THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
39 
plate and placed in with the trees-^-the whole being then 
covered up. The gas at once begins to rise, and displaces 
the air. The gas is death to all animals, and should not 
be breathed. One hour’s exposure to this gas will usually 
kill the scale insects. The ounce of cyanide is for 150 
cubic feet of air space. All suspected stock might well be 
treated in this way as it comes from the nursery. 
A bill for enforcing the destruction of the San Jose scale, 
is before the New York state senate. It provides that 
whenever the state entomologist shall learn of the exist¬ 
ence of this scale within the state, he shall notify the 
commissioner of agriculture, who is to appoint experts 
to examine the infested locality. If it is found, the owner 
of the grounds where it occurs, after proper notification, 
must within 10 days, take steps to destroy the scale and 
prevent its distribution. In case the owner will not act, 
the agent of the department is empowered to enter upon 
any or all premises and employ reasonable means to 
destroy the scale. The sum of $5,000 is to be appropri¬ 
ated to be used in enforcing this law. 
The Rochester Clearing House Association has decided 
to charge for the collection of checks payable outside of 
Rochester, New York and Boston. Nurserymen dealing 
with Rochester firms will confer a favor by remitting only 
by New York draft or postal money order. 
The publishers of The National Nurseryman have 
no occasion to announce “ special numbers.” Every issue 
of the journal contains an accumulation of matter which 
has been condensed to the smallest compass, and in sub¬ 
ject matter and appearance every issue is a “special 
number.” 
Professor Bailey’s advice to horticulturists is that the 
best crop to grow in an apple orchard is apples. “ Spray¬ 
ing apple orchards is a secondary operation. We cannot 
make our orchard productive unless the soil is in proper 
condition. The best way to treat a portion of our old 
orchards is to plant new ones.” 
Reports from the large fruit growing districts of Cali¬ 
fornia show that recent frosts have caused great damage 
to the cherry, apricot, almond, peach and prune crops. 
In Vacaville alone, the damage to cherries and apricots is 
placed at $250,000. All through the Sacramento and San 
Joaquin valleys frost has caused a heavy loss. 
The International Exhibition at Amsterdam, Holland, 
during the current year will include a horticultural sec¬ 
tion, of which the programme is now before us. This 
section will comprise a permanent exhibition extending 
from May ist to November ist, and four temporary dis¬ 
plays. The permanent exhibition will comprise trees and 
shrubs, roses, clematis, dahlias, cannas, phloxes, lilies and 
other ornamental plants, annuals, tuberous begonias, and 
summer flowering plants generally. Isaac Bulk, of Ams¬ 
terdam, is secretary of the horticultural department. 
REGULATIONS FOR AGENTS. 
Editor 0 /The National Nurseryman: 
I want to echo the sentiment expressed in the March 
number by Linton, Oren & Co., of Marceline, Mo. Yes, 
why have we been so stupid as to advance commission 
on orders and offering a premium for rascality and mis¬ 
representation, putting our goods as a sacrifice to a 
merciless people. I for one have established the rule of 
hiring my agents outright, by the month or year, or 
arranging with responsible men to sell strictly at my 
catalogue prices and guarantee me usually 60 per cent, 
net cash when the goods reach the delivery point. By 
making the retail prices fair and offering no ironclads or 
novelties at fabulous prices, I have no trouble in se- 
securing good men to handle my goods. 
I have gone much farther in this reform movement but 
as yet without success. But I do not despair. I have at 
two different times endeavored to get our state horticul¬ 
tural society to make a demand on our legislature for a 
law compelling tree agents to pass a rigid examination 
before a commission and to receive a certificate of qualifi¬ 
cation if found worthy and qualified to represent and sell 
nursery goods ; for in nine cases out of ten the planter 
accepts the agent’s recommendations as to hardiness, 
quality, etc., and in many cases allows the agent to select 
the site for an orchard or garden. Too often the agent 
will choose or recommend a poor and.undesirable location 
with the greatest assurance, saying that it is just the place, 
because it will take lots of trees to fill the field or some¬ 
thing equally in the agent’s favor. 
Now, if men were compelled to know something of the 
business and be horticulturists, so to speak, or at least 
not allowed to misrepresent one of the grandest industries 
in America, there would be far less dissatisfaction on both 
sides, less loss, better sales at better prices, more confi¬ 
dence in the business, and much more fruit grown at a 
less cost to the planter— for he would not have to pay 
fabulous prices for nonsensical novelties—and a greater 
price for poor advice and misplaced confidence. 
A. D. Barnes. 
Waupaca, Wis. 
THE KIEFFER PEAR. 
President J. S. Harris, said at the meeting of the Penin¬ 
sular Horticultural Society at Dover, Del.: “ Kieffer is a 
pear for profit : growing in favor in market. Bears more 
regularly than Duchess. My orchard of Kieffer, 11 years 
old, has yielded $150 to $200 per acre. Howell is a good 
pear. My 6 year Kieffer, 3,000 trees, averaged 3 baskets 
a tree in 1893; prices 45c to $1.25 per basket. Kieffer 
was marketed largely in Europe. Should be kept until 
mellow. Its reputation has been damaged by being put 
on the market unripe. The main thing is to give them 
time ; early in the season it is not good. Kept until late 
in October it is a good eating pear. In November they 
are as fine flavored as most pears of the season ; has then 
a flavor and quality equal to Duchess. The supply of 
Kieffer the last year has not been equal to the demand in 
Baltimore and elsewhere, for canning purposes.” 
