4 ? 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
IN THE CENTRAL STATES. 
Trade Far Ahead of Any Season for Five Years—Stock well 
Cleaned Up—Demand for Apple Especially Heavy—Prices 
Generally Low—But an Increase Looked for in the Fall. 
Bridgeport, Ind., April 7.—Albertson & Hobbs : “ We 
are yet in the midst of our packing, this being about the sixth 
week in which we have had about all we could handle. The 
demand for apple has been especially heavy and the stock of 
many varieties has been entirely exhausted, though there is 
still some surplus, especially of the northwestern sorts and Ben 
Davis. 
“ Stock has been in stronger demand, though prices have 
advanced but little. Yet indications are certainly good for 
profitable advances another season, the surplus being pretty 
well cleaned up this season, and we think less salable stock to 
be carried over than there has been for many years. While 
there was a large stock of cherry early in the season, they are 
now going out rapidly, and it does not look as if there would 
be many, if any, first-class trees left by the end of the season. 
“ In fact, trade generally has been, we think, far ahead of 
that of any season for five or six years, and we can see no 
reason why the demand for fall should not be equally as good, 
and we believe with a much lighter stock to draw onto supply 
this extra demand. Of course we have not had chance yet to 
figure up sales, stock left, etc., but we will be much surprised 
if they do not show much as indicated above. 
“ Peach have also been in good demand, and most small 
fruit plants have been used up pretty closely. So we think, 
taking it altogether, that the nursery business is in the most 
healthful condition that it has been for many years, and the 
outlook for years to come is somewhat brighter.” 
Waukee, Ia., April 4.—John Wragg & Sons Co.: “Our 
trade is 30 per cent, better than in the spring of 1897 ; not 
quite so good as in the spring of 1896. I believe the nursery¬ 
men of the West struck bedrock in the spring of 1897. The 
tendencies are for larger sales in the future than in the past 
two years. Tree planting has gotten a new impetus, and we 
look for a very large summer’s business. We believe that 
stock will be cleaned up closer in the West this spring than 
any spring for three years.” 
Shenandoah, Ia., April ir.—D. S. Lake: “We are now 
in the height of our spring delivery, and will be very busy for 
the next ten days or two weeks. As near as I can judge our 
sales are 25 per cent, larger than last year, and it looks as 
though the most of our surplus stock, which has been accumu¬ 
lating the last year or two, will be almost entirely worked off 
this season. I think that trade throughout the West has been 
much larger than it ever was before, and from what informa¬ 
tion I can get, the western nurserymen are well sold out in all 
lines.” 
Dundee, Ill., April 11.—D. Hill : “ Business and sales thus 
far this spring are something similar to the seasons of 
1891-2-3. Orders much heavier than I expected, and the 
inquiries at this time are simply enormous. Outlook for the 
future is very encouraging. Few nurserymen have kept up 
their annual planting of evergreens during the past years of 
financial depression ; thus the great increase this year.” 
Troy, O., April 13.—George Peters & Co. : “Trade with 
us this spring has been very good—much better than we 
anticipated at the beginning of the season. We have handled 
more nursery stock than for a number of years, and are satis¬ 
fied our trade has been double that of last year, and prospects 
are very encouraging at this time for a grand fall trade. We 
are of the opinion that the prospects for nurserymen are much 
brighter than for some time.” 
Osage, Ia., April 12.—Gardner & Son : “Our retail busi¬ 
ness for spring of 1898 has been very satisfactory. Sales 
aggregate a little above last year, with better prices and cus¬ 
tomers better able to pay cash on delivery. Very little surplus 
stock will be left in the Iowa nurseries after the spring deliv¬ 
eries are made. We look for a sharp advance in wholesale 
prices on some staples which have been selling below cost of 
production. We shall increase our general planting about 40 
per cent, over that of last year.” 
Normal, Ill., April 13.—Augustine & Co. : “ Our sales this 
spring have been just about as heavy up to date as last year, 
probably a trifle better, with the exception of the Sudduth 
pear, which we are devoting most of our attention to. This 
has far surpassed our expectations. We have had the most 
favorable season for handling stock that we remember in years, 
the season opening up the first of March and continuing up to 
the present, everything still being in almost entirely dormant 
condition. Shipments heavier this week than any time previ¬ 
ous this spring.” 
Painesville, O., April 15.—The Storrs & Harrison Co. : “ It 
is difficult accurately to estimate the season’s business at this 
date, as we are still busy shipping, with our books unposted. 
There is a diversity of opinion among our directors as to the 
probable results. Some think that the amount of stock 
handled will just about even up with last year, and others that 
it will considerably exceed last year ; but all are agreed on one 
point, which is that owing to the ruinously low prices prevail¬ 
ing, our receipts will not exceed those of last season.” 
Spaulding, Ill., April 8.—Spaulding Nursery & Orchard 
Co. : “At this date, April 8th, we do not expect to have a 
bit of salable stock to carry over or burn. Had to buy apple 
and plum. Sales heavier, but prices will leave very small 
profits. We think prices will be higher this fall. At this date 
have nearly all of our planting done. Angers quince stocks 
and peach seed yet to plant.” 
New Carlisle, O., April 15.—W. N. Scarff: “ Our sales 
to date are fully 25 per cent, in advance of spring of ’97.” 
Phoneton, O., April 25.—The Albaugh Nursery and 
Orchard Co.: “Trade here for spring very good. Nearly 
all large stock off our hands. Young stock looking fine, 
especially peach and cherry buds. All the nurseries had 
heavy trade. Phoneton is our new postoffice, established at 
the nurseries.” 
The well-known importer, Christian H. Joosten and his wife 
celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of their wedding on 
March 28, at their home in New York City. There were 
Dutch speeches, Dutch songs and Dutch cooking and all were 
greatly enjoyed. Mr. Joosten came to this country in 1862, 
served in the civil war under Grant, Sherman and Sheridan 
and retired with the rank of quartermaster-sergeant. He is 
an active member of the New York Florist’s Club and of the 
Holland society, Eendracht Maakt Macht. 
