22 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
continent. That was one of my early lessons in pictorial 
art. In time I came to know you through your able and 
alert press as one o.f the most progressive cities of the 
sterling Empire State, fourth in population and impor¬ 
tance and second to no city in the union in beauty of 
location, facility of transportation and breadth of enter¬ 
prise—a city whose horizon is still radiant with the sun¬ 
light of hope. What I shall learn here to-night of your 
industrial and commercial prosperity will be instructive. 
Before I depart I hope to know more of your justly 
famous beer if not of your world-famed flour.” 
The Colonel was correctly informed regarding the im¬ 
portance of Rochester industries with the exception of his 
reference to the world-famed flour. Western cities have 
snatched from Rochester the palm of producing the most 
and the best flour, and although the seal of the city and 
its official title retain the name “ Flour City,” it long 
ago became the custom to refer to it as the Flower City. 
It is justly celebrated by reason of its extensive nurseries, 
and it was not possible for an occasion like that of the 
Chamber of Commerce banquet to pass without reference 
to a commercial feature which has made the city famous 
throughout the world. 
CONSOLIDATION OF INTERESTS. 
Editor (?/The National Nurseryman : 
Your article upon the necessity of consolidation of 
nursery interests is one which is worthy of consideration 
by every large nursery concern in the country. While 
the consolidation of such interests so far as it relates to 
New York nurseries does not involve others necessarily, 
in detached sections of the country, yet the general ques¬ 
tion is one which cannot fail to arouse consideration on 
the part of those who have large investments in the busi¬ 
ness. While not in favor of trusts as against the general 
welfare, the nurserymen of to-day cannot fail to recog¬ 
nize the evil effects of general over-production, and the 
tendency toward lower prices each successive year until 
it has become a serious question as to how low prices for 
stock can be reduced, without involving absolute loss to 
the producer. All these emphasize most strongly the need 
of combination, and this necessity is as vital to nursery¬ 
men outside of New York State as to any others. The 
writer has been impressed for a number of years with the 
abuses within the trade, and their name is legion. They 
are rapidly deteriorating legitimate business with the 
ret-uil buyers, and if the process goes on many years 
longer, retail catalogues will cease to exist and only 
wholesale prices will prevail. Any large nursery interest 
is to-day confronted by this question ; wholesale lists are 
freely sent to retail buyers, wholesale nurseries are 
advertising in all directions to send their lists to those 
who apply for them, and on every hand we see the retail 
buyer taking advantage of this cut-throat policy which 
the nurserymen of to-day are encouraging. Where the 
abuse is so general, it is impossible for any one nursery 
interest to combat it. It needs strong co-operation among 
the nurserymen, and if the leading interests were to com¬ 
bine against this abuse with rigid penalties, a marked im¬ 
provement would follow in trade conditions. It would 
seem possible to form some protective alliance among the 
leading nurserymen of the country, and if the movement 
could be once crystalized, no doubt its value and impor¬ 
tance would be recognized so fully that it would be gen¬ 
erally entered into. Other abuses besides the one men¬ 
tioned could also be prevented. It is remarkable that 
such a combination and co-operative work has not been 
before considered. The nursery interests are more or 
less concrete in shape, and whatever little outside com¬ 
petition might be brought to bear against a combination 
of this character would have little weight or value. I 
hope to hear a general discussion of this question, and it 
is hoped that some conclusive action will be taken by 
those whose interests are at stake. 
A Massachusetts Nurseryman. 
FROM GENEVA. 
The National Nurseryman is a very welcome guest 
to the nurserymen of Geneva. Its splendid makeup and 
tasty appearance more than meet the expectation of all. 
It supplies a need that has long been felt by the trade 
here. 
The growers report a healthy increase in their sales 
department during the past month ; prices are somewhat 
firmer and ‘ ‘ looking up. ” It is very evident that all the 
first-class stock in and about Geneva, fit for spring 
delivery, will find ready market. Several importations 
of French stock have arrived recently in a frozen con¬ 
dition, much of it being injured to such an extent as to 
render it worthless. 
From present indications the plantings of 1893 will 
be somewhat smaller than for several years past. Some 
of the largest growers of apples, pears and plums say that 
they will not plant over one-half the amount they usually 
have ; others will not vary much from their usual plant¬ 
ing ; on the whole it is safe to say that the out-put this 
year will be cut short about one-fourth. 
Quite extensive experiments are being carried on at 
the State Experimental Station this winter, in the pres¬ 
ervation of fruits in cold storage ; the results obtained 
thus far have not been as satisfactory as could have been 
wished, but the many important points gained will prove 
valuable to fruit growers. 
N. C. and Chas. E. Smith, of the firm of E. Smith & 
Sons, have returned home from La Porte, Texas, where 
they have been investigating the fruit growing industry. 
These gentlemen are experts in the business, and speak 
