The National Nurseryman. 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK. 
Copyright, 1898, by the National Nurseryman Publishing Co. 
VOL. VI. ROCHESTER, N. Y., NOVEMBER, 1898. No. 10. 
THE SEASON'S TRADE . 
Reports from all Quarters on Fall Sales—Marked Improvement 
over Autumn of 1897—Stock is being Cleaned up—Apple 
and Cherry Scarce—Prospect Bright for a Brisk 
Spring Trade—Apple Seedlings Short. 
The following are special reports to the National Nur¬ 
seryman from all quarters regarding the fall sales and the 
prospects for the spring trade : 
IN THE WEST. 
Ottawa, Kan., October 15.—Brewer & Stannard : “Our 
trade for fall delivery is considerably more than double what 
it was last year, and the outlook for spring is very encourag¬ 
ing. Prices are better, and we believe all the stock in the 
West will be used before spring packing is over.” 
North Topeka, Kan., October 15,—Peters & Skinner : 
We do comparatively little fall shipping, but the orders booked 
for fall and spring considerably exceed in value those booked 
up to this time last year. There is a lively inquiry for stock for 
late fall or early spring shipment and the stock of trees in this 
locality is considerably less than last year. Owing to the ad¬ 
vance in the price of apple trees, apple seedlings are in great 
demand and are advancing in price. We feel quite sure that 
nearly all lines of stock will be closed out before the end of 
the season.” 
Sedgwick, Kan., October 15,—The Sedgwick Nursery : 
“ Our fall sales are over double what they ever have been and 
the prospects for spring trade are very good.” 
Topeka, Kan., October 16,—F. W. Watson & Co.: “We 
are right in the midst of fall sales. It is a little early to say 
just how heavy the trade will be. So far the orders are a little 
larger than usual, while the number runs about the same as 
last fall. Prices this fall in apple and cherry trees are good— 
better than for a good many years. Plums about the same 
price as last year. Pears lower than usual, altogether too low. 
Inquiry for spring is good—and we expect there will be a 
lively scramble for apple and cherry before spring packing 
season is over. 
“The shortage of apple seedlings has made the price jump 
from $3 per thousand to $3.50 and some of the older heads 
are predicting $4 to $5 seedlings before the season is over. 
Orders for seedlings are coming in earlier and are much larger 
than last season. There are 335 acres of apple seedlings 
grown around Topeka, the entire product of which has been 
sold already, with the exception of about 60 acres. Prospects 
in the trade were never better.” 
Kansas City, Mo., October 17,—R. H. Blair & Co.—“We 
have made no effort tor fall sales. Most all our agents and 
dealers have been selling all season for spring delivery. We 
have booked heavy wholesale orders for spring. Our sales far 
exceed our expectations at this time and at much better prices 
than for the past five years. We think stock will be closed 
out clean in the West next spring and at cost of growing at 
least. There will not be enough of apple and cherry to supply 
the demand at any price. The apple crop was a failure in the 
West, but other crops being good and prices satisfactory, we 
look for good sales of all kinds of nursery stock. 
“Small nurseries have very little to offer and wholesale 
nurserymen are content to wait for better prices for the small 
amount of stock they have on hand for spring. The war is 
over with Spain, and even more satisfactory than we an¬ 
ticipated ; money is plenty, and as good as it ever was. 
But few nurserymen were affected by the calamity howl and 
they are convalescing and hope they will soon be happy and 
enjoy the better times with those who had faith.” 
Marcus, Iowa, Oct., 19,—M. E. Hinkley: “ The tree trade 
is certainly on the up grade. Canvassers during the past 
summer, through the Central Northwest, have made larger 
sales by at least 25 per cent than in 1897. Observation and 
correspondence alike indicate a lively spring business, if the 
weather conditions prove favorable.” 
Geneva, Neb., Oct. 25,—Youngers & Co.: “With us bus¬ 
iness has been better this fall than since fall of 1892, in fact 
we have moved a greater quantity of stock but do not realize 
as good prices. Still prices as a whole are very satisfactory. 
We are still packing, and shipping and expect to outdo any 
former season. Some lines of stock are already getting short 
in the West, principally cherry and apple, and we look for an 
advance in prices on those two articles for spring. Unless we 
are deceived there will be a decided shortage in No. 1 stock 
both of cherry and apple next spring. 
“ Apple seedlings are also a short crop with all the western 
growers and will rule higher later on. 
“We believe there are better times in store for nurserymen 
(and we need it bad enough) for the next few years as the 
planting next spring must be below former years on account 
of the known shortage in stocks.” 
Greeley, Colo., Oct. 25,—The Greeley Nurseries: “We 
are in the middle of our fall deliveries, and so far they 
seem to be going off in good shape and the prospects are that 
collections will be fairly good. We cannot say with any cer¬ 
tainty what the prospects are for spring business, as our sales¬ 
men have been selling through the past season for fall delivery 
only ; but if the fall business is anything to judge by, we shall 
have a good spring trade.” 
IN THE EAST. 
Bridgeville, Del., October 14,—Myer & Son: “Fall 
sales are about the same as last season at this time with pros¬ 
pect for an increase in the shipping season. Stock has grown 
finely and is well matured. Prices on most lines are on an 
upward tendency and we think spring sales will be heavy with 
better prices.” 
Plymouth, Mass., Oct. 14.—T. R. Watson, Old Colony 
Nurseries : “ I find the retail fall trade fairly good. Have 
not had as many wholesale orders as I expected. It is rather 
