THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
strong national law. A national law is needed to control stock 
subject to interstate commerce rules, and a rigid state law that 
will take cognizance of cases occurring in orchards and 
nurseries, and they should be so prepared that they would be 
uniform in different parts of the country. 
Professor A. D. Selby of the Ohio Experiment Station said 
that a nursery tree bearing galls is worse than worthless, as it 
will not come to fruiting, nor will an older plant continue 
bearing if attacked, while it is likely to spread the disease. 
The trouble seems to spread, and is more serious than any in¬ 
sect or disease now known. Affected nursery trees are the 
chief source of contagion to new orchards or new lands, and 
should not be sold. The presence of the disease can be read¬ 
ily detected at digging time, and all affected trees should be 
collected and burned. Trees in close proximity to diseased 
trees are also likely to become infected and should not be 
used. 
ELECTION OF OFFICERS. 
The election of officers resulted as follows : President, C. 
L. Watrous, Des Moines, la.; vice president, George W. 
Campbell, Delaware, O.; secretary, W. A. Taylor, Washing¬ 
ton, D. C.; treasurer. Professor L. R. Taft, Agricultural Col¬ 
lege, Michigan. 
P. J. Berckmans had served the society as president for ten 
years, having succeeded the lamented Marshall P. Wilder, and 
resolutions were adopted expressing the regret of the society 
that he had declined re-election. 
The membership fee of the society was reduced from $4 to 
to $2. The question of holding annual instead of biennial 
sessions was left with the executive committee, as was also the 
selection of a place for the next meeting. 
Invitations were received to hold the next meeting at Nia¬ 
gara Falls, St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, and Boston. 
Wilder silver medals were awarded to George W. Campbell, 
Delaware, O., for the Campbell Early grape, and H. G. 
M’Pike, Alton, Ill., for the M’Pike grape. 
TRANSPORTATION RATES. 
At the St. Louis convention of the American Association, 
A. L. Brooke, North Topeka, chairman of the committee on 
transportation, urged the formation of a Southern Nursery¬ 
men’s Association. “ If you do not succeed the first year or 
two in obtaining relief,” said he, “you surely will by working 
on. Railway men are gentlemen. They are always glad to 
have you bring them information.” 
An illustration of the truth of Mr. Brooke’s remarks is the 
result of a meeting of the Gulf Coast Horticultural Associa¬ 
tion at League City, Tex., on August 7th. H. M. Stringfel- 
low, of Galveston, said the fruit growers must have better 
rates or go out of the business. To P. H. Goodwin, of the 
general freight department of the Gulf, Colorado and Sante 
Fe railroad, Mr. Stringfellow said : 
Please explain why it is that the potato which sells for $3 
per barrel should have a 35-cent rate and the pear which has 
been selling for $i per barrel should be charged a rate of 85 
cents.” This was not answered. 
R. T. Wheeler, of Hitchcock—“ Can you give any promise 
in the future of a cheaper rate and better transportation ?” 
Mr. Goodwin—“ Better rates, no ; better transportation, 
yes.” 
131 
Mr. Stringfellow—“ Your road ought to do something for 
the growers. When I started my peach orchard here the rail¬ 
road was not getting anything out of this country, and now it 
is getting thousands of dollars annually.” 
Mr. Goodwin—“ The railroads cannot live without the sup¬ 
port of the farming communities. We want your support if 
we can deserve it. We are neither of us here for our health. 
Unless we can get together in harmony, we can do no business 
together. If you cannot do business at the present rate it will 
be reduced to a point where you can do business, and we can 
furnish you transportation and each have a margin of profit.” 
NO SCALE IN WISCONSIN. 
Waupaca, Wis., Sept. 10.—Asa D. Barnes: ‘‘The San Jose 
scale bill was killed in our state legislature last winter owing 
to numerous attached unwarranted and uncalled for riders. 
No doubt but what a clean, straight bill could have been passed 
all right. Yet we have never had a San Jose scale in our state, 
except some specimens which were imported for inspection at 
our last winter’s meeting by parties particularly interested in 
the creating of an office of nursery and orchard inspector. 
“I believe that I am the owner of more apple trees to-day 
than any other man in this state, and certainly would be glad 
to see clean legislation on this matter, if it is really dangerous 
to our cold and short seasons—which I very much doubt.” 
NEW VARIETIES. 
Rossney Pear. —We received from the Pioneer Nurseries 
Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, samples of their Rossney pear. 
It is certainly a most desirable fruit. The pears were of hand¬ 
some form with creamy yellow skin and crimson blush, truly 
a tempting appearance. And when they were cut, one was 
impressed at once by the remarkably fine grain ; indeed, 
there seemed to be no grain. The flesh is melting, juicy and 
very sweet and tender. The .flavor is superior. We doubt 
that this pear can be excelled. The Rossney was raised from 
seed at Salt Lake City. It is medium to large, ripens two 
weeks after the Bartletts in Utah and is said to be an excel¬ 
lent keeper and shipper. The tree is said to be much stronger 
than Kieffer. Luther Burbank has spoken in high praise 
of it. 
Large Peach —J. O. Kelly & Sons, Jeff, Ala., sent us 
a sample of a peach of which they give no name nor descrip¬ 
tion. It was a remarkably large, fine appearing fruit measur¬ 
ing eleven inches in circumference. It was nearly round, with 
deep suture and pronounced flavor. But it had evidently 
been picked when quite green and it did. not ripen, so that 
we could judge nothing of its flavor. The flesh was deep 
yellow in color, red at the pit which was large. 
Campbell’s Early Grape. —We received from George S. 
Josselyn, Fredonia, N. Y., samples of Campbell’s Early grape. 
The fruit was from one year old vines planted in 1895 and 
this was the first year of bearing. Old exhibitors say they 
cannot get good clusters from first year bearing vines. In 
this case, however, the clusters were cf good size and the fruit 
is of fine flavor, very firm and evidently a good shipper. This 
grape is receiving, deservedly, high praise. 
