace of it. 

 HOWEVER! HOWEVER! HOWEVER! HOWEVER! 



To gratify or rather satisfy those who may feel timid about this pest and might hesi- 

 tate to purchase nursery products from New Jersey on account of it, we shall offer for sale 

 and shall ship the coming spring no Apple, Pear, Cherry or Quince Trees or Currant 

 Plants, and very few Plum Trees, grown in New Jersey, but those that come to us from 

 Western New York, where the pest is unknown. 



FURTHERMORE and FURTHERMORE. 



To make assurance doubly sure r all nursery stock shipped by us, except Evergreens, 

 Strawberry Plants, Hardy Herbaceous Plants and Grape Vines, on which the San Jose can- 

 not subsist, is thoroughly fumigated with hydrocyanic acid gas, according to instructions 

 furnished by the Entomologist of the Experiment Station; which treatment is certain de- 

 struction to any scales if such exist. 



Note. As we go to press we read in the American Agriculturist, a parasite of the 

 insect {Aphclinum fusipennis) has almost destroyed the pest in California and bids fair to 

 soon exterminate it in every part of the country. 



