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THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
The National Nurseryman. 
C. L. YATES, Proprietor. RALPH T. OLCOTT, Editor. 
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY 
The National Nurseryman Publishing Co., 
305 Cox Building, Rochester, N. Y. 
The only trade journal issued for Growers and Dealers In Nursery Stock of 
all kinds. It circulates throughout the United States and Canada. 
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSERYMEN. 
SUBSCRIPTION RATES. 
One year, in advance, ----- $1.00 
Six Months, ------ 
Foreign Subscriptions, in advance, - - - 1.50 
Six Months, “ “ - _ - i.oo 
Advertising rates will be sent upon application. Advertisements 
should reach this office by the 20th of the month previous to the date 
of issue. 
Payment in advance required for foreign advertisements. 
[[^“Drafts on New York or postal orders, instead of checks, are 
requested. 
Correspondence from all points and articles of interest to nursery¬ 
men and horticulturists are cordially solicited. 
Entered in the Post Office at Rochester, as second-class matter. 
Rochester, N. Y., October, 1897. 
POINTER FOR THE ADVANCE AGENT. 
The nurseryman should neglect no opportunity to call the 
attention of the prospective purchaser of fruit trees and small 
fruit plants to the comparison which obtains in every city and 
in many of the villages of the eastern section of this country 
between the “ home grown ” fruit and that which is being 
shipped into this section by the fruit growers and shippers of 
California and the South. The markets of what is known as 
Eastern United States form an object lesson daily. 
A study of these markets must convince anyone that the 
fruit growers of the East are losing ground in their own mar¬ 
kets. George T. Powell, in a recent article, pointed out what 
has occurred to many when he said that the advantages that 
ought naturally to be very great to the eastern fruit growers 
are more and more being possessed by the growers of several 
thousand miles away. 
It is conceded that California fruit which is leading the trade 
does not equal that of the Eastern United States in point of 
fine flavor and high quality. It is stated that seventy-five car¬ 
loads of California fruit find quick sales in New York weekly. 
As has been shown by Mr. Powell, the fruit grown in the 
Atlantic and New England states is grown too largely in con¬ 
nection with general farming, and under such conditions will 
always be subject to neglect. It is necessary to cultivate, 
prune and spray an orchard and pay great attention to the 
manner of packing, storing and shipping the fruit, so that it 
may be put upon the market in the most attractive form. Com¬ 
petition is going to be even greater than anything yet ex¬ 
perienced. 
Nothing herein said should be construed as being antagonis¬ 
tic to the production of fruit under methods which prevail in 
the extreme West and South; there is room for all in this great 
country; the production of fruit is by no means overdone; the 
poor man was able to buy peaches for his family this year and 
the enormous crop was easily disposed of. 
There are lessons in this subject for the nurseryman’s ad¬ 
vance agent. 
THE WESTERN FARMERS. 
During the recent financial depression the collections on 
sales of nursery stock were very slow all over the country. 
Particular complaint was made regarding western collections, 
because of the straits in which western farmers found them¬ 
selves. 
One of the most encouraging signs of the revival of business, 
therefore, is the following summary of conditions by the Ameri¬ 
can Agriculturist, a recognized authority on matters of inter¬ 
est to the farmer : 
“While newspaper stories have been somewhat exaggerated, 
it is an absolute fact that the western farmer’s financial condi¬ 
tion is wonderfully improved. During the past three years he 
praciiced such economy that with a slight improvement in 
wheat prices last fall and fairer values for cattle, sheep, hogs, 
the thrifty farmer gradually reduced his debts. With good 
prices this fall, he is indeed paying off the mortgage, or if it is 
continued it is at a lower rate of interest and for the purpose 
of improving the farm or buying more land. The fall in the 
interest rate is quite as remarkable as the other features of the 
rising tide. The era of over-speculation that was threatened 
by the too rapid ‘booming’ in the wheat market, has been 
nipped in the bud. Farmers everywhere seem determined to 
pay their debts first of all. Many thousands of them will then 
have a comfortable surplus left.’’ 
PASSES FOR MEMBERS. 
Inasmuch as the members of the American Association of 
Nurserymen annually have to count noses carefully in order to 
get together enough railroad certificates to secure the rate of 
one and a third '"are to the conventions, it is interesting to 
note that down in Georgia the railroads furnish free transpor¬ 
tation to the members of the State Horticultural Society upon 
the occasion of the annual convention. 
Regarding this subject the Savannah, Ga., News says i 
The delegates to the Georgia State Agricultural and the Horticult¬ 
ural Socities’ conventions will he accorded the same privildges and 
courtesies by the railroads of the state as in the past. For a number of 
years it has been customary for the roads to furnish free transportation 
to these meetings, and no exception will be made on the. occasion of 
the annual meetings held here this month. 
Through the advertisement some time ago by the railroads of a one- 
fare-for-the-round-trip rate to the conventions from points throughout 
the state, the inference was drawn that the delegates would not be 
extended the privileges of former years and would have to pay for their 
transportation. These advertisements are of rates intended for the 
general public. Conventions representing so strongly, as do these of 
the Agricultural and Horticultural Societies, the interests of a large 
proportion of the population of Georgia can readily be understood as 
likely to draw a great many visitors, and the reduced rates were put 
in effect for their convenience. The tickets will have limits of some 
five or six days, and visitors will have ample time and opportunity to 
enjoy the pleasures of the sea side resort in addition to attending the 
convention. 
The passes for the delegates have already been issued. Both the 
Agricultural and Horticultural societies have had passes to the number 
