38 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
IIS THE CENTRAL STATES. 
Shipping Delayed By a Backward Season in the North and West — 
Higher Prices on Apple and Cherry—Old Stock Cleaned 
Up —Inclination to Plant a Little Stronger—Some 
Damage to Stock By Cold Weather. 
Bridgeport, Ind., April 12.—Albertson & Hobbs: “ It is a 
little early yet to make much of a report on spring sales as the 
season, especially in the North and West has been,exceedingly 
backward, and it is only this week that we have been getting 
shipping instructions from there, so are busy filling their orders, 
though we have been packing and shipping for this is now the 
fifth week, and in that time not a day when we could not safe¬ 
ly handle stock at least half the time, and but few days when 
could not work the entire day. 
“So far the season has been very favorable with us, though 
a little disagreeable on account of rain and snow, but it remain¬ 
ing so cool has given us a longer shipping season than usual. 
Weather is warming up very rapidly now, and guess spring is 
here, and shipping season will soon have to be closed. 
“ Sales have been very good, and most kinds of stock have 
been sold out pretty close, though a light surplus in some 
varieties, pear, cherry, plum and apple. Demand for peach 
far beyond the supply. As to planting, do not think it will 
vary much from that of last year. 
“Too early to make any report on collections. Present 
prices of apple and cherry especially very much better than a 
year ago, but as to prospective prices it is a little early to pre¬ 
dict, though we see no reason why they should go lower, but 
hope to see a material advance. This will, of course, be gov¬ 
erned by the season, farm crops and general conditions.” 
Vincennes, Ind., April 12.—H. M. Simpson & Sons: 
“Spring trade has been very satisfactory and the indications 
are for an unusual large trade for next fall. All the old stock 
is or will be cleared up this spring and the prices for fall we 
think will be satisfactory to wholesale nurserymen. If we have 
a good apple crop and a reasonable prices there will be a large 
amount of apple trees planted the coming fall. We think nur¬ 
serymen have a better outlook than they have had for years. 
” Local nurserymen have let their stock run down the last few 
years and their plant will be small this spring and I think the 
wholesale nurserymen will make their usual planting. Have a 
fine prospect for a large crop of apples, cherries and Damson 
plums, also strawberries and Snyder blackberries and some 
varieties of raspberries.” 
Dundee, Ill., April 12.—D. Hill: “Up to this date orders 
for spring’s business are much larger than they have been since 
1S93; inquiries never were better. Season, however, is not 
the most favorable. No snow here during the winter; ground 
was frozen four to five feet deep, coming out very slow. At 
this writing we are only able to take up small seedlings. We 
made our first shipment to-day. As far as I can learn these 
conditions prevail throughout the Northwestern states in gen¬ 
eral. Stock has come through the winter very good with the 
exception of cedars, spruces and arbor vitaes, which have win¬ 
ter-scalded some.” 
Osage, la., April 20.—Gardner & Son: “ Spring sales have 
been very satisfactory with us, both in amount of sales and also 
in collections, as far as we have delivered to date. Season 
very late and much stock to go yet. Reports come to us from 
Southern Iowa, Northern Missouri and other points in the 
Middle West, of the great damage to young stock which was 
standing in nursery. Some report entire blocks of apple and 
plum root-killed from the effects of the severe cold of February 
last. We are located 18 miles from the Minnesota line and 
after digging large blocks of apple and plum which have stood 
in nursery, we have found no trace of injury except a few 
discolored twigs on some of the tender varieties. No injury to 
roots whatever. 
“ It looks to us as if northern grown stock will be at a pre¬ 
mium in the near future. Our plant this spring will be con¬ 
siderably heavier on all lines, than ever before.” 
Kinsev, O., April 20.—W. N. Kinsey: “ Our spring sales 
have been very good, and at this writing it looks as though there 
would be very little salable stock left over, with the exception, 
perhaps, of currants, gooseberries, some varieties of ornamental 
stock, and evergreens. Of these things we believe there will 
be a surplus remaining. 
“ Prices, excepting on apple, cherry and peach are little 
changed from one year ago, and rule pretty low. The present 
prices on apple and cherry cannot be complained of, although 
there is very little in apple at less than prices ruling this 
spring. 
“ The indication is to plant a little stronger than last season, 
especially on fruit tree stocks. Collections with us are better 
than one year ago.” 
IN THE WEST. 
Geneva, Neb., April 13.—Youngers & Co.: “ It is most too 
early to make even an approximate estimate of the spring’s sales. 
The spring opened with us at least a month later than ordi¬ 
nary. Packing commenced in earnest only four days ago, 
and yet in the last four days we have moved more stock than 
we ever did in the same length of time before. We believe 
that there will be less stock sold this spring than last, owing 
to the late season, but the prices realized are much more 
satisfactory. We believe that nearly all the nursery stock will 
be run out this spring. There would have been a very large 
shortage had the season been as ordinary. 
“As we said before, it is too early to give even an intelligent 
estimate of what the stock will be for another season, as in 
certain localities the young stock is seriously damaged. We 
must know the results of that damage before we can estimate 
the stock. Of this we are certain, however, there will be a 
shortage in cherries and European plums and probably in pears 
and apples. The planting in the West will be about an aver¬ 
age in apples and plums, but will be considerably short in 
cherries; in other stock about as usual.” 
Salt Lake City, Utah, April 15.—Pioneer Nurseries Com¬ 
pany: “ Spring sales with us—and we think with all the nurse¬ 
ries here—have been very good. We think every one has sold 
all salable stock. Prices are much too low, however, and any¬ 
thing but satisfactory. The usual amount of stock is being 
planted, but we see no prospect of better prices.” 
Topeka, Kan., April 17.—F. W. Watson & Co.: “Spring 
sales have been good—the best we have had for a good many 
years. Weather has been very cold, making it difficult to han¬ 
dle stock. Season has been a little shorter than usual, but we 
have handled more stock, and at better prices, than at any 
time during the past six years. 
