72 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
after you kin ’tend to the tree peddlers when they come along, 
and I’ll ’tend to my housework, same’s we’ve been doin’ in the 
past. Is it a bargain, Alexander?” ‘ 
And, with a quiet chuckle of satisfaction—which was some¬ 
what modified by the reflection that he would have to foot the 
bill when it came in—Alexander responded that it was.—Ex¬ 
change. 
HORTICULTURE IN THE WEST. 
One of the best observers in far western horticulture is E. 
F. Stephens of Nebraska, who says; “In the New England 
and middle states nurserymen bud the apple tree for the pur¬ 
pose of getting high-headed trees. The climate there favors 
high-headed trees, with a view of getting the bearing wood up 
from the ground and opening up the head to secure as much 
sun as possible, their climate being damp and chilly rather 
than hot and windy, as with us In the extreme western and 
northwestern portions of the western states it has been found 
more successful to graft the trees and later years’ experience 
has shown that these trees withstand our trying climate better 
if they are headed low. Here we must guard against the try¬ 
ing winds, hot suns and the tendency to sun scald on the 
trunks. It has been found that where trees were headed 
within fifteen to twenty-five inches of the ground the trunk of 
the trees was less likely to be battered by hail and cannot 
suffer from sunscald. The trees suffer less from wind. The 
fruit is more easily picked and contrary to the experience of 
the eastern states, it is often found that the greater portion of 
the fruit is grown on the lower branches, especially in the more 
trying locations.” 
©bituari^. 
Mrs. Prosper J. A. Berckmans, wife of the well known 
nurseryman of Augusta, Ga., died May 13th Of her a local 
paper said : “To her honored husband, and manly sons, all 
esteemed and so popular in the community, the deepest and 
most sincere sympathies were extended for the loss of wife and 
mother, and they received assurance that not alone was sorrow 
theirs.” 
John Saul, the well-known nurseryman and florist, died at 
his home near Washington, D. C., on May 12th, in his seventy- 
fourth year. He was born at Lismore, County Cork, Ireland, 
December 25th, 1823. He was trained in the science of land¬ 
scape gardening, and soon after becoming of age removed to 
the Isle of Wight, and subsequently to Bristol, England, in 
both of which places he was manager of extensive nurseries. 
Mr. Saul arrived in Washington in May, 1851, and was at 
once engaged by the government to lay out the Smithsonian 
grounds, Lafayette Square and other public squares, and also 
by W. W. Corcoran to plan the beautifying of Harewood Park. 
In 1852 he bought the property in which he spent the re¬ 
mainder of his life. He was among the first in America to 
advocate a more general use of orchids and other rare and 
valuable plants, and a goodly portion of his establishment at 
Washington was given up to their cultivation. He was also an 
extensive grower of roses and nursery stock. 
IRecent publications. 
“ Nuts for Profit ” is a treatise by John R. Parry, of Parry, N. J., on 
the propagation and cultivation of nut-bearing trees adapted tosuccess- 
ful culture in the United States, with extracts from leading authorities. 
Gooseberries is the subject of bulletin 114 of the New York State 
Agricultural Experiment Station which has just been issued. The sub¬ 
ject has been treated in an exhaustive manner so that the bulletin will 
be of great value to fruit growers and nurserymen who are interested 
in growing and propagating this fruit. 
“ Some Common Birds in their Relation to Agriculture” is the sub¬ 
ject of an interesting bulletin, number 54 of the farmer’s series, of the 
Department of Agriculture. An examination of stomachs of birds 
shows that without the birds insects which injure fruit and trees would 
be more numerous. AH'who are in doubt as to the value of birds 
should read this bulletin. 
Another volume of the Rural Science Series, edited by Professor L. 
H. Bailey, has been published by the Macmillan Company. It is en¬ 
titled “ The Fertility of the Land,” and is by Professor Isaac Phillips 
Roberts, director of the College of Agriculture and professor of agri¬ 
culture in Cornell University. The plan of the work is ably set forth 
by the editor in his preface ; “ If a man has spent the greater part of 
his life as a teacher of agriculture and an experimenter, and has been 
a successful farmer at the same time, and has had the advantage of 
much travel, his opinions upon farm methods should be invaluable to 
his fellows. If in addition to all this he has had a philosophical turn 
of mind and has persistently inquired into the reasons and results of 
all that he has seen, it would seem to be nothing less than a public 
misfortune if he should fail to leave some of his wisdom in permanent 
and consecutive form. The book sets forth the author’s philosophy of 
the means of maintaining the productivity of the land, and since the 
productive power of the land is the first and fundamental considera¬ 
tion in farming it, must follow that this book comes as near to being a 
treatise on agriculture as any single volume can be. It appeals to me 
with especial force, because it so well combines the best teachings of 
science with the philosophy of farm practice. It is the ripened judg¬ 
ment of the wisest farmer whom I have known.’’ The work is most 
entertainingly written. On every page is evidenced the broad vision 
of the author, and in a single chapter is concentrated information 
which when thus presented seems indispensable. While it is more 
especially a book for the farmer rather than the fruit grower, the latter 
may obtain valuable suggestions as to plant food, the conservation of 
•moisture, fertilizers, nitrogen and nitrification, rotations, etc. Cloth ; 
pp. 415, $1.25. New York : The Macmillan Co. 
George W. Campbell, Delaware, O.—“ I think my subscription 
to the National Nurseryman should be renewed about this time 
and herewith inclose $1 which please acknowledge. I hope you are 
meeting with the success which your excellent journal deserves.” 
P. SEBIRE & SONS, nurserymen. 
Ussy, Calvados, Urance. 
A general assortment of Fruit Tree Stocks, such as Apple, Pear, Myro- 
bolan Plum, Mahaleb and Mazzartl Cherry, Angers Quince, Small 
Fvergreens, Forest Trees, Ornamental Shrubs. Roses, Etc. The largest 
stock in the country. Prices very low. Packing secured. Send for quota¬ 
tions before placing your orders elsewhere. Catalogue free. Agents for 
U. S. America and Canada. 
C. C. ABEL & CO., P. 0. Box 920, NEW YORK. 
ALL OLD and NEW VARIETIES. 
Immense Stock, 
Warranted True. 
QUALITY UNSURPASSED. 
P7'ices lower than ever before. Send 
Iwt of wants for 'prices. 
STRAWBERRIES, 
CURRANTS, GOOSEBERRIES, 
AND OTHER 
SMALE FRUIT PLANTS. 
T. S. HUBBARD CO,, 
FRBDONIA, AT. Y, 
