The National Nursery 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK. 
Copyright, 1893, by The Natiorial Nurseryman Publishing Co. 
VOL. I. ROCHESTER, N. Y., MARCH, 1893. 
THE QUESTION OF FREIGHT RATES. 
Repeated inquiry has been made to me relative to the 
new ruling of the various traffic associations, whereby 
-they make it a condition to the shipper who desires the 
benefit of third class on trees boxed and bulk by car load 
lots, that they consent to a waiver of all claims for dam¬ 
ages from loss of stock, or any loss by detention above an 
arbitrary valuation of $5 per 100 pounds. 
The nurseryman has not been selected from all pther 
shippers as the subject for this ruling, but many other 
lines that are seeking the benefits of lower rates are 
compelled to the acceptance^of the same conditions, 
before receiving the benefits. I have no rate sheet 
before me, or the various lines of freight in the same 
classification could be given. The reasons for the action 
of the framers of tariff sheets are not always apparent 
to the layman, but they have some reason satisfactory 
to themselves, no doubt, and after all is said and done 
we have no right to judge off-hand that these discrim¬ 
inations are for selfish gain solely. The average traffic 
manager has all and more than he can do as a rule 
these days to meet expenses, maintain equipment, and 
meet interest on preferred bonds ; and we, as nursery¬ 
men, have no right to expect better treatment than 
shippers in other lines. There is a grave question as to 
their ability to enforce this ruling. A car load of apple 
trees, weighing 20,000 pounds, would be worth to the 
shipper as a claim on the railroads, $1,000. A good 
packer would get 10,000 trees into a car, worth at low 
wholesale rates, $800. In this case the ruling would 
not be unjust ; whereas, if the car were loaded with 25 
cent, pears, the value would be $1,500 in excess of the 
salvage. With roses, fine ornamentals, new sorts of 
grapes, etc., the difference in value would be still higher ; 
and as common carriers, they cannot receive your stock 
for safe carriage, and in case of failure to comply with 
their contract, settle with you on an arbitrary valuation 
set by themselves. 
Many have referred this matter to me, presumably, 
as I was to a certain extent the representative of the 
American Association of Nurserymen in procuring the 
reduction to third class. To all such I would recom¬ 
mend the use of the Barlow manifold shippers’ bill, 
which, with the use of carbon paper, at one writing, 
makes triplicate shipping bills, one for the shipper, or 
consigner, one for the consignee, and the third for the 
railway company. These blanks have printed upon 
them (or can be so arranged if in ordering you request 
them to be so printed) the form of release required by 
the railway. There will then be no question as to stock 
going as third class, and in case of a loss in transit, the 
shipper can consider whether it is desirable to settle on 
their terms, or test the validity of the enforced contract. 
One point is to be borne in mind, namely ; That 
railway men are second to none in the continued 
improvement of service, and the chances for stock being 
lost or delayed beyond a reasonable length of time is 
very much less than formerly. The writer remembers 
when it was of prime necessity that each important 
shipment be accompanied from its initial point through 
to destination by an agent, to ensure seasonable arrival. 
All this is changed, and the shipper or agent would not 
be permitted upon the fast freight lines that now handle 
his goods, almost on passenger and express schedule 
time. “What can’t be cured must be endured,” and 
the average shipper will accept the enforced ruling until 
some sufficiently important shipfnent goes astray, to 
warrant a test case being made, and we will then have 
the matter settled, and not till then. 
S. M. Emery. 
Lake City, Minn. 
THE OUTLOOK FOR FRUIT TREES IN 
ONTARIO. 
There is no doubt that the fruit growing industry is 
being rapidly developed in many parts of Ontario. Of 
late years grain farming has not been profitable, and 
farmers are beginning to find, that in order to make any 
money, it is necessary to cultivate less land with the 
limited amount of capital at their disposal, to give that 
land much better cultivation, and to apply fertilizers 
much more liberally. Some, it is true, are thus led to 
engage in stock raising, some in vegetable gardening, 
some in bee keeping, but those who have suitable soil 
and are favorably situated with regard to markets, are 
led to engage more and more in the cultivation of both 
large and small fruits. I will briefly review the various 
kinds of fruits grown by us in Ontario. 
Apple growing is of course the most prominent. If 
Ontario is becoming famous in the British markets for 
anything, it is for her apples. It is universally conceded 
that the farther north an apple can be grown, the higher 
its color, and the firmer its texture ; thus increasing 
its value, both for transportation, for keeping, or for 
