THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
journal of this sort, properly conducted, would he of immense ad¬ 
vantage to the nursery interests of the country, and we should be 
very glad to see it succeed.” 
S. M. Bayles, St. Louis, Mo. —“Your circular letter of 
December 24th is received and noted. A paper devoted exclusively 
to the nursery business is a move in the right direction.” 
John Charlton, Rochester, N. Y.—“Your circular letter 
announcing the publication of the National Nurseryman is 
received and it gives me great pleasure to accord it my hearty 
approval. I ho23e you will make it what has long been needed—an 
organ of the nursery trade of America. I wish it every success. 
L. G. Bragg & Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.— “ We think 
a journal of the nature indicated would be a very valuable one for 
nurserymen.” 
A. D. Pratt, Rochester, N. Y.—“The establishment of a 
journal in the interest of the nursery trade in its different branches 
is an advance in the right direction, and I feel confident it will be 
cordially received. The nursery business at the present time is 
large enough and of sufficient importance to demand a trade jour¬ 
nal, and will be greatly benefited by one conducted intelligently 
and practically. I wish you the largest measure of success in your 
project.” 
Kelsey & Company, St. Joseph, Mo.—“W e have been of 
the opinion for some time that the nursery business was of impor¬ 
tance enough to support a trade journal, and we are very much 
pleased to learn that one is about to be established.” 
Brown Brothers Company, Rochester, N. Y.—“ Such a 
journal may be made of great value to nurserymen. We have 
thought for some time that such a journal was needed.” 
Jackson & Perkins, Newark, N. Y.—“ We think it would 
be a good thing.” 
J. T. Lovett & Company, Little Silver, N. J.— “ A jour¬ 
nal vigorously and ably conducted in the field you propose to 
occupy would be, we think, not only a success financially, but a 
great help to the trade.” 
T. V. Munson, Denison, Tex.—“ I wish your enterprise every 
success, and know you will receive all such aid as you may need.” 
Northern Nursery Company, Traer, Ia.— “Think the 
pajier you propose starting will be a good thing.” 
C. R. Watrous, Des Moines, Ia.—“ I wish your new venture 
abundant success.” 
At the Western New York Horticultural Society meet¬ 
ing, Wm. S. Little and George G. Atwood, the com¬ 
mittee appointed to award the Ellwanger prize of $40 
for the finest and best maintained private place, with 
reference to the collection and placing of ornamental 
trees, shrubs and hardy flowers, reported that Samuel 
J. Wells, of Fayetteville, was the only entry, and they 
awarded the prize to him. The committee recommended 
that no prize should be awarded hereafter unless there 
shall be two or more competitors. The society adopted 
the proposition. The report also contained a plea for 
more entries and for more interest in maintaining beau¬ 
tiful homes in the country. 
Sterility of Hybrids.— It has been known of late 
that hybrids between species of plants are by no means 
sterile as generally supposed. On the other hand Mr. 
G. J. Lowe, who was the earliest, and has been the most, 
persistent experimenter in hybridizing ferns, states that 
hybrids between these are usually sterile. He has been 
experimenting since 1855. No other manipulation is 
required in hybridizing ferns than that spores of two 
species should be mixed in sowing.— Meehan s Monthly. 
I I 
Some 2Teir> Varieties, 
CHAMPION PEACH. 
One of the most popular new peaches on the market is the 
Champion. It is said to be the earliest freestone peach that is 
a solid, first-class shipper. The Hoover & Gaines Company, of 
Dayton, O., ai’e the introducers. 
FITZWATER PEAR. 
This variety originated on what is known as Homestead Farm, 
at Himrods, N. Y., near Seneca Lake, fifty years ago. It is of a 
beautiful canary yellow, of medium size, slightly flushed on one 
cheek, with a few freckles distributed evenly over the surface, 
mostly at the calyx. The flesh is juicy and melting to the core, 
which is small as are also the seeds. It ripens from November to 
January. It is propagated by the Pitzwater Pear Company, Him¬ 
rods, N. Y. 
VERMONT BEAUTY PEAR. 
The frontispiece of -this issue illustrates the Vermont Beauty 
pear, in which there is wide-spread interest. It is a seedling pear, 
first brought to the notice of Dr. Hoskins, of Newport, Vt., by the 
originator, J. T. McOmber, Grand Isle, Lake Champlain, and sub¬ 
sequently jiurchased by W. P. Rupert & Sons, Seneca, N. Y. It 
has been tested quite extensively in the North and South, and has 
thus far proved hardy, and also free from the attacks of blight. 
The tree is a free grower and an abundant bearer. The fruit 
which ripens a little after the well known Seckel, much excels that 
variety in size and beauty. The pear is of full medium size, ovate, 
yellow, and covered on the sunny side with a bright carmine red. 
The flesh is rich, juicy, and ai'omatic. It is especially adapted for 
a dessert pear, and selected lots in the market would bring fancy 
prices. 
WHITE BRANCHING ASTER. 
Among the new varieties introduced by -lames Vick’s Sons, is 
the White Branching Aster, a variety which by its peculiar and 
valuable characteristics, jiromises to command the general notice 
of the trade. The plant is a strong grower and has a marked ten¬ 
dency to form numerous branches. The plant continues to grow 
very late in the season, and gives its crop late and at a time when 
there is a scarcity of flowers. The flowers are borne on very long 
stems and are pure white, being four inches or more in diameter. 
The petals are broad, long, and many of them more or less twisted 
and curled in such a manner as to give the blooms the appearance 
of large, loose and graceful Chrysanthemums. The resemblance 
is so great that nearly every one would so consider them when seen 
as cut flowers. 
WASHINGTON BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 
The bill before the legislature of the State of Wash¬ 
ington, relating to fruit interests, contains the following^ 
provisions : 
That the board be em^iowered to select and appoint comi^etent 
and qualified persons to lecture in each of the districts so created 
for the purpose of encouraging and improving practical horticul- 
tui’e and imparting instruction in the best methods of treating the 
diseases of fruit and fruit trees, cleansing orchards and extermin¬ 
ating orchard pests. 
That each commissioner be given the power, in his own dis¬ 
trict, now conferred on the state inspector of fruit pests, and that 
that office be abolished ; making it the commissioner’s duty to 
visit each county of his district at least once a year. Also, that 
persons selling or distributing nursery stock should be required to 
procure a certificate from the commissioner of the district where 
such articles are sold or to be disposed of, stating that such trees 
or plants apjiear free from injurious insect pests. 
The board asks for an approiiriation of $7,500 a year to defray 
the expenses of the increased work which should be accomplished. 
