THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
43 
Association is of mutual benefit to all its members and in this 
matter of railroad certificates, that fact is clearly demonstrated. 
It is for the benefit of all that each member should procure a 
railroad certificate. The circulars of the secretary will ex- . 
plain the method to be employed. 
THE QUESTION BOX. 
It is expected that the question box will be one of the prin¬ 
cipal features of the twenty-fifth annual convention of the 
American Association of Nurserymen in Chicago in June. 
For the purpose of suggesting topics for discussion we append 
a few questions that might properly engage the attention of 
those present: 
What are the duties of nurserymen in propagating varieties ? 
Which is the best protection for nursery stock against freezing in 
transit, wet or dry packing ? 
How may trees be protected from the sun ? 
Is the continuous cutting of buds and scions from nursery trees 
detrimental to the fertility of the tree ? 
What can be done to solve transportation problems ? 
Would not a uniform standard of measurements designating the 
different grades of stock be beneficial to the trade ; such standard to 
apply to measurement only and not to the quality of the stock ? If so, 
should not this Association adopt the standard ? 
What are some of the recently devised labor-saving nursery imple¬ 
ments ? 
What suggestions can be offered for the improvement of fruits ? 
Are roses in cold storage packed in moss the same as grape 
vines, currants, gooseberries, etc. Will they stand as close packing 
and do they require light ? 
What success has attended the plan of wintering stock packed in 
boxes ready for shipment ? 
Is there an advantage to nurserymen in exhibiting at fairs ? 
Is it probable that the fumigation of nursery stock will become 
general ? 
THE FEDERAL BILL. 
Regarding the federal nursery bill, Chairman James W. 
Wadsworth, of the committee on agriculture of the House of 
Representatives, writes as follows to the National Nursery¬ 
man : 
“The bill you refer to has been reported favorably from 
this committee and is now on the House calendar. Mr. 
Haugen, of Iowa, has it in charge, and every effort possible is 
being made to have it considered at an early date by the 
House.” 
A memorial has been presented by a committee of the 
American Association of Nurseryman and several scientists 
to Congress, praying for the passage of the bill which pro¬ 
vides for uniform laws regarding the importation and inspec¬ 
tion of nursery stock. The memorial describes existing con¬ 
ditions, and adds : 
The chief danger to the nursery interest of the country is that the 
different states have passed diverse laws, many of them very drastic 
in character, practically prohibitory, so that an honest nurseryman is 
unable to send clean nursery stock into many of the states; while a 
dishonest man, or a careless one, may freely send infested stock to 
other states which have not yet protected themselves by state laws. 
These difficulties can only be reached by a law governing interstate 
commerce, such as is now proposed. Moreover, aside from the actual 
damage which the insect has done in nurseries, the fact becoming 
known that a nursery has become infested with the scale has, in many 
cases, operated so severely as to entirely destroy the reputation and 
credit of the firm. From what has just been said the necessity for a 
uniform national law becomes apparent The different requirements 
of state laws, and the entire lack of any law in certain states, has pro¬ 
duced a condition intolerable to the nurseryman and of great danger 
to the orchardist. For example, a man shipping trees into Maryland 
requires one form of certificate, shipping into Virginia he requires yet 
another form under present regulations; while into other states, as 
Ohio, no form of certificate is required, thus making it the dumping 
ground for infested stock from all districts. Moreover, in New York 
the law prohibits sending infested stock outside the state, but does not 
prohibit its entrance. Such incongruities as these in state laws indi¬ 
cate most strongly the necessity for a uniform national law. 
The memorial is signed by C. L. Watrous, Des Moines, 
Iowa, president American Pomological Society ; Silas Wilson, 
Atlantic, Iowa, ex-president American Association of Nursery¬ 
men ; N. H. Albaugh, nuiseryman, Phoneton, Ohio; Thos. 
B. Meehan, Philadelphia, Pa., of Thomas Meehan & Sons ; 
Wm. B. Alwood, Professor of Horticulture and Entomology, 
Blacksburg, Va.; F. M. Webster, entomologist Ohio Agricul¬ 
tural Experiment Station, Wooster, Ohio; Irving Rouse, 
chairman executive committee Eastern Nurseryman’s Asso¬ 
ciation, and M. J. Daniels, horticulturist, California. 
The subscribers ask that all interested parties write their 
respective congressmen, seeking their support in the passage 
of the bill. 
MR. ELLWANGER’S GARDEN. 
In “The Garden’s Story,” George H. Ellwanger has con¬ 
ducted us in a charming manner through cool retreats into 
shady nooks, describing the while the wonders of nature. 
In the frontispiece of this issue are shown views of that 
grand old garden in which George Ellwanger, father of the 
author of “ The Garden’s Story,” and senior member of the 
firm of Ellwanger & Barry, loves to pass much of his time. 
Mr. Ellwanger some time since passed the four score mark in 
years, but he still takes an active part in the management of 
the great business. The artist has caught him amid the 
flowers. 
GROWING HILL’S CHILL 
In a discussion of the Hill’s Chili peach at the Michigan 
Horticultural Society meeting, Prof. Taft said : 
It seems to me that unquestionably the soil has much to do with the 
growth of the variety, and we go further than that and say that certain 
varieties will only succeed on certain classes of soil, and other kinds 
might fail on that same soil. Mr. Wiley is correct in stating that there 
is a difference in the varieties or strains of Hill’s Chili; and nurserymen 
qught to take more pains than they do in protecting their buds. I be¬ 
lieve they can do very much to increase the size of the fruit if they 
follow that practice. But as very few do that, it seems to me the thing 
for the fruitgrowers to do, who do not wish to bud their own trees, is 
to select the right variety, select a perfect tree, and furnish the buds 
to the nurseryman and let him grow the trees for them. Then, if they 
get honest nurserymen, they will get trees of these valuable strains. 
This seems to me our only hope, unless we grow our own trees. But I 
believe the time is coming when nurserymen will be compelled to take 
these pains, and then we will have better fruit. 
GEORGIA TEACHES IN 1900 . 
Georgia has become a peach state, says J. II. Hale. The Hale 
orchard turned out 180 carloads in 1898. In 1900 we estimate on 200 
carloads and are getting in crate material for that many, and I believe 
it not impossible for Georgia to turn out 3,000 carloads of peaches and 
200 carloads of Japanese plums. While the crop may be larger than 
that of 1898 earlier and later varieties will extend the season fully a 
month longer, and there will be no rush day, as two years ago. 
