I 10 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
this state and to issue certificates under certain conditions therein 
provided. 
The theory of the law is that a copy of the certificate issued to the 
grower shall accompany all stock grown in or shipped from the 
nursery w r hich w T as examined, by virtue of which examination this 
certificate was issued. It would seem also a fair interpretation to us 
that if that was the intention of the law it was likewise the intention 
of the lawmakers that the person holding the certificate should not 
attach a copy thereof to stock grown in another nursery, be that 
nursery where it may. Should that be done and some of the stock 
bearing that certificate afterwards be found to be affected slightly or 
otherwise with the San Jose scale, how could this department ascertain 
the nursery where the stock was grown for the purpose of extirpating 
the same ? 
You will see by reading the law the general theory is that the copy 
of the certificate is really a tracer, by virtue of which this department 
may be able to find the source of the disease, if it exists within this 
state. 
There is another question that may be fairly considered by you, viz: 
That the state only appropriates ten thousand dollars for this work 
and for this department to undertake to place an inspector or agent at 
the shipping point of each nursery in the State of New York to 
examine all the stock would require much more money than is at our 
disposal. 
Any suggestions that you can make that will aid in making the 
work of more practical benefit under the law as it now exists, with the 
means at command, will be gratefully received at this office. 
Very respectfully yours, 
G. E. L. Flanders, Assistant Commissioner. 
In response to an inquiry from this office, S. D. Wil'ard who 
was one of those who urged the passage of the state bill, 
wrote : 
Geneva, N. Y., Sept. 20 , 1898 . 
The National Nurseryman Publishing Co., 
Rochester, N. Y. 
Gents —This matter was argued by myself in the interest of the 
dealers in the month of July at Albany, but no satisfaction obtained. 
I wrote to one large dealer urging prompt concerted action on their 
part but he seemed to know more than I did and thought there was no 
occasion for being in a hurry and so the matter has been permitted to 
drift, until now it is quite late. 
I would suggest that a united effort be made to induce the commis¬ 
sioner to permit all dealers to have their stock inspected on their 
grounds before packing. He will be here to-morrow and I shall urge 
the matter with all the force I can. Respectfully, 
S. D. Willard. 
Following is the final reply of Commissioner Wieting : 
Rochester, N. Y., Sept. 26 , 1898 . 
Mr. Wm. Pitkin, Rochester, N. Y. 
Dear Sir— In reply to your communication of the 24 tli inst., just 
received, I am sorry to say that existing conditions are such that I 
cannot issue certificates to dealers as desired. I am ready and willing 
at any time to assist the nurserymen of this state to get legislation they 
desire in this matter. Of course, it should be such that the majority 
of the dealers will be satisfied with it. In the meantime I must act in 
accordance with the law as it now stands. I have referred the matter 
to the attorney general’s office and I am informed that I cannot issue 
certificates except as provided in the statute, and that the statute only 
provides for issuing certificates to the owners of nurseries in which 
nursery stock is grown for sale, and which has been duly examined 
and found free from disease as provided by the statute. You will 
readily see that I am in a position to use only such authority as is pro¬ 
vided by the statute. A little reflection will lead you to see that it 
will be impossible for me to use authority not conferred. That would 
be invoking the principle that I might do all things not prohibited by 
the statute, which would be absurd. 
Very respectfully yours, 
C. A. Wieting, Commissioner of Agriculture. 
{Lbe Season’s jfruits. 
Green Mountain Grape —Vines of this variety produced 
full bunches of small, juicy, light green berries with thin skin, 
of delicate flavor. Ripened early, September 5th to 10th. 
Vines hardy and productive. Received from Stephen Hoyt’s 
Sons, New Canaan, Conn. 
Worden Seckel Pear. —Smiths & Powell Co., Syracuse, 
N Y., sent us fine specimens of the Worden Seckel pear. The 
fruit is of medium size, pyriform shape, highly attractive color, 
bright red on one side, and of excellent quality. The trees are 
declared to be enormous bearers, bearing when very young. 
Trees three and four years old standing in nursery row bore 
this season. 
Stoddard Plum —For many years J. Wragg & Sons, 
Waukee, la, have made a specialty of plums. In the variety 
Stoddard, of which they are the introducers, they have a fruit 
of great value. Specimens sent to this office last month fully 
bear out the high praise which has been accorded it. Its un- 
usu illy large size for a native plum, its attractive light, pinkish- 
red color, its tough, sweet skin, juicy flesh and rich flavor 
combine to make it a most desirable variety. It is very pro¬ 
ductive and has proved perfectly hardy. M. J. Wragg says 
that it is not uncommon to get specimens, of the fruit 
inches in circumference. It took first premium at Iowa state 
fair. 
Campbell’s Early Grape —When at first sight of a fruit 
persons manifest unusual interest and remark favorably upon 
its exceptional characteristics, a long step in its successful in¬ 
troduction may be noted. Such is certainly the case with 
Campbell’s Early grape which has advanced rapidly-in popular 
favor. George S Josselyn, of Fredonia, N. Y., the introducer 
of the grape, in a communication to the National Nursery¬ 
man, accompanying a basket of the fruit, says: “A rather 
amusing fact has occurred within a day or two concerning 
Campbell’s Early grapes. We are now shipping them to other 
markets but it leaked out yesterday that some of our dealers 
here are afraid to ship them because in shipping them in mixed 
lots they would not be able to sell their Moore’s Early, etc.” 
Seedling Pear —Thomas W. Bowman, Rochester, N. Y., 
sent us a specimen of a pear from a seedling tree in Ontario. 
It was remarkably fine fruit in several respects. Its rich flivor, 
fine grain, juicy, sub-acid flesh, corresponded most appropri¬ 
ately to the attractive light yellow skin. Notwithstanding 
the dry, hot weather of the summer the pear was of good size 
and perfectly formed. Mr. Bowman says that a sample 
received last year was half as large again, which indicates that 
the fruit is large. The originator states that the tree has 
been free from blight or scale on either fruit or foliage, and 
that it is a thrifty grower and prolific bearer. It has withstood 
temperature as low as 35 degrees below zero. The tree is 
without a blemish. Judging by the sample sent we regard it 
as a most valuable variety. It is from a seed of Clapp’s 
Favorite and it is believed that it will prove more profitable 
than Flemish Beauty. Rural New Yorker says : “ The pear 
received is distinctly pyriform, 3J4 inches from the stem to the 
calyx, of light green color, closely sprinkled with dots of a 
darker green. The flesh is white, very juicy, buttery, sub-acid, 
better in quality than Clapp’s Favorite, and without seeds. 
It certainly seems worthy of introduction. 
