THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
135 
“Budded or Grafted Trees vs. Seedlings/’ was spoken of 
at some length by H. E. Van Dcman of Washington, D. C. 
The variation of seedlings from the parent tree are very 
great with the pecan, as with many other trees; and usually 
for the worst, with the choice varieties. 
Prof. J. T. Stinson invited the association to hold the next 
meeting at the Exposition in St. Louis and it was decided to 
do so. 
PROFESSOR ALWOOD REPLIES. 
Referring to the criticism of the Virginia nursery inspection 
law by State Vice-president K. Morton, Prof. W. B. Alwood, 
of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, at Blacksburg, Va., 
says, in a communication to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, 
that it has always been his opinion that a tax of $20 would 
work a great injustice to the small nurserymen and that he so 
expressed himself before the State Horticultural Society last 
December. He favors a minimum charge of $5. Prof. 
Alwood continues: 
As to this correspondent’s assertions that no nurseryman would 
let his stock become infested with San Jose scale or other pests, I 
think it fair to say that unfortunately a large number of nurserymen 
have permitted their stock to become infested with the San Jose scale 
and some other pests. Among this number are found the very best 
nurserymen in America, and the records of my office will show that 
the very best nurserymen in Virginia, and in all the Eastern States 
for that matter, realize fully the propriety of the inspection of nurs¬ 
eries and the condemnation and destruction of infested stock. Not¬ 
withstanding this correspondent’s sarcastic remarks about the “paid 
entomologists,” the very best nurserymen in Virginia and the Eastern 
States have repeatedly written to this office for advice and assistance 
whereby they might keep their nursery stock free from pests. As 
proof of the value of our advice, I may say that practically every nurs¬ 
eryman in the Eastern United States is now fumigating his stock before 
shipment, which I first introduced into the system of nursery work, by 
enforcing fumigation in the Virginia nurseries, in order to protect 
planters from the San Jose scale and the wooly aphis. 
The Virginia State Horticultural Society will meet at 
Pulaski, Va., Dec. 2-3, and will no doubt frame a bill to be 
presented to the State legislature now in session, either mod¬ 
ifying or repealing last year’s measure which requires a license 
fee of $20 annually from every nursery salesman. 
The protest made by Vice-President K. Morton, of the 
American Association of Nurserymen, as published in the 
November issue of the National Nurseryman, has called 
forth a long explanation from those who are responsible for 
what the nurserymen of Virginia term a drastic measure. 
Secretary Walter Whately of the Horticultural Society, 
heartily endorses all that Mr. Morton has said on the subject. 
TWELVE PIES FROM ONE LEMON. 
Up-to-Date Farming offers as a premium to subscribers 
the “American Wonder Lemon, also called Ponderosa Lemon.” 
The publishers say: 
This is a true, everbearing variety of lemon. On a tree six feet high, 
89 mammoth lemons were growing at one time. At the same time the 
tree was blooming and had fruit in all stages of growth. It was a beau¬ 
tiful sight. It blooms and bears fruit when quite young. Lemons have 
grown to weigh four pounds, but the average is about two pounds, and 
in this respect is the most wonderful lemon grown. It is not uncom¬ 
mon to make twelve pies from a single lemon. As a house plant it is 
most decorative. 
GIVING AWAY SEEDS 
The Department of Agriculture has begun its annual dis¬ 
tribution and the process of giving away seeds to whomsoever 
applies will continue for a period of about four months. Each 
congressman is allowed 12,500 packages of garden seeds in 
five varieties, and 500 packages of flower seeds. The pack¬ 
ages will be distributed upon receipt from the congressmen of 
the proper addresses. In addition to this allotment the 
Department itself will distribute the mere bagatelle of 700,000 
packages, the bulk of which will go to its voluntary crop cor¬ 
respondents, and weather observers scattered over the entire 
country. 
A bill has been introduced in Congress to do away with 
the seed distribution. It is extremely doubtful that it will 
be passed. Nurserymen are directly interested because the 
Department of Agriculture is now giving away trees and 
plants. 
THAT VEGETABLE PEACH. 
Regarding the “vegetable peach” to which reference was 
made in these columns recently, Luther Burbank writes to 
the California Fruit Grower: 
The “vegetable peach” referred to is without doubt one of the Figari 
or “pocket” melons of Europe. This, and the Chito melon, often 
called Orange or Pomegranate melon, are varieties of Cycumis melo 
which is of African origin. The vines resemble the common musk 
melon, but are more slender. The abundantly produced fragrant 
fruit is often used for mangoes, but is hardly edible until cooked. 
These melons have been grown as curiosities in America for very 
nearly half a century. Their beauty and fragrance seem to be the best 
apology for continued existence. 
The Colusa, Cal., Sun, says: 
This vegetable resembles a lime in color and shape, but is the size of 
a large melon. The skin is very thin and when cut in half resembles a 
musk melon, the center being filled with seeds. It also has a slight 
musk melon flavor. Vegetable peach, however, is evidently a mis¬ 
nomer, for neither in color, shape or flavor does it resemble a peach, but 
has a strong leaning toward the apple. 
Iborticultural fffeeetinos. 
Maine Pomological Society —At Auburn, November 10, one 
thousand fruit plates shown. Z. A. Gilbert, president; D. H. Knowlton, 
Farmington, secretary. 
Massachusetts Horticultural. —At Boston, November 14, Ap¬ 
propriated $6,050 for prizes. Dr. H. P. Walcott, president; W. P. 
Rich, secret ary. 
Coming Events —West Virginia, Wheeling, December 1,2; Missouri, 
Columbia, December 1 , 3; Minnesota, Minneapolis, December 1 , 4; 
Virginia, Pulaski City, December 2, 3; Indiana, Indianapolis, Decern 
ber 2, 3; Iowa, Des Moines, December 8, 11; Connecticut, Hartford, 
December 9; Western Nurserymen, Kansas City, Mo., December 15; 
Illinois, Champaign, December 16, 18; Kansas, Topeka, December 28, 
31; New York Fruit, Geneva, January 6 , 7; New Jersey, Trenton, January 
7, 8 ; Maryland, Baltimore, January 14, 15; Nebraska, Lincoln, Jan¬ 
uary 19, 21; Eastern Nurserymen, Rochester, N. Y., January 20; 
Rhode Island, Providence, January 20; Peninsula, Cambridge, Md., 
January 20, 22; Western New York, Rochester, January 27, 28; Carna¬ 
tion, Detroit, March 3; Massachusetts Fruit Growers, Worcester, March 
9, 10; Mississippi Valley Apple, Quincy, Ill, March 25. 
Western New York Nursery Co., Rochester, N. Y.—“The Na¬ 
tional Nurseryman is O. K. We enclose $1.” 
