44 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
IIS THE EAST . 
Summary of Conditions of Spring Trade — Large Increase in 
Business — Plantings Probably Increased—Wholesale Prices 
May Be Advanced on Cherry and European Plum — 
Dansville Reports Heavy Catalogue Trade — 
Season Extended. 
Geneva, N. Y., April 20.—The R. G. Chase Company : 
“ We have had a most excellent spring’s business, and stock 
with us has been nicely cleaned up. With our new plant we 
were enabled to endure the past season without any discom¬ 
fort. 
“We look for a good year. Will plant about our usual 
amount of stock, namely, 50 acres. We expect to see whole¬ 
sale prices somewhat reduced in some lines, especially apple 
and peach, but consider that plums and cherries will hold 
nearly to what they have been the past year. 
“ Stock in the nursery has survived the winter in excellent 
shape, and with a good growing season we expect to see some 
very fine blocks.” 
Newark, N. Y., April 22.—Jackson & Perkins Co.: “Busi¬ 
ness this spring has been a record-breaker with us. We have 
shipped out nearly 50 per cent, more than any previous spring. 
The season here was exactly what we would have asked for if 
we could have had it made to order. The frost was out of the 
ground soon after the 1st of March, but the weather remained 
cold enough so that stock remained dormant until well up to 
the latter part of April. In fact, we are still shipping out lit¬ 
tle lots of some items.” 
Rochester, N. Y. April 24.—Brown Brothers Co.: “The 
season’s trade has been excellent. It has been a late, cool sea¬ 
son so that our late business, both in wholesale and retail, has 
been very heavy, in fact better than ever before. Our total 
shipments, in all departments, are much heavier than usual. 
We think there is a large amount of stock being planted this 
spring. Merchantable stock has been cleaned up quite closely. 
“ Cherry, European plums and possibly some other things, 
we think, are going to be higher another year.” 
Dreshertown, Pa., April 28.—Thomas B. Meehan & Sons: 
“ Our spring season opened up some ten days earlier than 
usual this year, and we had beautiful weather for work. Busi¬ 
ness was heavier this season than we have ever experienced 
it, and while the aggregate of stock shipped out was consider¬ 
ably in excess, yet we do not think there were quite as many 
very large orders as usual. A week or ten days of constant 
rain during the middle of April put us back considerably in 
our shipments. Otherwise, we have no reason to complain of 
the weather. We are still shipping orders received from day 
to day at this date (April 28th), and the prospects are that 
these small orders will continue for a week or ten days. 
“ While we opened the season with a larger stock than usual, 
yet everything has been pretty well cleaned up. Some of our 
staple lines, like Hydrangea P. G., did not sell as well as usual, 
and we have some surplus of these, but Viburnum plicatum, 
red-flowered Dogwood, and some of the other prominent lines 
in our work were cleaned up almost before the season fairly 
started. 
“Our plantings this year will be a little more extensive than 
usual. Reports in this section indicate a very satisfactory con¬ 
dition of affairs among nurserymen.” 
Morrisville, Pa., April 20.—S. C. Moon : “ Business is 
good and I hope the season is not more than half through yet. 
Last month was warm, but at present we are favored with cool 
weather and business is increasing rather than diminishing. 
Evergreens are in good demand. New planting about as 
usual. 
Dansville, N. Y., April 24. —James M. Kennedy: “We 
have had a very early spring. We commenced digging and 
shipping the first week in March, and at the present time we 
are practically all through digging and shipping in the whole¬ 
sale and agents’ trade. The catalogue trade is very busy and 
will be for ten days or two weeks. The wholesale and agents’ 
trade was all that could be expected. Trees were never in 
better demand and at good prices. We had to turn away or¬ 
ders on account of the scarcity. Every salable tree will be 
disposed of, no matter what variety or grade, at good prices. 
Some varieties it was impossible to procure at any price. 
“ The catalogue trade did a good business a year ago; but this 
year will be a record breaker, as we will do double the busi¬ 
ness of a year ago. 
“ Our planting this spring will be about the usual amount 
Nursery stock has never wintered better. Collections have 
been good up to this writing. We have our usual supply of 
apple, cherry, plum, quince and pears for next fall and spring 
delivery. 
“ We think on the whole a cheerful outlook presents itself 
for a few more years, which the nurserymen will appreciate.” 
Rochester, N. Y., April 25— John Charlton & Sons : “ We 
think our trade for spring of 1903 has been up to the usual 
standard. We, however, doubt very much if as much business 
was done as was contemplated to be done in early winter, and 
think some may have been disappointed at the amount of their 
sales. 
“ Dealers (not growers) had the largest lists of surplus stocks 
to throw on the markets we have ever seen before. Still the 
most of these offerings were disposed of. This, however, 
shows their retail sales were not as large as was expected. 
“ There are some surplusses of apples, pears and peaches left 
on hand. The stocks of sweet cherries were completely ex¬ 
hausted. Plums, perhaps, were enough to satisfy the demand. 
No shortage in pears but Bartlett and Seckel. 
“ It has been a remarkable spring for packing nursery stock, 
no severe freezings occurring after digging commenced ; cool 
and pleasant. Orders still coming in, owing to the cool, favor¬ 
able season.” 
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS FOR THE FLORISTS. 
The executive board of the Society of American Florists, 
preparing for the annual convention in Milwaukee in August, 
discussed the question of how to keep members interested in 
the work of the society while in session and it was finally de- 
cieed that the president be authorized to appoint a sergeant- 
at-arms with two assistants, whose duty it shall be to enforce 
the rules regarding the management of the trade exhibition, to 
insure as far as possible prompt and full attendance at the ses¬ 
sions and maintain order in and about the convention. 
