4$ 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
CENTRAL STATES. 
Most Lines ot Stock Sold out Closely—Surplus of Some Kinds Due 
to Shortage In Winter Canvass on Account of Bad Roads. 
Most Nurseymen Were Sellers Early in the Season. 
Trade Picked up Later—Planting 
About as Usual. 
Bridgeport, Ind., April 20. —Albertson & Hobbs : “It is 
a little early yet for us to size up the season’s business, as we 
are just now completing the rush of our packing season, 
though are still shipping out more or less goods daily. Have 
not yet had a chance to do anything in the way of posting our 
books, or balancing up to see how business had been done 
or how it is coming out. 
“We know there is quite a little surplus stock on hand, of 
some lines rather more than usual. This is largely attributed 
to the shortage in winter canvass on account of roads, though 
we have apparently had a very satisfactory season’s business. 
Most lines of stock have been sold out very close, prices have 
remained very fair, and while there will be Some surplus stock 
in the country, do not think the nurserymen have much room 
for complaint; but can congratulate themselves on a good 
year’s business, and for prospects of an equally good business 
in the coming year at steady prices. 
“As to the planting this spring, our own planting will be 
about the same as last year, as we are keeping up about the 
regular planting, and we think the plantings of others in the 
state will be about the same as last year, except probably a 
little heavier planting by some of the smaller nurserymen. 
“The season has been very wet with us, and planting is going 
to be very late, having been delayed by the wet weather, most 
all of it yet to be done, and doubtless should it turn dry there 
will be a shrinkage in the stands, so we do not look for any 
extra amount of stock from this season’s planting. 
“Stock is, most of it, coming through the winter in good 
shape and is starting out very nicely, and we ought to have a 
good season’s growth. 
“Almost all ornamental lines have been sold very close and 
will be short for fall, but in fruit lines we think the supply for 
fall will be about as it has been for the past few years.” 
Xenia, Ohio, Apr. 20—McNary & Gaines : “A head end 
collision of March and April weather running on each other’s 
time disconcerted business to some extent. Trade opened up 
slowly as the result of the open winter and bad roads, condi¬ 
tions adverse to large retail sales. The trade has however, in 
the aggregate, been quite sufficient to use up the light supply 
remaining from a heavy business last fall, in most lines at 
least. Planting this spring is about normal. Prospects for 
fall business are exceedingly bright.” 
Phoneton, O., Apr. 20—N. H. Albaugh : “Last fall trees 
were in great demand, hereabouts, and at high prices. Most 
nurserymen laid in a good supply of all kinds. The winter 
was uncommonly bad for traveling salesmen; in many places the 
roads were impassable. When nurserymen sent out their ad¬ 
vance wholesale lists this spring, they received few responses, 
as nearly all nurserymen were sellers and not buyers. 
“Trade picked up, a little, later, but not enough to consume 
the general surplus. Probably more surplus nursery stock 
will remain over this spring than for several years past. About 
the same amount will be planted this spring as has been plant¬ 
ed for several years past.” 
Vincennes, Ind , Apr. 22—H. M. Simpson & Sons: “We 
have had a very good trade this spring and are pretty well 
cleaned up on all lines of stock. The outlook is very encour¬ 
aging and look for a good fall business unless something un¬ 
looked for occurs. 
“We are planting less apple and some more cherry than 
usual but the amount of planting in this section is about as 
usual we think. The weather has been exceedingly bad this 
spring and the incessant rains have delayed planting and much 
is yet to be done. The ground is far too wet to plant and we 
can only wait and pray for dry weather. Luckily we had a 
dry field and got the larger part of our plant in some time ago. 
Our stand of buds in peach and cherry is extra good.” 
Kalamazoo, Mich., Apr. 21—Charles A. Maxson, General 
Manager Central Mich. Nursery : “ In the midst of making 
the largest shipments this nursery has ever made, we are un¬ 
able to make a report that would be anything like comprehens¬ 
ive as regards to any surplus or shortage that we have at the 
present time. It is my opinion that the nurserymen of the 
United States should be in a very happy mood when they go to 
the beautiful convention city of Detroit in June for their 
annual convention. I suggest that each member wear a 
McKinley carnation and a ‘ J osslyn smile’ on that occasion as 
an evidence of ‘ Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward 
Men.’ ” 
©bituav\>. 
J. W. Withers, president of American Gardening Publishing Co., 
died in Jamaica on April 13. He was a gardener in England at one 
time. 
James J. Fromow, senior partner of the firm of W Fromow & Sons, 
of the Sutton Court Nursery, Chiswick, England, died March 13th, 
aged 48 years. He was especially interested in the firm’s branch nur¬ 
sery of 200 acres at Bagshot. 
William Fell died suddenly of syncope, at his home in Hexham, Eng., 
last month. Of him a writer in the Gardeners’ Chronicle, of London 
Eng., says : “ Mr. William Fell was very popular as a nurseryman, and 
highly respected by farmers, gardeners and foresters in the North; he 
was greatly esteemed because of the great interest he took in the forma, 
tion of the English Arboricultural Society, in whose interests he worked 
hard from its inception, and of which at the time of his death he was 
the senior vice-president. He, in conjunction with Mr. William Milne, 
bought the old established nursery and seed business of Mr. Joseph 
Robson, Hexham, and by his energy and business ability, he very soon 
developed it to an extraordinary extent, both in America, Ireland, the 
Isle of Man, and on the Continent, and perhaps no firm has ever sold, 
or been the means of distributing, so many of that well-known goose¬ 
berry, Whinham’s Industry, as it has done. In every other nursery 
department the same success was achieved. Some few years ago the 
firm was appointed royal seedsmen, and about three years ago it was 
turned into a limited liability company, so as to further extend their 
business connections abroad, with Mr. William Fell and Mr. William 
Milne as managing directors.” Mrs. Fell died seven years ago. Six 
sons survive. Mr. Fell was a member of the American Association of 
Nurserymen, the conventions of which he occasionally attended. 
DOLLAR’S WORTH IN EVERY ISSUE. 
J. W. Tetrick & Son, Blackwell, Okla., April 6, 1903— “ Enclosed 
find $1.00 money order for the National Nurseryman for another 
year. We find one dollar’s worth in every issue. We have had the best 
trade this spring in our history.” 
