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THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
FRUITS FOR THE PRAIRIES. 
Charles G. Patten, Charles City, la., at the American 
Pomological Society meeting, illustrating the importance of 
breeding fruits for the prairies, stated that while some 
counties have shipped 800,000 bushels of apples, in others 
even the Siberian crabs cannot be grown. Turner and 
Loudon raspberries have survived a temperature of 35 0 below 
zero the past winter, and several kinds of American plums do 
well, although European plums and the apples and pears of 
the eastern states do not succeed. Seedling fruits, to do well, 
must be the product of a similar soil and climate, and not a 
single Russian variety is as well adapted for cultivation in 
Iowa as several local seedlings. If the best fruits, of the 
hardiest and best varieties, are selected, good results can be 
obtained. Whitney No. 20 and Soulard crabs have been used 
with good success as stocks, as have Pyrus cordifolia, P. 
angustifolia and some others. 
AS REPORTED FROM PENNSYLVANIA. 
The American Agriculturist publishes the following : “A 
new ‘racket’ is being worked by tree peddlers in Pennsyl¬ 
vania. They sell an assortment of large and small fruits to 
be planted on one acre, agreeing to replace any that do not 
live for five years, and to send a practical nurseryman to see 
that the tract is handled right. For payment they ask $110, 
half in cash and half in notes, and half the crop on tract at 
end of fifth year, but if the sellers fail to prune or replant, 
they forfeit all right to the crop. 
“ In other words, this outfit gets $110 cash (for the note has 
to be paid if given) for a batch of nursery stock that could 
probably be bought at a less price of as good or better qual¬ 
ity from any reliable nurseryman. How many times are these 
agents likely to attend to the orchard each year for five years 
for half the crop the fifth year, especially when they are 
under no obligation to do so ?” 
NEBRASKA HORTICULTURISTS. 
The State Horticultural Society this year exhibited Sept. 
11—16, under greater difficulties than usual. The trying 
winter of 1898-9 injured many orchards. While summer 
fruits were quite abundant and attractive, autumn varieties 
were in lesser supply. Winter varieties are not so abundant 
nor in as good condition as usual. The fair also was held 
at a date when our leading winter varieties were not yet in as 
attractive condition to show, and the summer varieties which 
have usually the more showy qualities had all passed by. 
Owing to the severe winter of 1898-9 the vineyards of the 
state are not in as good condition as usual ; the Concord how¬ 
ever, again shows its superior value in hardihood and productive¬ 
ness. This old stand-by with Worden, Pocklington, Niagara, 
Moore’s Early, and Woodruff Red, with possibly the Brighton 
for family use, makes a strong list for the average planter 
I he commercial planter will plant largely of Concord, 
Worden, for blue, Niagara and Pocklington, for white, and 
perhaps, Woodruff Red, as a red variety. The uniformly fine 
condition in which the Woodruff Red appeared from all ex¬ 
hibitors would indicate that this variety should be carefully 
experimented with and quite likely in the near future it may 
be freely planted. 
Much attention was attracted by the fine exhibit of Peter 
Younger of Geneva, Neb. This gentleman has sprayed his 
orchard five times this season, and leading horticulturists 
present were satisfied, from the appearance and quality of the 
fruit exhibited that the repeated spraying had been of marked 
benefit. The sentiment is gaining ground among our orchard- 
ists that he who would have fruit of the best character, free 
from worms, must spray regularly and intelligently. 
The floral exhibit was better than in former years. On 
Thursday and Friday the society gave grapes and apples to all 
comers. 
At the close of the week’s exhibit, the society decided to 
make use of the large amount of surplus fruit in showing on 
the tables a fresh supply in many varieties. This will assist 
in maintaining the attractive condition of the horticultural 
hall and it is hoped that, for some weeks to come, it will con¬ 
tinue to advertise the horticultural resources of the state. 
Crete, Neb., Sept. 1899. E. F. Stephens. 
THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Meetings of horticultural societies have been called as fol¬ 
lows : Worcester, Mass., at Worcester, Nov. 1 ; Maine, at 
Newport, Nov. 15-16 ; S. E. Iowa, at Mt. Pleasant, Nov. 
21-23 ; N. E. Iowa, at Cresco, Nov. 28-30 ; Central Missouri, 
at Booneville, Dec. 2 ; Minnesota, at Minneapolis, Dec. 5-7 ; 
N. W. Iowa, at Spencer, Dec. 5-7 ; Ohio, at Newark, Dec. 
6-8; South Dakota, at Parker, Dec. 12-14; Iowa, at Des 
Moines, Dec. 12-15; S. W. Iowa, at Logan, Dec. 19-21; Illinois, 
at Springfield, Dec. 26-28; New Jersey, at Trenton, Jan. 3-4 ; 
Nebraska, at Lincoln, Jan. 9-11 ; Peninsula, at Salisbury, 
Md., Jan. 10-12; Phode Island, at Providence, Jan. 17; 
Southern Minnesota, at Albert Lea, Jan. 17-19 ; Western 
New York, at Rochester, Jan. 24-25 ; Wisconsin, at Madison, 
Feb. 7-10 ; Missouri, at Princeton, Dec. 5-8 ; California, at 
San Jose, Dec. 5-8 ; Maryland, at Baltimore, Dec. 6-7. 
IRecent publications. 
The October issue of The Fruitman, a North Central monthly jour¬ 
nal of horticulture, is the first in an enlarged form and at the new 
publication place. Mt. Vernon, la. The editors, M. E. Hinkley, Clar¬ 
ence Wedge and H. W. Hinds will make the journal of special inter¬ 
est to the fruit growers of Iowa and the adjoining states. Their 
efforts deserve success. 
“A Primer of Forestry,” Part I., has been issued by the Division of 
Forestry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. It is by Gifford Pinchot, 
the able and active forester, and it is bound in cloth. The bulletin is 
of great value and we are pleased to see it put into a form that makes 
it durable and a pleasure to refer to it. The bulletin is just what its 
name implies. It is profusely illustrated with instructive half-tone 
engravings. Part II. of the bulletin will deal with “Practical 
Forestry.” 
The Griffing Brothers Company, Jacksonville, Fla., have issued a 
handsome rose catalogue entitled “Roses for the Southland.” Fol¬ 
lowing an attractive announcement is a little chat about roses, in 
which the advantages of field-grown grafted roses over budded roses 
are set forth with the aid of illustrations in a forcible manner. Pre¬ 
ceding the illustrated list of varieties are instructions as to the culti¬ 
vation and care of roses. The whole is printed on book paper, em¬ 
bellished with half-tone engravings and a colored cover. Pp. 36 . 
