12 
THE NATIONAL 
NURSERYMAN. 
DELAWARE INSPECTION. 
Shows That Not a Nursery in The State Has the Scale--Results 
of Annual Inspections--A Few Infested Trees In Orchards 
Have Been Destroyed--Report to the Legislature. 
Editor National Nurseryman : 
The inspection for San Jose scale in Delaware, in 1897, 
included not only the nurseries, but all the orchards wherever 
it was known that stock from any infested nursery had been 
planted. It is, therefore, believed that very few if any infesta¬ 
tions have escaped. In nearly every case the infested trees 
were of small size and very few in number. In most instances 
all the infested trees were either destroyed or treated so as to 
furnish a hope that the pest will be exterminated. 
It is the general belief among fruit growers that eradica¬ 
tion, so far as Delaware is concerned, is the only policy that 
should be considered for a moment. To root up and destroy 
every infested tree, or, indeed, every infested orchard in the 
state, would be but a trifle compared with the cost of a single 
annual treatment, should this pest become in any degree gen¬ 
erally distributed over the state. There are not 2,000 infested 
trees in the state, and never have been. 
There is no reason to believe there has ever been a tree, 
infested with scale, shipped out of this state. On the other 
hand nearly every m rsery in the state has been inspected each 
year for the last two years, and some of them for a year or two 
longer, and no scale has been reported. Some of our nursery¬ 
men have in years past purchased trees from infested nurseries 
in other states, but they have been fortunate enough not to 
have their own nurseries infested thereby, and it is a very great 
fortune, too. It is rather dangerous to say that scale does not 
exist anywhere ; all that we can say is that it cannot be found ; 
but I can say freely that I do not believe that there is a single 
case of infestation of the San Jose scale on any farm or other 
premises of any nurseryman in Delaware. It is the policy 
and the purpose of the state to keep such a watch over the 
matter, and to help the nurserymen, fruitgrowers and farmers 
to keep such a watch that there shall never be such an infesta¬ 
tion. In other words the state, through its board of agricul¬ 
ture, proposes to exterminate this pest, so far as Delaware is 
concerned- Wesley Webb, 
Deputy Inspector. 
Dover, Del., Jan. 19, 1898. 
THE ROSSNEY PEAR. 
This pear grown and for sale only by the Pioneer Nursery 
Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, is attracting much attention. This 
firm was established in 1850. It is well known throughout 
the country and its endorsement of a variety means much. It 
is introducing the Rossney pear, every tree bearing a copy¬ 
righted and trade-marked seal. Tne eastern agents are the 
Phoenix Nursery Co., Bloomington, Ill. 
Following is the copyrighted description of the Rossney: 
Rossney Pear. —A new and excellent pear, raised from 
seed at Salt Lake City, Utah. In size, medium to large; very 
fine grain, flesh melting and very juicy; very sweet. Ripens 
two weeks after Bartlett. Is an excellent keeper and shipper. 
The tree is a much stronger grower than Keiffer. Luther 
Burbank says, under date of October 5th, 1895: “The sam¬ 
ples of Rossney pear arrived in due season. The large size, 
handsome form and creamy yellow skin with crimson blush 
gives the fruit a tempting appearance ; and the rich, tender 
and creamy flesh of just the right texture, with no hard spots 
and an unusually small core, with its superior flavor makes it 
about the best pear so far seen. If the tree is vigorous, 
healthy and productive, would prefer it to any other, even the 
standard Bartlett and Seckel.” 
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 3, 1895. 
Pioneer Nurseries Co.: 
Gentlmen —Your pears arrived in good condition. They are very 
attractive in both size and coloring, and the quality very good. They 
are very juicy and sugary and would please most palates. The rela¬ 
tive merits, as compared with other varieties fruiting in the Salt Lake 
region cannot, of course, be judged here. It would be well, if you 
could, to compare it with Josephine de Malines, which, however, is not 
near ripe here at this date. Very truly yours, 
Thomas Meehan & Sons. 
Dansville, N. Y., Oct. 12, 1895. 
Pioneer Nurseries Co.: 
Gentlemen —The sample of your seedling pear reached us on the 
9th in prime order. It is a very handsome fruit and of most excellent 
quality. Its large size, fine grain and flavor and supeiior shipping 
qualities ought to make a combination that would prove a winner. If 
the tree is hardy and a good bearer, it possesses about all the qualities 
necessary in a pear. Yours very truly, 
George A. Sweet. 
Woodbttrn, Oregon, Oct. 12, 1893. 
Pioneer Nurseries Co. : 
Gentlemen— Yours of some time ago received; also the pears w T hich 
came through in good condition. We think you have a very nice 
thing in this, and it seems to be a very good keeper (we having eaten 
the last one yesterday), especially so as it has been here in the office 
where it has been warm all the time. As it has a very rich color and 
stands shipping well, we think it should be a valuable addition to the 
pear list. Yours truly, 
J. H. Settlemeir & Sons. 
Painesville, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1895. 
Pioneer Nurseries Co.: 
Gentlemen —Samples of pears were duly received. Two of them 
were just right, the other was too far gone to test. It certainly is a 
handsome pear and of very fine quality, and if it is as good a bearer 
and grower as you state, it should certainly be a very valuable variety. 
Yours truly, Storrs & Harrison Co. 
Little Silver, N. J., Sept. 6, 1897. 
Pioneer Nurseries Co.: 
Gentlemen —The samples of Rossney pear came to hand to-day, 
thoroughly ripe and in good condition. Without exception they are 
the most beautiful pears I have ever looked upon. The form and size 
are good and the quality excellent. If the tree proves a good grower 
and productive generally, you surely have in it a fruit of untold value. 
Thanking you for your kindness in sending me samples of this most 
promising pear, I am, Yours truly, 
J. T. Lovett. 
Prunus Maximowiczi, the pale yellow-flowered Japanese 
plum, has been raised in the Arnold Arboretum from seeds 
brought home by Professor Sargent from Northern Japan, 
and, although it has not flowered yet in the United States, it 
gives every hope of success here by its rapid healthy growth 
and perfect hardiness. At the end of October the plants were 
conspicuous from the scarlet coloring of the leaves, which 
were even more brilliant than those of Prunus Pseudo-cerasus, 
its associate in the forests of Yezo. Of the deciduous-leaved 
trees entirely new to cultivation this cherry is one of the best. 
