GROWTH OF THE NURSERY INTEREST. 



A GREAT AND RAPID INCREASE. 



tree and plant 



OMMERCIAL 



growing on one side, and the pro- 

 duction and consumption of fruits 

 on the other, are in close mutual 

 touch. Their relation is as cause 

 and effect, but the lines are not 

 distinctly drawn, and it is not 

 easy to say which of the two is 

 cause and which is effect. In- 

 creased demand for fruit calls for increased plant- 

 ing ; this for increased nursery operations. The 

 increase in the number of nurserymen again brings 

 greater efforts in selling stock, which efforts result 

 in increased planting, increased supply and in- 

 creased use of fruits, and so on in a steadily grow- 

 ing circle. Its growth may be watched at any of 

 the three main phases, viz., the nursery interest, 

 the fruit supply, or the sale of fruits. 



The growth of any link in this endless chain is a 

 pretty fair indication of the growth of all the others. 

 Just for this reason it is interesting to note the gradual 

 increase of the nursery interest in the United States, 

 from the two nurseries existing here previous to 1800, 

 one in New York, and one in Connecticut, to an estab- 

 lishment of 32 new ones between 1840 and 1850, and 

 finally to an increase of 1,757 such institutions between 

 the years 1880 and 1890. 



The census of 1890 was. the first in which the nursery 

 business was made the subject of special inquiry. 

 J. H. Hale probably had some difficulties in getting 

 at all the facts, but his skill knew how to overcome the 

 obstacles ; and we believe the figures given in the census 

 reports and tabulations, so far as the nursery industry 

 is concerned, are at least approximately correct. "It 

 appears," says Mr. Hale, " that there are in the United 

 States 4,510 nurseries, valued at $41,978,835.80 and oc- 

 cupying 172,801 acres of land, with an invested capital 

 of $52,425,669.51, and giving employment to 45,657 

 men, 2,279 women, and 14,200 animals, using in the 

 propagation and cultivation of trees and plants $990,- 

 606.04 worth of implements. Of the acreage in nurser- 

 ies 95,025.42 were found to be used in growing trees, 

 plants, shrubs and vines of all ages ; and the figures, 

 based upon the best estimate of the nurserymen, make 

 the grand total of plants and trees 3.386,855,778, of 

 which 518,016,612 are fruit trees, 685,603,396 grape 

 vines and small fruits, and the balance nut, deciduous, 

 and evergreen trees, hardy shrubs, and roses. The 



largest acreage is devoted to the production of apple 

 trees, namely, 20,232.75 acres, numbering 240,570,666 

 young trees, giving an average of 1 1, 890 per acre ; while 

 the plum, pear and peach have, respectively, 7,826.5, 

 6,854.25, and 3,357 acres, which produce respectively 

 88,495,367, 77,223,402, and 49,887,894young trees, or an 

 average of 11,307, 11,266, and 14,861 trees to the acre." 



New York state leads in number of nurseries (530), 

 acreage (24,840), capital invested ($12,202,844.50), and 

 number of men employed (3,970). Next comes Cali- 

 fornia ; then Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, etc. The 

 figures clearly prove the steady growth of the industry, 

 which appears to be general, the only states showing a 

 falling off being Vermont, Maine (in several lines only),, 

 and Florida in respect to her orange production. This 

 decrease is plainly traceable to local causes. Otherwise 

 the continued growth and prosperity of the industry is 

 well assured, as it is, in a measure, a self-feeder, pro- 

 ducing its own stimulus. 



The lower prices of nursery stock are offset by greater 

 knowlege in the art of production. Better culture gives 

 better stock at less cost. These are conditions favor- 

 able to the planter, and not in the least discouraging tO' 

 the nurseryman who understands his business. 



To allay all fears that the production of these millions 

 of plants and trees in these thousands of nurseries would 

 soon overstock the country, we might endorse Dr. 

 Beadle's statement, made less than a year ago before the 

 Ontario Fruit Grower's Association, that of 20 trees set 

 out, only one will ever bear fruit. It is a sad reflection 

 on our methods of transportation, and on the skill of 

 planters, but it does not come far from the truth. We 

 have here a great waste of material and effort, which 

 it behooves those who buy and plant nursery stock to 

 prevent to a great extent in future. In the mean time, 

 however, it will take all the efforts of our established 

 nurseries to supply the demand of tree planters. The 

 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 products 

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

 years ago a fruit orchard 50 acres in extent was con- 

 sidered a wonder ; now in nearly every state apple, 

 pear, and peach orchards of 100, 200 and 300 acres are 

 being planted, while in Georgia and California there are 

 many peach orchards of 1,000 or more acres each. The 

 greatest and most steady demand, 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. 



