138 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
somewhat reduced, possibly the volume of business is a little 
greater. 
“Judging from present indications, our sales for delivery 
next spring will be larger than for several years past. We 
hear no complaints from our agents about hard times, but on 
the contrary every man seems to feel that the prospects are 
good for a satisfactory business during the fall and winter, and 
the sales for spring delivery are running away ahead of last 
year’s figures. We certainly feel that the worst has been passed 
and that the nurserymen are now on the road to business 
prosperity.” 
Dansville, N. Y., Oct. i8.—James M. Kennedy; “Early 
fall shipments has been very light here thus far, even lighter 
than a year ago at this date, and prices have been lower, in 
many cases below the cost of production. In the retail trade 
very little stock has been shipped yet. We anticipate a good 
late fall and spring trade after we get a good rain. I judge 
that about all the stock here will be pretty well used up by 
next spring’s trade, with the exception of standard pears. 
“As to the planting here next spring, very little, if any, 
seedlings thus far have been ordered. This is something 
unusual. And if prices do not advance ere long very few 
seedlings will be planted here, compared with former years. 
But we are confident that we will have better times before 
long. The nurserymen are waiting patiently. I trust by next 
spring I will be able to give a more favorable report.” 
THE COLUMBUS GOOSEBERRY. 
This is one of the most valuable introductions of recent 
years in small fruits, and it fully sustains the high opinion first 
formed of it, as will be seen from the reports given below from 
high and competent authority. It was introduced by Ellwan- 
ger & Barry a few years ago. The fruit is of largest size, hand¬ 
some, of a greenish yellow color, and the quality is excellent. 
The plant is vigorous and productive and does not mildew. 
It merits a place in every garden. 
The editor of the Rural New-Yorker says: “It is the hest variety yet 
introduced and seems close to a perfect gooseberry for our climate.” 
Again, in a later issue of the paper, he says: “There is little to be 
said that has not already been said respecting gooseberries at the rural 
grounds. Columbus is, this season, all that it was last. We have 
three bushels all laden—overladen—with large, smooth berries, as large 
as the average foreign kinds. There is not a trace of mildew upon 
either fruit or foliage, and the Columbus seems to us this year, as last, 
the best variety' in the market for those with whom the foreign kinds 
do not thrive.” 
From the Canadian Horticulturist a correspondent writes: “I planted 
this variety in the spring of 1893. They fruited that year, just enough 
to show the form and quality. This year the bushes were heavily 
loaded, and the fruit was of the best quality, very large in size, oval 
in shape, quite smooth, and greenish yellow in color. It is greatly 
superior to the Industry. No trace of mildew, and a most abundant 
bearer.” 
MICHIGAN LAW. 
The secretary of the Eastern Nurserymen’s Association, 
William Pitkin, is advised by U. P. Hedrick, inspector under 
the State Board of Agriculture of Michigan, that it is held by 
said board in relation to the nursery inspection law: “that 
only foreign nurserymen who sell stock in Michigan through 
agents can be required to give bonds and obtain a license, and 
that wholesale dealers are exempt from the bond and license, 
but will be required to affix an inspector’s certificate to every 
car, box, or bale of trees shipped into the state.” 
Hmono ©rowers anb IDealers. 
Howard Chase of Philadelphia, was in Geneva, N. Y., for 
the fall packing. 
C. S. Curtice, Portland, N. Y., was among visitors to Roch¬ 
ester nurserymen last month. 
P. J. Berckmans had a rare exhibit of southern fruit at the 
American Institute fair in New York. 
W. W. Woolen has announced his intention of presenting to 
Indianapolis 56 acres for a botanic garden. 
The Elizabeth Nursery Co. took first prize for hardy shrubs 
and conifers at the recent New Jersey state fair. 
Entomologist John P. Campbell has pronounced the Smith 
Brothers’, Concord, Ga., nurseries free from San Jose scale. 
William C. Wilson, the father of the florist’s trade as now 
conducted, died at Woodside, L. I., October 9, aged 70 years. 
The fortieth annual meeting of the Missouri State Horticul¬ 
tural Society will be held at Moberly, Mo., December 7, 8, 9. 
Premiums to the amount of $5,000 are to be distributed at 
the American Institute Fair, New York city, under the direc¬ 
tion of Dr. F. M. Hexamer. 
William Augustus Stiles, park commissioner of New York 
city, and managing editor of Garden and Forest, died on Octo¬ 
ber 6, in Jersey City, aged 60 years. 
Albert H. Herendeen who recently became a member of 
the firm of Sears, Henry & Co., Geneva, N. Y., has just been 
elected mayor of Geneva. 
N. L. Britton one of the editors of the “Illustrated Flora of 
of the Northern States and Canada,” has been elected presi¬ 
dent of the Botanical Society of America. 
Joseph M. Neil, a dealer in nursery stock at La Porte, In¬ 
diana, was sold out at constable’s sale, September 28th, to 
satisfy a claim for purchased nursery stock in the fall of 1896. 
W. H. Hartman and J. B. Morey, Jr., Dansville, N. Y., have 
patented a tree digger which was inspected last month by 
Lewis Chase of Rochester, and Charles E. Ilgenfritz of Mon¬ 
roe, Mich. 
Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y., were awarded six 
valuable medals for their exhibit of fruit at the Hamburg ex¬ 
hibition. Two of these medals are gold, two silver and two 
bronze, the total value of which is $100. 
Harrisons at Berlin, Md., offer to exchange peach trees 
grown from natural seed for 10,000 pear trees mostly Kieffer, 
and for 100,000 apple seedlings, 50,000 pear seedlings, 50,000 
Mariana plum seedlings. Peach can be delivered at once. 
The property owned by Briggs Bros. & Co., Rochester, N. 
Y., florists and seedsman, was seized last month to secure an 
indebtedness of '$30,000. The firm’s liabilities are estimated 
at $60,000. The failure is laid to the free seed distribution by 
the government. 
Samuel Miller, Bluffton, Mo., said this fall of the McPike 
grape : “ A basket of the above received Sept. 9th. One 
bunch weighs 13 ounces ; some berries are an inch in diameter. 
Thin skin, melting pulp, delicious flavor, small seeds, and but 
few of them, usually but two, sometimes three, and often but 
one in a berry. This grape would make a gallon of wine to 
ten pounds of the fruit, and as it is like the Worden, it will be a 
good wine. I can hardly conceive why such a valuable grape 
has been kept from the public so long.” 
