8 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
The National N urseryman. 
C L. YATES, Proprietor. RALPH T. OLCOTT, Editor 
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY 
The National Nurseryman Publishing Co., 
305 Cox Building, Rochester, N. Y. 
The only trade journal issued for Growers and Dealers in Nursery Stock of 
all kinds. It circulates throughout the United States and Canada. 
OFFICIAL' JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSERYMEN. 
SUBSCRIPTION RATES. 
One Year, in advance, - $1.00 
Six Months, ------- .75 
Foreign Subscriptions, in advance, - - - 1.50 
Six Months, “ “ - - - 1.00 
Advertising rates will be sent upon application. Advertisements 
should reach this office by the 20th of the month previous to the date of 
issue. 
Payment in advance required for foreign advertisements. 
JG^“Drafts on New York or postal orders, instead of checks, are 
requested. 
Oorrespon'ence from all points and articles of interest to nursery 
men and horticulturists are cordially solicited. 
Entered in the Post Office at Rochester, N. Y., as second-class matter. 
Rochester, N. Y., February, 1896. 
THE STATE OF TRADE. 
The condition of trade at present is, to say the least, un¬ 
satisfactory. Nurserymen report a dullness which is dis¬ 
couraging to many. It was ^anticipated last summer and 
fall that the trade of the spring of 1896 would be much 
better than that of last year. But the expected sales have 
not been made, and as a result there will be a large amount 
of stock on hand, instead of the general cleaning up that 
was looked for. 
The primary cause, of course, is the fact that the farmers 
have little money. No one realizes more fully than does 
the nurseryman that upon the failure or success of the 
agricultural industries depends the welfare of the nation. 
When the farmers refuse to purchase nursery stock, 
growers and dealers turn to the cities and towns, where 
more or less trade is always certain, but it is a narrow 
field compared with the former. A large dealer a few 
days ago said that his men were averaging but $1 per 
week in sales. A few years ago an average of $10 per 
per week was considered poor business. Wholesalers, too, 
are complaining. 
The outlook is not encouraging just now, but it is a 
fact that more or less business is being done in all sections 
and it is probable that those who withstand the ordeal for 
another year will see increased activity as the result of 
better crops and the dropping out of those, who by ruin¬ 
ous prices during a business of but a season or two, 
undermine the entire trade. May it not be that the 
present conditions are just what is needed to rid the trade 
of its chief difficulty—low prices? 
A LAUDABLE PURPOSE. 
There is a double meaning in the expression so often 
used, “Come and join us and we will do you good.” 
Those who have been “done” at considerable costare 
inclined to hesitate in accepting the invitation, but there 
need be no hesitation on the part of a nurseryman in join¬ 
ing a society which states that its purposes are “to in-* 
crease the area of tillable land, to restore and maintain 
the fertility of soils, to improve the methods of tillage, to 
introduce and test labor saving implements and devices, 
to combat and control insect pests and diseases, to origin¬ 
ate new and choice varieties of fruit, to elicit and dissemi¬ 
nate correct information, to encourage a love for nature 
and to promote rural embellishment.” 
This is the platform of the Western New York Horti¬ 
cultural Society, as stated by its president, William C. 
Barry, himself a nurseryman; and upon that platform the 
society has established a reputation excelled by none, and 
has a membership of nearly five hundred, including many 
prominent nurserymen. 
And it is believed that the principles above enunciated 
govern all the horticultural societies of the country and 
are executed as circumstances permit and almost invari¬ 
ably to the advantage of the nurseryman. 
ARE TREES INTELLIGENT? 
The Chicago Times-Herald says : 
R. M. Kellogg, of Iona County, Mich., one of the most successful 
fruit growers in Western Michigan, and secretary of the West Michi¬ 
gan-Horticultural Society, believes that a tree has its likes and dislikes ; 
that it knows its friends and its enemies when they approach, and has 
a high degree of intelligence generally. He believes trees are as alive 
to their surroundings as animals, and that their sensibilities must be 
touched to gain the best results. He has made a lifelong study of fruit 
and fruit growing. He exploited his theory at the joint convention of 
Western Michigan horticultural societies in Grand Rapids last week. 
His position was not controverted by any in attendance, and many 
agreed with him. 
That the practical application of a theory which long 
ago was extended to vegetable life should be made by a 
fruit grower of so wide experience as Mr. Kellogg must 
certainly give the thought more than ordinary interest. 
If Mr. Kellogg is to be taken literally, it is difficult to 
agree with him. But all will acknowledge that generally 
such care as lovers of trees bestow upon their charges 
produces results which make it, appear that those trees 
appreciate that care and reciprocate almost as if through 
intelligence. 
It is certainly a beautiful thought and appeals to the 
nurseryman who is daily associated with trees and who, 
though accustomed to look upon his products from a 
purely commercial point of view, nevertheless finds 
occasion often to note the wonderful processes of nature. 
Thus it is that when Mr. Kellogg advanced his idea “his 
position was not controverted by any in attendance and 
many agreed with him.” 
During the last decade southern fruit growers have 
