Fruits, Vegetables and General Interests. 



49 



895 wholesale catalogues, 9,556,980 retail catalogues, and 

 paid $512,054.61 for newspaper advertising and $394, 163. 76 

 for postage. 



"At first thought it would seem that the annual produc- 

 tion of all these millions of trees and plants would soon 

 overstock the country, but it is a sad fact to contemplate 

 that damage in transit and climatic conditions, coupled with 

 the carelessness of many planters, result in killing nearly one- 

 half the plants and trees sent out each year, and further neg- 

 lect results in the loss of one half of those remaining before 

 the end of the third year ; and it has been estimated by some 

 horticulturists that of all the trees set out not more than one 

 in twenty ever comes to full fruiting. This is not so much on 

 account of soil and climatic conditions as from ignorance and 

 carelessness of the average planters ; for skilled orchardists 

 have little trouble in bringing 90 per cent, of all trees planted 

 into full fruitage. This loss of trees, coupled with the steady 

 growth of the country and the increased taste in horticultural 

 matters, must of necessity cause the demand for nursery pro- 

 ducts to be even greater in the future than in the past. 

 Twenty years ago a fruit-orchard fifty acres in extent was 

 considered a wonder ; now in nearly every state apple, pear The 

 and peach-orchards of 100, 200 and 300 acres are being busfnSs. 

 •planted, while in Georgia and California there are many peach- 

 orchards of 1,000 or more acres each. The greatest and most 

 steady demands, however, will ever continue to be for plants 

 and trees for the home ground and the fruit-garden. The 

 latter, a luxury a few years ago, is fast becoming a recognized 

 necessity; and as greater attention is being given it each year 

 it can not fail to help the nursery trade, and so it is expected 

 to grow and prosper even more in the future than in the past. ' ' 

 The general tone of the figures shows that the nursery busi- 

 ness is prospering. "While a few eastern states show a 

 slight falling off in the production of some kinds of nursery- 

 stock, Vermont is the only state to show a falling off in all 

 lines of production. Maine also shows a considerable de- 

 crease in several lines. Florida shows a decrease in orange- 

 tree production, brought about by the discouragement of 

 planters by the hard freeze of 1886 ; but with these- few ex- 

 ceptions the increased production is from 1 5 to 300 per cent., 

 being greatest in the states of the North Central division 



