6 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
NURSERY INTERESTS. 
Demand for consolidation— How a union of all the 
PROMINENT COMPANIES IN ANY SECTION WOULD EFFECT A 
REDUCTION OF EXPENSES TO A MARKED DEGREE—PRICES 
WOULD ADVANCE TO A POINT CONSISTENT WITH THE RISKS 
WHICH CHARACTERIZE THE BUSINESS—OVERPRODUCTION OP 
STOCK WOULD BE AVOIDED—GROWERS AND DEALERS ALIKE 
BENEFITED. 
Below are given opinions of leading nurserymen on 
a subject which is but just commanding the serious 
attention of growers, who feel that the time has come 
when decided action should be taken looking toward a 
remedy for evils which all have recognized, but which 
have been allowed to exist almost without attempt at 
change. The question at issue is; What may be done 
to advance prices and prevent embarrassment resulting 
from overproduction or scarcity of stock? 
A prominent nurseryman said: “I believe the 
time is near at hand when the leading nurserymen 
of Western New York will see the advantage of a con¬ 
solidation of their interests. This is a matter which is 
just beginning to be thought of, but it is one that should 
receive prompt attention. The remarkable advances 
made in the nursery trade, the extension of territory 
devoted to the business and the tremendous compe¬ 
tition that has arisen have increased expenses to an 
enormous extent, while the prices at which stock is sold 
have depreciated rather than advanced. Of course, 
notwithstanding these facts, the increased amount of 
stock sold each year has left a profit over the heavy 
expenses, but this profit is not commensurate with the 
amount of business done and the great risks assumed. 
Within a short time a few of the most prominent growers 
in this section have expressed a feeling that this con¬ 
dition could be remedied by a union of interests. It is 
a very simple plan and I think it will commend itself to 
all who are interested, if they will but take time to con¬ 
sider it. In many lines of business this plan has been 
adopted with most beneficial results. If, then, the 
prominent growers of Western New York, for instance, 
should agree to pool their issues by the formation of a 
stock company, what a saving of expense would result. 
Compute the amount expended annually by each of the 
big nursery firms and companies in this section alone for 
printing, postage, office and field work, etc., and add in 
each case a good round sum to cover the cost of the 
special effort that is made to overcome sharp competition. 
Count also the expense incurred at frequent intervals in 
the endeavor to get rid of surplus stock, and consider 
the loss that usually occurs after every effort has been 
put forth. 
“ With a stock company the saving along these lines 
would be very great. One office, with one force of 
clerks would do the work which is now done in from 
twenty-five to fifty offices. One catalogue would suffice 
and one man could handle the advertising matter. The 
saving in press work and postage would be a handsome 
profit over the amount now expended. One foreman in 
each department would be sufficient. And so through¬ 
out the various details of the business. See what an 
advantage there would be in such a union of interests in 
the matter of importing stock. One order would be sent 
instead of fifty, and there would be no competition. 
The stock company would get the best. 
“Here then would be a solution of the trouble of 
overproduction. In the present state of competition 
and distrust no understanding can be had regarding the 
amount of certain kinds of stock that shall be grown. 
Were an arrangement attempted, some one, as it is, 
would surely break over. With a stock company the 
interests of the members are identical and the law of 
supply and demand could be met under a definite plan. 
The question of prices would solve itself. With the 
control of the stock in an entire section, such a consol¬ 
idation as is proposed could advance prices to a point 
consistent with the expense and risk which characterize 
the business, and the profits which were known in times 
when competition was not so strong would return, for 
the demand for the best of all kinds of stock will con¬ 
tinue to increase, and with such opportunities as would 
accrue to a stock organization the market in the partic¬ 
ular section involved could be controlled. 
“How would such an organization be affected by 
similar ones in other sections, or by those in the business 
outside of any organization ? ” you ask. It would simply 
be a case, with them, of inability to procure in sufficient 
quantity the stock handled by that particular organ¬ 
ization, and it is this very fact that would cause the 
establishment and maintenance of prices which would 
produce the proper profit. There could be little or no 
competition. 
“And the dealers, too, would benefit by the plan 
proposed, especially if they should take stock in the 
organization. They would know just how much of cer¬ 
tain kinds of nursery stock was available for the season’s 
trade from the sections where such organizations might 
exist ; and instead of having to search the country over 
for the article needed, they could place their hands upon 
it at once. They would benefit by the consolidation of 
the growers in many ways. 
“I am sure that such an organization would pay 
better than a general investment in railroad or any other 
kind of stock. The stock of the most prosperous organ¬ 
izations pays an average of 8 per cent., and I am confi¬ 
dent that 10 per cent, would be a low figure to estimate 
as the profit from a stock company of the leading nur¬ 
serymen. If the organization should be heavily stocked 
I believe it would pay 20 per cent. Of course good men 
should be behind such an enterprise. But such men are 
available. As I said before, the time is coming soon 
