42 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
passed any year by a large amount. Little if any surplus 
stock is left except some varieties in standard pear and 
dwarf pear and apple. All fruit trees were in good de¬ 
mand, prices ruling low. 
“ We are confident no nursery stock in this vicinity has 
been injured by the winter, and last year’s budding prom¬ 
ises to be extra fine. The amount of stock to be planted 
here this spring will be from io to 20 per cent, less than 
last. year. 
“ The prospects for next fall and spring as far as we 
can judge at this writing are very good as to making large 
sales but the prices will rule about as last year with a 
slight increase on some kinds.” 
Portland, N. Y., April 25.—C. S. Curtice Co.: “ We 
believe the grapevines grown in this section are well 
cleaned up, with the possible exception of a few varieties 
on which the demand has been lighter than usual. Con¬ 
cord vines have been very scarce, and practically none to 
be had for some time past. There was less than the 
usual supply of them, and while the demand from the trade 
probably was no larger than usual, and perhaps not so 
large, there was a heavy demand from planters, largely 
for the purpose of resetting in vineyards where they were 
killed out by the severe winters of ’94 and ’95, and the 
spring frost of ’96 which killed some vines ; also nursery 
planting of vines was considerably reduced in the spring 
of ’95 over the preceding year. Add to this fact that one 
year old vines as a rule did not make as satisfactory 
growth as usual, which cut down the number of salable 
vines, it is fair to presume that there has not been over 
two-thirds the amount of trade that is usually transacted 
in this section. 
“ Prices have ruled fully as low, or lower than for the 
preceding two years; undoubtedly below the cost of pro¬ 
duction in many instances. 
“ We are unable to state at this writing whether plant¬ 
ing will be reduced this spring or not; but at the price 
grapes have been selling for one or two years past, there 
is no reasonable ground to expect a very large demand 
for vines from planters, and it would seem to be a wise 
policy to reduce planting still further.” 
CENTRAL STATES. 
Kalamazoo, Mich., April 25.—Charles A. Maxson, 
treasurer and general manager, Central Michigan Nursery 
Co.: “Spring opening so suddenly has been a source of 
loss and inconvenience to nurserymen at this point. 
Spring shipments have been greater at this point than 
in former years, peach trees predominating.” 
Greenville, O., April 17.—E. M. Buechly: “We are 
very busy now making deliveries of fruit trees. Have 
not found the small fruit plant trade equal to last year, 
but the tree trade has never been so good as this spring. 
Sold out on Eldorado blackberry and Downing’s Winter 
Maiden Blush. As a whole our trade has been very satis¬ 
factory.” 
Normal, Ill., April 15.—Augustine & Co.: “ We are 
pleased to state that our sales are much exceeding our 
expectations for this spring. Thus far they have in dol¬ 
lars and cents been about the same as last spring, but 
prices are somewhat lower, so that the quantity of stock 
handled is greater. Sales continue to increase each day 
up to the present writing.” 
OSAGE, la., April 21.—Gardner & Son, Osage Nurseries : 
“ The nursery trade in our section is better than it was a 
year ago. Sales are as large, or larger, and but little 
credit is asked for; the reverse was the case last season. 
There is but little surplus stock on hand. Evergreens of 
the larger sizes are getting scarce. We expect to grow 
six to eight millions from the seed. The demand for 
these trees is rapidly increasing. The planting of apple, 
cherry and plum will be larger than usual. Season rather 
late here.” 
ATLANTIC, la., April 15.—-Silas Wilson: “We are 
having a fine spring here, and an abundance of rain. All 
the trade we can take care of. Twenty-four hours is a 
pretty short day for us. Only complaint, low price of 
stock. Too many nurserymen are growing stock for little 
or no profit ; but I think no one is to blame but them¬ 
selves. They could easily get more for their stock, if 
they would ask it. We believe the nursery business 
would improve very much if the growers generally would 
ask more for their stock.” 
Elgin, Ill , April 15.—E. H. Ricker, Manager Ricker 
Nursery Co. ; “ We are now in the midst of our shipping 
season. Trade has been rather slack unt il of late. We do 
not expect as large a trade as usual, but think there will 
be a large number of small evergreens planted by nursery¬ 
men, for the purpose of stocking up. The orders we are 
now receiving would indicate the above. 
“ We have the finest stock and in the best condition of 
any we have ever offered. We are now offering it low to 
accord with the times, and find that stock must be sold low 
in order to sell it at all. There will certainly be a shortage 
on some varieties of evergreens, especially in small trans¬ 
planted stock such as is generally purchased for lining 
out.” 
WAUKEE, la., April 14.—John Wragg & Sons, Central 
Nurseries: “ We are now right in the midst of our de¬ 
livery. Our sales are right up in many respects to any 
past year. The sales on many things in our line are with¬ 
out precedent. Stoddard plum sold completely out. 
Redfield raspberry gone. We are handling at the rate of 
from two to six car-loads per day. We opened our spring 
shipping season about the first day of April, and will have 
the same rush throughout the month to get our orders off. 
“There seems to be a better feeling prevailing through¬ 
out the West. Money matters are easier, and there is a 
disposition on the part of the people to plant, and we will 
say, taking it all in all, this season will be one of our suc¬ 
cessful years.” 
TADMOR, O., April 15.—N. H. Albaugh : “Nursery 
trade in the Miami Valley this spring has been fully up 
to the average. A little late in starting, but hurry and 
rush when it did come. Apples have been pretty gener¬ 
ally cleaned up, and few old blocks left. Apples will be 
scarcer next fall, than for several years past. Peaches 
