The National Nurseryman. 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK. 
Copyright, 1896, by the National Nurseryman Publishing Co. 
Vol. IV. ROCHESTER, N. Y., SEPTEMBER, 1896. No. ). T 
RETAIL TRADE 
Special Reports on Fall Sales from Dealers in 
Various Parts of the Country. 
In response to a request by The National Nursery¬ 
man regarding the season’s trade in the retail line, as to 
comparison of sales with those of last fall at this time and 
the prospect for spring sales, the following replies were 
received: 
AT ROCHESTER. 
Ellwanger & Barry: —“Our sales as compared with last year’s, at 
this time, are about the same.” 
Brown Brothers Company :—“ We considered last year only an 
average one ; that is to say, our sales were a little heavier than of the 
preceding year, but we are gratified to say that so far this year they 
have increased twenty-five per cent, and the prospects look very bright 
and point to an exceptionally heavy year in the retail line ; at least 
it is so with us and we have no reason to think that this improvement 
will not be steady and continuous. Of course being a presidential 
year, it may be that in the fall sales may drop a little, but we look for 
a much heavier year than we have had in a good many years past.” 
W. & T. Smith Co.“ Fall sales this season, nearly double those of 
last year. All sales made strictly at price list prices. Too early in 
season to estimate spring sales.” 
H. P. Freeman & Co.: — “April, May and June showed a good 
healthy increase over sales of last year for fall delivery. July turned 
out a fair average. August so far (the 10th) indicates an improvement. 
Up to date total sales show a gain of from ten to fifteen per cent., the 
gain being made up of increased sales of small fruits and ornamentals. 
I think the prospects for spring trade will be much better than they 
have been for fall.” 
E. 0. Graham :—“ My sales for fall 1896 delivery will probably be 
twenty-five per cent, greater than for fall of 1895 ; and sales of the year 
to date, including fall of 1896 and spring of 1897 are about fifteen per 
cent, greater than the corresponding seasons of last year. 
“ I am inclined to think that the gain we have made up to this time 
over last year may be lost by a falling off during the balance of the 
season, owing to the presidential campaign, which usually effects our 
business adversely. I think I can safely say that my aggregate sales 
for fall ’96 and spring of ’97 will be as much as the past two seasons, 
and possibly there will be a slight increase.” 
Hooker, Grover & Co.:—“We think the general experience of 
retailers is that there is not as strong a demand for stock this year as 
last; nevertheless, we have been able to keep our sales up to the aver¬ 
age by constant work and pushing. We attribute the dullness in our 
business partly to the general hard times and to the political situation. 
“ Sales for fall delivery are equal to those of last year and prospects 
for spring delivery are, we think, about equal to those of last year. 
W e at least expect to have as large fall and spring deliveries as last 
season.” 
The Hawks Nursery Co.:—“ Thus far this season our sales have 
been much larger than for the corresponding period last year, and we 
anticipate good sales for spring.” 
AT GENEVA. 
The R. G. Chase Co.: —“ Our sales for the coming fall are several 
thousand dollars behind a year ago at this time. Most of our sales for 
fall delivery are made in the southern states, and from the fact that in 
considerable of the territory the people are “hard up” we have avoid¬ 
ed as far as possible such territory. As to sales for spring ’97, we have 
sold at this time about the same amount as a year ago at this time, and 
we think the prospects are quite favorable towards a good-sized deliv¬ 
ery next spring. Of course, in the unsettled condition of the country, 
it is difficult to make any safe predictions.” 
Hammond & Willard :—“ Our sales for fall and the coming spring 
are slightly in excess of 1895.” 
Sears, Henry & Co.:—“ It would seem from all we have in now 
that our retail trade will fall short of last fall only perhaps ten per 
cent., but the outlook for spring is good, and with the deep burial of 
the silver question out of sight forever as all confidently hope in 
November, we expect to do a strong business for spring.” 
D. H. Patty :—“ My fall sales are about the same as they were last 
fall, but I find it has required a great deal more labor and more advertis¬ 
ing to work up the same sales. Farmers complain bitterly of hard times 
and low prices. The prospect for spring sales does not look very 
encouraging, but at the present writing my spring sales are fully equal 
to what they were a year ago.” 
in the east. 
Richmond, Va., August 11.—W. T. Hood & Co.: “As to our 
retail business we have done about twenty-five per cent, more business 
this year than last. This is the result of more money spent on getting 
agents and closer and harder work in pushing sales, and is not an evi¬ 
dence of improved trade conditions in our territory. 
‘‘ The trade is demoralized. Too much stock is grown for the demand. 
The spring ‘ agency ’ business in our territory is always light, and 
agents are still selling only for fall.” 
Springfield, N. J., August 12.—Flemer & Felmly : “Our retail 
sales through agents are fully up to and a shade better than they were 
for the same term a year ago with a decided difference in favor of fall 
planting. We note on our aggregate a general increase on the sale of 
peach and apple. Pear have taken a drop of nearly twenty-five per 
cent., while cherry, plum, quince are about normal. There is a usual 
demand for the small fruits, grapes showing a slight gain and orna¬ 
mental stock of all kinds has taken a step or two downwards.” 
Baltimore, August 10.—Franklin Davis Nursery Co.: “ Our retail 
sales are about as ’95. We have no reason to complain up to this time. 
“ We see no reason why spring ’97 business should not be satisfac¬ 
tory. Long before that time we feel that the ‘ all absorbing ’ money 
question will be settled and the business world will know what to ex¬ 
pect for four years at least. 
“We look for lower prices on some lines of nursery stock, pears and 
cherries particularly. The main cause of this is over-production. It 
is very apparent the supply is far in excess of the demand. We be¬ 
lieve apple and peach, will hold their own ; a few good sellers in both 
are already short.” 
Batavia, N. Y., August 12.—Nelson Bogue: “ Sales at Batavia are 
just about where they were last year at this time. We expect next 
spring’s trade to be an improvement over that of ’96, which was quite 
satisfactory.” 
Elmira, N. Y., August 12.—E. M. & II. N. Hoffman: “Retail 
sales so far this season have been greater than last year, but we account 
for it by the fact that we have made a greater effort to effect sales than 
we have made other years. There seems to be no greater demand for 
stock; about the same demand in fact. It is too early for us to give 
any idea of what our spring sales will be.” 
Seneca, N. Y., August 12.—W. P. Rupert & Sons: “The ratio of 
sales at this time compared with last year this time simmers down to 
about 5 to 6 —a healthy lot of orders, not large and a more than usual 
per cent, of small ornamental orders.” 
