THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
405 
pealed to us for recognition, but I am glad to see that 
Southern nurserymen gave them no consideration. Many 
years of observation impresses the fact that our best nuts 
never exceed one inch in diameter or two in length. 
When the pecan nut attains or exceeds a diameter of one 
inch or exceeds two inches in length, the limit that in¬ 
sures the finest virtues of quality and perfect condition 
has been exceeded. 
It would be possible for me to occupy your time with 
further opinion and suggestion on the subjects of selec¬ 
tion, propagation, cultivation and development of the 
pecan tree, but such subjects are too well known, and 
nearer the hearts of Southern nurserymen than anything 
!l could communicate on the subject likely to enlighten or 
strengthen them. 
I have complied with Mr. Chase’s request; I have got 
out the good news nearest the heart, viz: Southern Mis¬ 
sissippi has a crop of high class selected nuts that will 
pay the orchardist and find a welcome from the palate, 
and a welcoming corner in the digestive organs of the 
multitude at home and abroad; a multitude that will 
from year to year increase and swell the demand for first 
class pecan nuts to unthought of proportions. 
In reviewing this present and future development of 
the pecan, residents of a very limited area of Mississippi 
are justly proud. From Scranton on the East to Gulf¬ 
port on the West, and within easy present day gun shot 
of the Gulf waters this cream of the pecan type came to 
us without effort or the “creative” agency of scientists. 
In the improved pecan nut we have one of the grand¬ 
est gifts of unassisted developing nature. If we have 
anyone to thank for this wonderful advance, it lies with 
the selective instinct of a forgotten ancestry, who brought 
the first pecan nuts to their retreats on the Coast; or the 
selective and acquisitive instinct of the gray squirrel who 
tasted, planted and left behind his dearest and nearest, 
the heart treasures, when called on to honor the stew pot 
of the Southern Mississippi planter. 
So much for “Pecan Talk.” 
In sympathy with present day urgent appeals for di¬ 
versity of effort. I will crave your attention to another 
crop in which the heart has less of the sympathetic feel¬ 
ing that contends in the effort to confer a benefit and 
promote the good will and happiness of others. 
In the past it has been one of my heartfelt pleasures 
to know the friendship of Nurserymen in Alabama, 
Texas and even North Carolina. To-day I appeal to you 
as a sort of ostracized undesirable. I cannot sell a 
pecan or other tree in Virginia unless I pay a “hold up" 
or "black hand” license of $20.00. This doubtfully 
legal method of restriction and procuring pennies to sus¬ 
tain your wise ones is also practiced in Alabama, Texas 
and possibly other States. 
Our professional staff of entomologists, horticultural 
experts, inspectors and other interested originators or 
organizers of present day mildly exclusive nursery asso¬ 
ciations, horticultural societies and such, may smile me 
down as a back number, but this I know:—Their methods 
of securing pennies from outside undesirables has, and 
is, resulting in a deplorable feeling of resentment be¬ 
tween nurserymen and planters in different States. 
The small grower who complies with every form ol 
required inspection cannot sell a tree in named States 
without securing a license often exceeding the value of 
his sales. 
Into Florida and Louisiana 1 cannot sell a citrus tree: 
(Gentlemen, I put an exclamatory mark behind this state¬ 
ment and clear the throat once or twice.) 
All these inter-state differences and a lack of harmony 
and confidence between nurserymen, scientists and in¬ 
spectors has proved an unnecessary hardship to many. 
As I see it, many of the States have grown a crop of 
“nuts” very different from the glorious clusters of the 
pecan. Few of us care to investigate this crop of un¬ 
pleasant conditions, but till some less irritating and or¬ 
derly system of inspection and distribution can be put 
into practice, there is sure to remain between and among 
us more or less grinding of sanded teeth and impaired 
digestion. 
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS 
All nurseries, growing and handling ornamental stock, 
are drawn more or less into the handling of perennials, 
yet they do not fit in very well as they require so entirely 
different treatment and handling. A separate depart¬ 
ment to handle them is almost a necessity, and like every¬ 
thing else unless properly organized it is more likely to 
be an expense rather than a profit. 
It does not do to try and take care of the herbaceous 
plants with the same labor used on the nursery. The 
plants are so entirely different in their needs and method 
of handling, they cannot be made to lit in successfully. 
The propagation, growing, storing, packing and shipping 
of them is a trade or profession unto itself, and to insure 
success should be kept as separate as possible from the 
tree, shrub and evergreen business. That there is a 
stadily increasing interest and demand for this class of 
plants is certain and the nursery that best fits itself to 
supply it will get the business. 
Like every other line there is always a surplus of 
poor quality stock that can be purchased at any price, but 
the market is invariably short of good stock properly 
grown and handled. 
Paeonies are a good example of this, unnamed or un¬ 
known varieties are plentiful and cheap but sterling, well 
known kinds always fetch their price and never seem in 
surplus. Many kinds of hardy perennials are little bet¬ 
ter than weeds unless kept up to the standard in variety 
and cultivation. 
There is plenty of room in the trade for specialists in 
the different kinds of hardy perennials. The man who 
will take hold of lilies, hardy ferns, iris, delphinums, 
phlox, paeonies or hollyhocks, grow any one of them 
right and become master of his specialty will get his 
name before the public much quicker than by pushing 
and handling a general line. 
Rock plants is another line it would be possible to 
specialize upon with good prospects ot developing a good 
trade. 
To be a real success it must not be a specializing on 
paper only, it would be necessary to devote much brains, 
energy and time. To be an authority on a given subject, 
one has to give it much study. 
As most business men know, producing the stock is 
only a part of the game, disposal or distribution is likely 
