THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
IOI 
EMERY ALBERTSON. 
A large number of our readers will recognize in the subject of our 
sketch a member, and one of the most regular representatives for the 
past fifteen years, of the American Association of Nurserymen. 
Emery Albertson, of the firm of Albertson & Hobbs, Bridgeport, 
Marion Co., Ind., was born in 1858, near Canton, Ind., where his father, 
Oliver Albertson, was engaged in the nursery business from about 1840 
to 1875, in this time having built up the largest retail busines in the 
state. But finding his health failing, in 1875 he moved to Bridgeport, 
Ind., starting a small business, and at the same time directing the busi¬ 
ness at Canton under the firm name of 0. Albertson & Co. After his 
death in 1879, the subject of our sketch was placed in control of the 
business, assisted by C. M. Hobbs, who joined him in the business in 
1881. since which time the business has been conducted under the firm 
name of Albertson & Hobbs. 
After the death of Oliver Albertson, the business at Canton, Ind. 
was closed out, and all interests of the estate there disposed of. 
In the fifteen years under the piesent management, the business at 
Bridgeport has grown to be the largest of its kind in the state and 
stands among the first in the country for 
reliability, genuineness and quality of 
stock, and fair dealing, as well as in 
assortment of stock carried, their list of 
varieties including almost everything 
of value in hardy fruits and ornamen¬ 
tals. 
In this time their plant has grown from 
ess than 20 acres, till it now covers 175 
acres, closely planted in young fruit and 
ornamental trees and plants, aside from 
thousands of orchard trees. 
They have also been the introducers 
of the Robinson plum, which is well 
known, and are introducing the Ilonk 
apple and late Morello cherry through 
their agents, and are now offering the 
Pomona currant, which is the subject of 
our frontispiece. 
MISSOURI FRUIT CROP. 
Secretary Goodman, of the Missouri 
State Horticultural Society, estimates 
the value of the state fruit crop as fol¬ 
lows : Strawberries, $500,000; rasp¬ 
berries, blackberries, peaches, $250,000 
each ; grapes, $1,000,000 ; cherries and 
plums, $100,000 each ; other fruits, 
$100,000; beside apples, $10000,000— 
nearly 12£ million dollars, in a year of 
hard times, fault-finding and uneasiness. 
Howell county seems to represent the best that Missouri can do in 
fruit-growing, having enabled the state to win the gold medal at the 
New Orleans Exposition. The county contains 610,000 apple trees. 
460,000 peach and 45,000 other trees. For the planting of 1895 the 
county nurseries sold a total of nearly 500,000 trees and 80,000 grape 
vines. Taking in parts of neighboring counties this fruit region has 
1,250,000 trees. 
Mr. Goodman is confident that Missouri will be the principal apple¬ 
growing state for the next fifty years, and accounts for the decline in 
the production of the apple-raising sections of Western New York, 
Northern Ohio and portions of Michigan, to the lost vitality of the 
orchards, and the failure of growers to stock them with new trees. He 
further says : “We apple growers of Missouri are now doing what 
they did in the East fifty years ago ; we are planting trees in the virgin 
soil, and reaping the benefit of the soil’s vitality.” 
Bird, Dkw & Hale, Knoxville, Tf.nn :—“We had not thought 
of our subscription having expired ; but to a nurseryman, during these 
hard times, it is a source of great pleasure, to pay for, receive and then 
read Tiie National Nurseryman. We enclose herewith $1.” 
POMONA (GODDESS OF TIIE GARDEN.) 
Among the fruits of recent introduction, certainly no one is entitled 
to more careful consideration, or may be expected to give better returns 
to the planter, than the Pomona Currant, which is represented in the 
frontispiece of this issue, and will be sent out in the spring of 1897, by 
Albertson & Hobbs, of Bridgeport, Ind. 
About twenty-three years ago this currant was found growing in a 
garden near Indianapolis, Ind., by George W. Blue, one of the most 
prominent fruit growers of the state, who,, recognizing its wonderful 
productiveness and superior quality, at once began its propagation. 
He now has planted for fruiting 15 acres, most of which are young 
plants; but of this 15 acres, 6i acres were planted in 1887-89-90, and 
produced in ‘92, ’93 and ’94 fruit which sold at wholesale for $9,000, 
the yield in ’94 alone being over $4,076.00, or over $627.00 per acre, 
making over $461.00 per acre per year for three years, and without a 
failure for twenty years. These are actual acreage yields of fruit 
gathered and sold, and are not estimated yields based on the produc¬ 
tion of a few petted plants. 
While not the largest in size, yet it falls but little below Fays and 
Cherry, is a beautiful, clear, bright, 
almost transparent red, has but few 
and very small seed, and is the sweetest 
of the red currants ; easily picked, hangs 
long after ripe, and holds its foliage to 
the last, protecting the fruit from scald¬ 
ing by the sun. Plant a vigorous grower, 
perfectly hardy, and lasting longer than 
any other sort; 2 and 3 year plants 
bearing profusely. 
T. T. Lyon, South Haven, Mich., says: 
“ A decided improvements flavor over 
Victoria.” 
Silas Wilson, Atlantic, la.: “Having 
seen it growing side by side with Ver¬ 
sailles, Victoria and Fays, I certainly 
think it has no equal for productiveness 
and high quality of fruit, and will cer¬ 
tainly supersede all other red currants.” 
E. S. Carman, editor Rural New 
“ Your currant is certainly of 
large size and has comparatively few 
seeds.” 
W. J. Peters, of George Peters & Co., 
Troy, O.: * Never before have I seen 
such a show of fruit. Acres of rows 40 
rods long, with every plant loaded. 
Much sweeter, milder in flavor, and 
with fewer seeds than Fays, Victoria or 
Red Dutch under same culture, though 
producing a comparatively light crop.” 
Professor L. H. Bailey : “Am much 
pleased with your new currant, especially the small amount of seed 
which it contains ; and in quality it seems to be better and sweeter 
than Fays or Victoria.” 
Storrs & Harrison Co.: “ We consider them as good in quality as 
the best.” 
Professor W. C. Latta : “We consider the currant unusually fine in 
all respects, especially as to flavor and small per cent of seeds.” 
E. B. Lewis, Lockport, N. Y.: “The currants sent me two years 
ago bore first crop of fruit this year, 1896. 1 never saw r so large an 
amount of fruit on so small an amount of wood. Not quite so large as 
Cherry, and less acid than.Cherry or Fays.” 
DUTY OF EVERY NURSERYMAN. 
Oregon Wholesale Nursery Co., A. McGill, Secretary and Treasurer : 
—“We would not be without The National Nurseryman for twice 
the subscription price. Enclosed are stamps to the amount of $1. It 
is the duty of every nurseryman to have your journal.” 
Elmer Sherwood, Odessa, N. Y.: —“Enclosed find $1 to renew 
subscription to The National Nurseryman, which is one of the 
brightest of trade journals.” 
s 
EMERY ALBERTSON. 
