THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
75 
nursery in a state infested, yet if that nursery is not 
named all the nurseries in the state suffer. I have been 
obliged to warn Ohio orchardists against purchasing stock 
in New Jerscry and Long Island, before the names of the 
nurseries infested and not rid of the pest were made 
known. I hope you will indicate some method of dealing 
with this important subject. The relations of the United 
States with other countries from which we may receive 
new and serious pests are rapidly extending. With the 
present facilities of communication and transportation, 
infected stock may be brought into the country in from 
four to six weeks. You by necessity and not by choice 
are the first to disseminate such stock and you should be 
the first to apply a remedy. The San Jose scale can be 
wholly eradicated from a nursery or an orchard in one 
year.” 
Mr. Watrous: “ I think that a paper which deals so 
wisely and fairly with so important a subject calls for a 
vote of thanks to the author. I move that this conven¬ 
tion extend to Professor Webster a vote of thanks and 
our approval of the course he has laid down.” The 
motion was unanimously adopted. 
Mr. Stark : “ I wish to explain the circumstances under 
which we handled the stock from San Jose, Cal., reference 
to which was made in Professor Webster’s paper. The 
stock was sent to us as stated, but as it was not according 
to specifications we rejected it. Then word came to us 
from California to ship the stock to Mr. Parry in New 
Jersey. We had not unpacked the stock. The deal was 
between Mr. Rock and Mr. Parry and not with us.” 
Mr. Albaugh ; “ I am glad to have the explanation. 
The only way to treat this matter is to have nothing 
hidden under a bushel basket.” 
Mr. Manning; “A professor of Amherst college has 
just been all through the Reading, Mass., Nurseries and 
has found no indication of the presence of the scale.” 
Mr. Watrous : “ Suppose a nurseryman has been so 
unfortunate as to have received a bundle of infected trees 
from another nurseryman. What is to be done ?” 
Professor Webster: “ Send the trees back to the 
nurseryman.” 
Mr. Watrous: “ Is there any way one can, by disin¬ 
fection, cure those trees?” 
Professor Webster : “ Great carelessness has character¬ 
ized the treatment of stock in California and this has 
resulted in failure to cure trees. But the remedy used in 
California is not efficacious in the East.” 
Mr. Augustine : “ If the scale is found in a corner of 
a nursery will it spread rapidly ?” 
Professor Webster : “ The scale of itself will not spread 
rapidly, but it will be carried by the wind and upon the 
feet of birds. The trees upon which it is found, and a 
few in the vicinity, should be burned. It can be stamped 
out. I am inclined to think that the scale can be carried 
on California fruit to the East.” 
Professor Bailey upon being asked his opinion of the 
scale, said : “ I have had no experience with the San 
Jose scale. I have not much fear of it. I doubt that it 
will prove to be more injurious than indigenous insects. 
I am not sure that we need at present a law to check the 
sending of trees to and fro. The character of a good 
many of our most serious pests cannot yet be determined. 
A law is of no effect unless it is backed by public senti¬ 
ment. That was lacking in Senator Caminetti’s bill which 
did not become a law. It was supposed to be necessary 
to have a peach yellows law in Michigan, but at present 
there is no need of such a law because the people are 
educated to the necessities of the case. It may be that 
a temporary law is needed to serve as a means of educa¬ 
tion. What we need is such papers as this one of Professor 
Webster, bulletins, agricultural and horticultural press 
articles upon the subject, and above all honesty upon the 
part of the nurserymen.” 
JAPANESE PLUMS. 
At the opening of the second day’s session the con¬ 
vention proceeded with the unfinished portion of the 
previous day’s programme. W. F. Heikes, Huntsville, 
Ala., said he had not had time to prepare a paper on the 
subject allotted to him, “ Japanese Plums.” “ Most 
nurserymen well know the Japanese plums,” said he. 
“ In the South these plums have done remarkably well. 
All the trees there are bending with fruit. I have no 
doubt that the Japanese plum is one of the greatest 
acquisitions in the line of fruits in the last ten years. 
Wherever the English plum does not succeed, the Japanese 
plum is especially valuable. It will not take the place of 
the English plum, but it will ripen before any of the 
English plums are ready for market. The best tested 
varieties are the Abundance and the Burbank. The 
Willard is rather new. It has only been tested in Western 
New York, but it has succeeded well there. It is three 
weeks earlier than the Abundance and is a very valuable 
sort. The Willard is about the size of the Lombard. The 
Abundance and Burbank are larger. The Japan plums 
are mostly of a bright crimson color. The varieties not 
so well known are yellow. The varieties must be tested 
in various localities before any particular variety may be 
recommended for a section.” 
Mr. Chase of Alabama, Mr. Poole of Indiana, Thomas 
Morris of Fairfield, Ind., and W. E. Gould, Villa Ridge, 
Ilk, endorsed the Japanese plum. E. W. Reid, of Bridge¬ 
port, O., said : ” I find the Japanese plum not as hardy 
as many kinds, yet it is more hardy than the peach. The 
Abundance and Burbank sold heavily this season. When 
we have a good crop of peaches we also have a good crop 
of plums. When the Japanese plums become thoroughly 
known they will be planted extensively south of Indian¬ 
apolis.” 
Mr. Buttrick, Cascade, Mich.: “ Our sales included 
500 Japanese plums. It is hardy, but I am not yet satis¬ 
fied concerning its characteristics.” 
Mr. Berckmans, Augusta, Ga.: •' We have had much 
experience with the Japanese plums, and have found them 
hardy and reliable. We have received good reports of 
their use in Africa,” 
