THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
29 
Chairman C. L. Watrous of the executive committee of the 
American Association favors the presentation of papers or 
addresses from some of the most noted workers along scien- 
entific lines in horticulture, for the Chicago convention. 
Secretary Seager hopes to secure the attendance of Professor 
L. A. Bailey of Cornell University. President Brooke prom¬ 
ises the attendance of Professor S. J. Hunter of the Kansas 
State University. 
The executive committee of the American Association of 
Nurserymen has practically decided upon the Chicago Beach 
Hotel as the place for holding the June convention. A rate 
of $2 and upward has been secured. The hotel is one of the 
finest in Chicago and although some distance from the down 
town district, it is within easy reach by means of the fast 
suburban trains. 
ENGLISH FRUIT GROWERS. 
A special commissioner under the direction of the Gar¬ 
dener’s Magazine, of London, spent two years in an inves. 
tigation of the wasted orchards of England and found tens of 
thousands of acres of land of excellent quality occupied 
by apple and pear trees in so deplorable a state of neglect as 
to render it impossible for them to produce sufficient fruit to 
pay for the rent of the land. And England pays nearly two 
million sterling in the purchase of foreign apples and pears. 
The remarks of Professor Bailey reported in the National 
Nurseryman, and widely copied, to the effect that American 
growers can control the European markets to large extent has 
led the Gardener’s Magazine to remark that there is no good 
reason why British fruit growers should not produce laTge 
quantities of fruit and compete with American growers. 
But British fruit growers can scarcely hope to do much 
more than supply their home market with apples and pears ; 
and even this result can only be achieved after wonderful 
changes from present conditions. 
LIMITATIONS OF INSPECTION. 
Entomologists who declare for a quarantine and inspe< tion 
of nursery stock shipped to the United States from a foreign 
country are respectfully referred to the conclusions of so 
competent an authority as Dr. John B. Smith, who sums up ihe 
whole matter in the statement: “ Taking it all in all, I do not 
believe we have averaged one bad species a year without in¬ 
spection, and I do not believe we will exceed that even wher 
a rigid quarantine is established. I am quite well aware of 
what has been done in California, and I have seen the collec¬ 
tion of insects that has been kept out. But nobody has seen 
the collection of insects that has not been kept out and which 
has yet failed to propagate. 
“ I believe that inspection is a good thing ; it will be apt to 
make shippers more careful, and we will probably get better and 
cleaner stock than we would have received otherwise. This 
advantage is, perhaps, worth all it costs, and yet I cannot help 
feeling that it will not accomplish what is expected and will 
soon disappoint those who look upon it as an effective bar 
against future aggression by undesirable foreigners. * * * 
* * Are all our embryo entomologists who are available as 
inspectors, and those who will obtain appointment from other 
reasons, trained to recognize such things ? I have students 
three terms in entomology and I try to teach them all I can 
about insects, yet I never had a man graduate with me whom I 
would have dared to appoint as an inspector and I not believe 
that any institution in this country now turns out any men that 
I would consider competent, in the regular course for a B. A. 
or B. S.” 
There is to be an examination of applicants for the position 
of nursery inspector in New York state on April ist. It is ex¬ 
tremely doubtful that the men appointed will fill the require¬ 
ments believed by Dr. Smith to be necessary. 
THE QUESTION BOX. 
With regard to our suggestion that a question box be pro¬ 
vided at the June convention of the American Association 
Vice-president Albertson, Bridgeport, Ind., says: “I think 
such a feature would prove very interesting, and it ought to 
prove one of the most profitable features of the convention, as 
certainly it could be made one of the most instructive.” 
We have already published President Brooke’s cordial en¬ 
dorsement of the plan. * 
In response to our request some of our readers have sug¬ 
gested the following questions which have been referred to 
the secretary of the Association : 
Which is the best protection for nursery stock against freezing in 
transit, wet or dry packing ? 
Is the continuous cutting of buds and scions from nursery trees 
detrimental to the fertility of the tree ? 
Would not a uniform standard of measurements designating the dif¬ 
ferent grades of stock be beneficial to the trade ; such standard to apply 
to measurement only and not to quality of the stock. If so, should 
not this organization adopt the standard ? 
Should the proposed application of copyright laws to new varieties 
be endorsed by this Association ? 
What success has attended the plan of wintering stock packed in 
boxes ready for shipment"? 
With regard to roses in cold storage, are they packed in moss the 
same as grape vines, currants, gooseberries, etc. ? Will they stand as 
close packing and do they require light ? 
Is it wise for nurserymen to send out surplus lists and advertise in 
trade papers, giving quantities they have to offer ? 
Is not the practice of sending priced catalogues broadcast, and adver¬ 
tising wholesale prices to the consumer, going to drive the nursery 
agents out of business and thereby lessen the quantity of nursery stock 
used, and increase the cost and detail of doing the work ? 
Is it probable that the fumigation of nursery stock will become 
general? 
ORNAMENTAL STOCK. 
There have been added lately to the literature relating to 
trees and plants for ornamental purposes several important 
works. One of these is the annual report of the Tree Planting 
and Fountain Society of Brooklyn, N. Y. The work of this 
society is like that of the New York Tree Planting Society to 
which reference was made in the December issue of this jour¬ 
nal. The report is a volume of 132 pages replete with infor¬ 
mation to tax-payers regarding the desirability of trees in city 
streets together with details concerning varieties, the planting, 
and general care of such trees. A. A. Low is president, Paul 
Leicester Ford vice-president, and Lewis Collins secretary of 
the Brooklyn society. The secretary states that as the result 
of the society’s efforts the people have given more attention to 
arboriculture, and nurserymen are preparing better stock, not 
