42 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
The National Nurseryman. 
C. L. YATES, Proprietor. RALPH T. OLCOTT, Editor. 
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY 
The National Nurseryman Publishing Co., 
305 Cox Building, Rochester, N. Y. 
The only trade journal issued for Growers and Dealers in Nursery Stock of 
all kinds. It circulates throughout the United States and Canada. 
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSERYMEN. 
SUBSCRIPTION RATES. 
One year, in advance, - - - - - $1.00 
Six Months, ______ .75 
Foreign Subscriptions, in advance, - - - 1.50 
Six Months, “ “ 1.00 
Advertising rates will be sent upon application. Advertisements 
should reach this office by the 20th of the month previous to the date 
of issue. 
Payment in advance required for foreign advertisements. 
Jt^’Drafts on New York or postal orders, instead of checks, are 
requested. 
Correspondence from all points and articles of interest to nursery¬ 
men and horticulturists are cordially solicited. 
AITER1CAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSERYMEN. 
President, Wilson J. Peters, Troy, O.; vice-president, D. S. Lake, Shen¬ 
andoah, la.; secretary, George C. Seager, Rochester, N. Y.; treas¬ 
urer, C. L. Yates, Rochester, N. Y. 
Executive Committee—Irving Rouse, Rochester, N. Y.; C. L. Watrous, Des 
Moines, la.; E. Albertson, Bridgeport, Ind. 
Committee on Transportation—Wilson J. Peters, ex-officio, chairman ; William 
Pitkin, Rochester, N. Y.; Peter Youngers, Geneva, Neb.; A. L. Brooke, N. 
Topeka, Kan.; Robert C.Berckmans, Augusta, Ga. 
Committee on Legislation—C. L. Watrous, Des Moines, Ta.; N. H. Albaugh 
Tadmor, O.: Silas Wilson, Atlantic, la.; Thomas B. Meehan, Germantown, Pa. 
Committee on Tariff—Irving Rouse, Rochester, N. Y.; J. J. Harrison, Paines- 
ville, O.; N. W. Hale, Knoxville, Tenn. 
Annual convention for 1900—Chicago Beach Hotel, June 13-lt. 
Entered in the Post Office at Rochester , as second-class mail matter. 
Rochester, N. Y., May, 1900. 
AGRICULTURAL PROSPERITY. 
In the course of an extended review of the agricultural 
situation, the American Agriculturist gives statistics showing 
that farm products have advanced in value nearly 33 per cent., 
a gain to farmers of over $ 1 , 600 , 000,000 per year. Farm real 
estate has recovered in value and there has been an unpre¬ 
cedented improvement in the great live stock industry. There 
has been an increase in the number of farms, and farm mort¬ 
gages to the aggregate amount of $ 300 , 000,000 have been 
discharged. In conclusion this journal says : 
“ It is evident that, taken as a whole, American agriculture 
was never in a stronger position. On the Pacific coast, farm¬ 
ers are extraordinarily prosperous ; they are doing well in the 
mountain states, while in the great valleys of the Missouri and 
Mississippi rivers farmers were never upon so substantial a 
basis as at present. Mark well the words ‘substantial basis.’ 
1 here was more of a boom, more agricultural speculation, 
from 1876 to 1885 , when new farms were being opened up at 
such a prodigious rate in the West, but we doubt if the average 
profits of western agriculture were as high during the best of 
those years as in 1899 . Then the property was feverish, lack¬ 
ing the solid basis that exists to-day. 
“ The South is relatively better off than ever from the farm¬ 
er’s standpoint, especially if the tobacco trust is broken. In 
the middle states, agriculture is also on the up grade, and the 
same is true in the more progressive regions of New England. 
In all this eastern country land has not yet recovered anything 
like its value 30 years ago, and is to-day relatively cheaper east 
than west, but with no more public land (except where costly 
irrigation is needed) there must be a steady upward trend to 
land values in future.” 
THE JUNE CONVENTION. 
The twenty-fifth annual convention of the American Asso¬ 
ciation of Nurserymen will be held at the Chicago Beach hotel 
on June 13 th and 14 th, commencing at 11 a. m. on the first 
day. This is the silver anniversary of the organization of the 
Association. Secretary Seager has prepared a programme 
appropriate to the occasion. It is expected that business 
matters and the discussion of queries will occupy much of the 
attention of the members. The programme as arranged at this 
date is as follows : 
President’s address, Wilson J. Peters, Troy, O. 
Secretary’s report, George C. Seager, Rochester, N. Y. 
Treasurer’s report, C. L. Yates, Rochester, N. Y. 
Appointment of committees. 
Election of vice-presidents by states. 
Election of officers. 
Selection of next place of meeting. 
‘■The Retail Nursery Business,” N. W. Hale, Knoxville, Tenn. 
Question Box. 
“ Reminiscences of Our Association and Its Members up to Its Silver 
Anniversary,” N. H. Albaugh, Phoneton, O. 
Question Box. 
Report of legislative committee work, C. L. Watrous, Des 
Moines, la. 
Reports of committees. 
“Some New Lines of Work for Prairie Nurserymen.” Prof. N. E. 
Hansen, Brookings, S. D. 
“ The Future of the Nursery Business in our New Possessions,” 
R. C. Berckmans, Augusta, Ga. 
All who attended the convention last year were enthusiastic 
over the splendid accommodations afforded at the Chicago 
Beach hotel and the moderate charges. Under such favorable 
circumstances and in view of the encouragement of business 
prospects this year and the further fact that this is the silver 
anniversary of the Association, the rounding out of a quarter 
of a century of its existence, the attendance at the convention 
in Chicago next month should be the largest in the history of 
the Association. 
Special rates have been granted by the railroads—a fare and 
a third for the round trip. In order to ensure the enjoyment 
of this railroad privilege, however, it is necessary that all 
should make it a point to procure a certificate, either from the 
railroad agent at the starting point, or at some point en route, 
so that the secretary may collect a railroad certificate from 
each person in attendance at the convention, regardless of the 
kind of transportation ticket used by that person. Each year, 
while the attendance is considerably over 100 , the secretary 
has found it very difficult to secure the 100 certificates required 
in order to take advantage of the reduced railroad rates. The 
