The National Nurseryman. 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK. 
Copyright, 1899, by the National Nurseryman Publishing Co. 
“ We want more varieties of every native fruit now cultivated ."—Professor L. H. Bailey. 
Vol. VII. ROCHESTER, N. Y., MAY, 1899. No. 4. 
SPRING SALES. 
Marked Increase In the Genesee Valley and Throughout the East¬ 
ern States—Heavy Demand for Peach - Light Call for 
Strawberries —Short Plantings Again -Higher Prices 
on All Stock In the Fall Are Expected. 
Rochester, N. Y.—Irving Rouse: “ We have had our usual 
spring trade. The season opened rather late and the continu¬ 
ous cold weather will result in later orders, we think, than 
•usual. Packing is later by two weeks than last year. Prices 
have generally been much more satisfactory than the last two 
seasons and the outlook for better prices in the future is very 
encouraging. 
“ There has been less stock planted this spring than usual, 
as has been the case for the last two years. The previous 
short plantings will begin to come in market next fall and we 
imagine that a great many nurserymen will be surprised at the 
comparatively small quantity of stock fit for market as com¬ 
pared to former years. This is especially true in apple, pear 
and cherry.” 
Rochester, N. Y.—Brown Brothers Co.: “From what 
we can learn through conversation with a good many nursery¬ 
men, we believe the spring trade has been quite satisfactory 
all around; that is, as to volume. Of course, it is too early yet 
to know how collections will be. We believe that wholesale 
prices will be still higher the coming year.” 
Dansville, N. Y., April 17 . —James M. Kennedy: “ Business 
at this point is larger in volume, both wholesale and retail, than 
a year ago. About all the wholesale growers have completed their 
spring shipments, and commenced planting, while the retailers 
have only commenced billing out. The demand for nursery 
stock has been good; the prices about the same as last fall ex¬ 
cept on sour cherry, apple and Keiffer pear, which brought 
good prices. It will be safe to say there will be no surplus 
stock to carry over. 
“ Collections have been unusually good the past year. The 
prospects for next fall and spring, as far as can be judged, are 
very encouraging. Some large orders have been booked for 
next fall’s delivery at good prices, which goes to show that this 
year will be the beginning of prosperity in the nursery busi¬ 
ness. No nursery stock has been injured by the past winter 
owing to our trees maturing well last fall. Dansville will con¬ 
tinue to be one of the largest nursery centers in the United 
States, as the usual amount of nursery stock will be planted 
here this spring.” 
Newark, N. Y., April 17 . —Jackson & Perkins Co: “ From 
present prospects we shall sell out closer this spring than 
we have ever before. There seems to be an enormous de¬ 
mand for some kinds of stock and nearly everything is go¬ 
ing off in pretty good shape. We think prospects are much 
brighter than they have been for some time past.” 
Bridge i on, N. J, April 14.—Stanton B. Cole, proprietor 
West Jersey Nur. Co.: “Replying to your request, will say 
that so far trade this spring has been better than for the past 
three years with us. We now think we shall close out nearly 
all stock; very little good stock to go on the brush pile when 
the season closes. Apples and peaches have been especially 
active and in good demand. So far in the retail trade I can 
see scarcely any improvement in collections. 
“ We will make about our usual plantings ; we grow heavier 
peaches, apples and plums than any other fruit trees, and 
Miller Red and Loudon raspberry; some surplus of Miller 
plants yet, and they have winter killed considerably while the 
Loudon are fresh and sound to the tips.” 
Berlin, Md., April 12.—J. G. Harrison & Sons: “Our 
spring sales have been very satisfactory, in the peach tree line 
especially, and we are pretty well cleaned up, except on some 
of the small grades. The demand for asparagus has been very 
good, better than we have known for a number of years; but 
we regret to say that the strawberry trade has not been satis¬ 
factory at all. Owing to the low price last season of fruit there 
has been a very light demand for plants. However, at this 
writing we are digging about one hundred thousand plants per 
day. We prepared last season for a heavy trade in plants and 
have been greatly disappointed as we have 60 acres in plant 
beds and they are in first class condition yet, probably all the 
better for the little darkies as they will get to pick the red 
strawberries in June. 
“ You will remember last fall we stated through your journal 
that there would be an increase in price in peach before spring 
and we simply took this from the amount of inquiries we had 
for car-load lots, and we are pleased to say that there has been 
a marked increase in price of peach; yet most of our trees 
were sold in the fall when the prices were not so good.” 
Wesley P. O., Md., April 12.—Wm. M. Peters’ Sons: “This 
spring trade has been all we could ask for, so far as the sale of 
peach, asparagus, apple and general line of nursery stock is 
concerned. Strawberries up to present date have not come up 
to last season. This we attribute to the crop of last season, 
being a failure generally in prices received for the fruit. The 
crop was heavy and the prices obtained were so low that it has 
discouraged heavy planting the present season. This, in our 
opinion, means a brighter prospect for another season. 
“ So far as collections are concerned, a little too early to say; 
but we think the prospect is favorable to prompt payment for 
the bulk of stock sold. We are not by any means through de¬ 
livering and shipping yet, owing to the backwardness of the 
season, which is at least 30 days behind last spring. 
“ There has been an excellent demand for peach trees. We 
have turned down orders that would have aggregated not less 
than 200,000. This unusual demand we attribute in part to 
the severe winter, injuring the peach in many localities so bad- 
