i8 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
such lines of stock as have been selling below cost of pro¬ 
duction, 
“This is at least the brightest side to look on, and if 
we do not realize it, we will at least have had the pleasure 
of anticipation, and the unpleasantness of disappointment 
will hardly be as great as that of looking at the dark side 
all summer,” 
]N NEBRASKA AND COLORADO. 
Geneva, Neb., Feb. 20. —Youngers & Co.: “ It is 
rather early yet to form any definite idea of what spring 
trade will be. Reference to our files shows that we have 
now several thousand dollars more of orders booked than 
we had last year at this time, and reference to our copy 
books shows that the correspondence is a little more than 
double last year. This, we think, would hardly indi¬ 
cate that trade would run double last year, but it certain¬ 
ly indicates that people are thinking of planting, and that 
trade is very liable to run considerably above last year. 
Comparisons show that we now have in farmers’ orders 
more than double the amount we had on our books at 
this time last year; our dealers’ trade is also about 
double. 
“ A great deal depends on the next month. The 
drouth is still unbroken with us over a large part of 
Nebraska ; the ground is very dry, there having been only 
about three inches of snow for the entire winter. If we 
should have a good fall of snow or a heavy rain soon, 
trade will be very satisfactory ; much better, in fact, than 
we had reason to anticipate last fall. If we do not get 
the rain or the snow, Nebraska trade will not amount to 
very much. A very large part of our business is done in 
the mountain regions of Colorado ; there trade is excep¬ 
tionally good.” 
IN MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS. 
St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 2i.~The outlook for spring de¬ 
livery in Missouri and Illinois is not the brightest. The 
retail business has moved more slowly than for some 
years. In good territory responsible planters are buying 
very sparingly. In poor territory nursery firms are not 
pushing business. Within the last two years there has 
been developed, to a remarkable extent, a desire to 
purchase at wholesale ; nurserymen generally having 
encouraged this tendency by sending the wholesale price¬ 
lists into wider fields than ever before. The result is that 
salesmen have to meet these new conditions, and instead 
of retailing, catch the close cash buyer with the wholesale 
price-list. Everybody familiar with the business inclines 
to the opinion that nursery stock is going to be higher in 
price next season. From many causes, principally be¬ 
cause of close money matters, planting has been curtailed 
over a very wide area. This, we believe, to be extensive 
enough to warrant the opinion that prices will range 
higher for some time in the near future. At present, the 
canvass in good territory is being pushed with greater 
vigor than ever before. In Illinois and Northern Mis¬ 
souri the impression prevails that it will be easier to get 
cash at time of delivery than last spring or fall. 
IN THE MIAMI VALLEY. 
Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 21.—Nothing remarkable is ob¬ 
served in the prevailing business conditions here at this 
time. The prospects for an active wholesale trade are 
promising. A number of good orders have been placed 
with the leading establishments of this valley for early 
spring shipment, and all report an unusual amount of 
“ nibbling ” which will doubtless later materialize into 
orders, and which may be taken as unmistakable evidence 
of a demand which will probably not fully manifest itself 
until the packing and shipping season actually begins. 
Prices are ruling strong on peach, gooseberries and a few 
other articles, and about as heretofore on other stock. 
Dealers and retail men report a steady business, not large 
perhaps, but equal in volume to any winter canvass of 
recent years, and very much better than the continued 
business prostration would seem to warrant. 
Tadmor, O., Feb. 20.—The continued cold weather 
since January ist, without interruption, has tied up 
things generally in trade, yet there have been many orders 
placed within the last month, especially in peaches, with 
some inquiry for cherries and apples. It is very doubtful 
if there will be enough peaches to fill the orders this 
spring, and prices are constantly increasing. All medium 
and lighter grades will be used very closely. 
The cold winter, while it has killed the blossom buds 
of the peach, sweet cherry and plum, has not injured the 
trees in the least. Not a mark shows anywhere. The 
snow covered the buds in the nursery, and they are all in 
prime condition. While prices are generally low on near¬ 
ly all varieties of nursery stock, yet the trade is in a 
healthy condition. 
IN THE SOUTH. 
Augusta, Ga., Feb. 21.—P. J. Berckmans, of the Fruit- 
land Nurseries, said to-day: “ Little damage to nursery 
stock has resulted from the excessive cold weather heie 
lately. I speak for Georgia. With the exception of some 
few broad-leaved evergreens of which plants were small, 
we cannot see any material damage. Our Satsuma oranges 
in open ground have lost their leaves, but are otherwise 
sound. In P'lorida, however, the damage is immense, 
because many plants and trees had already started in 
growth.” 
Orlando, Fla., Feb. 22. — James Mott of Orlando 
Nurseries : “ The despatches have told you of the terrible 
cold that has come over us here in Florida this winter. 
There is not over one per cent, of the citrus nursery trees 
alive; they are killed to the ground. I am cutting mine 
all off to the ground, have grafted a few, but the most of 
them we will have to wait for a sprout to come from the 
roots, and bud when large enough, in June I expect. 
The loss of our nursery stock is a sad blow to the most 
of us ; some that have lost all their labor for years, are 
discouraged, and will give up ; others are believing in a 
bright future for this section that has given the world the 
finest oranges and pineapples that are known, and will go 
