THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
77 
charge of the state floral exhibit. Frank Wiggins, represent¬ 
ing California, has one-half of one of the wings of the building. 
Considering the season of the year, the exhibits are very 
creditable. Later this building will be one of the principal 
points of attraction. The Trans-Mississippi states promise to 
be well represented. 
WESTERN WHOLESALE ASSOCIATION. 
The seventeenth semi-annual meeting of the Western Asso¬ 
ciation of Wholesale Nurserymen was held at Omaha, Neb., 
June 7. President A. L. Brooke, presided. Eighteen firms 
were represented. The report of Colonel U. B. Pearsall, 
treasurer, was read and approved. 
The transportation committee was requested to make an 
effort to get relief from present rulings upon part carloads in 
bulk stock ; also to ask that baled stock be shipped at actual 
weight and in the original packages ; also that a class be given 
to trees baled without straw or burlap, upon a proposition that 
the shipper release the railroads from all liability for damage 
upon such shipments. 
A copy of the aggregate stock report for the spring of 1898 
was given each member present and one was mailed to the 
absent members. Reports showed a decrease of matured stock 
of about 500,000 apple trees and 350,000 cherry plants It 
shows an increase this spring of over 2,000,000 apple grafts 
and about 16,000 cherry stalks for budding. The total plant 
of apple grafts this season approximates 7,000,000. 
After an interesting exchange of views upon the general 
condition of the nursery business, the meeting was adjourned 
until December 13th at the Centropolis hotel, Kansas 
City, Mo. 
EVERGREEN WICHURIANA HYBRIDS. 
Editor National Nurseryman : 
A notice of an exhibit before the Massachusetts Horticul¬ 
tural Society of these roses prompted me to see further what 
the witchery of the rose hybridist has been accomplishing. 
Nurserymen are of course acquainted by this time with Mr. 
Manda’s set of last year, Pink Roamer, South Orange Perfec¬ 
tion, Manda’s Triumph, etc., and in addition to their good 
qualities as covering plants for sun or shade or as climbers, it 
has now been ascertained that they are as free as Crimson 
Rambler when forced. Robert M. Gray tried a set of them 
at Julius Roerk’s and found them very satisfactory. 
But those to be sent out next year are even more luxuriant 
in their growth than the initial set. They have a somewhat 
different pollen parentage, and the surprising quality of re¬ 
taining their foliage ; at any rate during last winter. It seems 
in the case of one of them that a rose with much the qualities 
and appearance of the finest Cherokees will be available for a 
wide section of country. 
Pollen of Perle des Jardins, Meteor and other forcing roses 
was used upon Wichuriana and the result has been a select set 
which will probably be offered next spring. Gardenieflora is 
a trailing or climbing rose with bright yellow buds quite as 
good in color as the Perle, with open flowers, lighter, and in 
shape suggesting Gardenia Fortunei—hence the name. 
Jersey beauty is to'my mind the most beautiful plant of the 
set with beautiful dark green shining foliage, large single white 
flowers expanding to three inches, and a mass of golden 
stamen. The plant as yet unnamed selected from the Meteor 
cross is a beauty too, with fine full double flowers of the La 
France shade of pink. 
Several others are under trial, but it is probable the three 
mentioned will be on the market as their merit is certain, and 
the stock well advanced. To those who have never seen 
Manda’s place, I would say call on him at South Orange, New 
Jersey. It is a revelation in rare plants. 
Trenton, N. J. James MacPherson. 
AN OMAHA LESSON. 
Editor National Nurseryman : 
A number of things were suggested by the Omaha conven¬ 
tion for the improvement of the American Association. One 
of the principal lessons learned is the necessity for the arrange¬ 
ment of quarters for the members at conventions by a com¬ 
mittee of the Association. Last year at St. Louis it was con¬ 
ceded by the western members that the convention of 1898 
was due in the East. It is probable that but for the assur¬ 
ances of Professor F. W. Taylor of Lincoln, Neb., the conven¬ 
tion this year would have been at least no further west than 
Chicago. Now I have long been a member of the Association 
and I believe it has an important work to perform. But so 
long as it follows the beckoning of any one member regardless 
of the wishes of a large number of members it will not be of 
the greatest good to all. 
We are induced to go to Omaha by Professor Taylor’s 
representations. There was disappointment as the result from 
the moment the members arrived. I understand that the hotel 
for the headquarters of the convention was selected largely, if 
not entirely, through the efforts of Professor Taylor. Not¬ 
withstanding the promises of Professor Taylor that there would 
be ample hotel room for the members, it was found that the 
hotel was so filled when the nurserymen arrived that only by a 
series of changes could they be accommodated. As a con¬ 
sequence several of the nurserymen sought accommodations 
elsewhere. 
At the close of one of the sessions of the convention Pro¬ 
fessor Taylor sent an invitation to the members to visit the 
exposition. When they assembled at the hour named Pro¬ 
fessor Taylor could not be found and there was much 
dissatisfaction again. 
The programme of the convention included announcement 
of a paper by Professor Taylor on “ Relation of Agriculture to 
the Exposition.” But, although it was called for twice by the 
president, Professor Taylor could not be found. 
Doubtless Professor Taylor has some explanation, but it is 
probable that it would not be made, if this does not draw it 
out; for I have heard of none and the convention was held 
two weeks ago. The dissatisfaction these things caused was 
not confined to a few. 
Regular Attendant. 
The St. Petersburg Novosii states that Mr. Fetisoff, an ama¬ 
teur botanist in Voronezh has succeeded after ten years’ per¬ 
sistent experiments, in cultivating roses of a pure black color. 
These new black roses, it is further stated, will be exhibited 
shortly in London. 
