THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
162 
SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION. 
I'he second annual meeting of the Southwestern Nursery¬ 
men’s Association was held in Oklahoma City, January 29 - 30 , 
The meeting was well attended and subjects of practical 
interest were discussed. It was stated at this meeting that 
Oklahoma is growing as much nursery stock as any other area 
of the same size west of the big river. There are thirty-three 
growers of nursery stock in Oklahoma and all are intending to 
plant heavily this spring. A new firm is starting this spring 
by the planting of 15 acres in a general line at Union 5 
Oklahoma. The proprietors are F. F. Ferguson & Sons and 
the place is to be known as the Southwestern Nursery. 
Perry’s Nursery Co. is erecting and will have in use by 
planting time another large pump and engine for irrigating 
purposes. This time the water is to come from the North 
Canadian river and in such quantities as to be used from the 
pump direct. This company has an extensive irrigating plant 
on the upland where they use wind power and pump into 
reservoirs. A. A. Johnson and A. S. Perry are the proprietors. 
The Southwestern Nurserymen’s Association elected the 
following officers: President, J. A. Taylor, Wynnewood> 
Indian Territory ; vice-president, J. W. Preston, Kingfisher, 
Oklahoma Territory; secretary and treasurer, C. A. McNabb> 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Territory. 
ACTIVITY AT AUGUSTA, GA. 
The close of the old year found P. J. Berckmans Co. ship¬ 
ping a consignment of trees and plants to South Africa. It 
was an unusually large order, taking thirty men ten days to 
execute it. This was a fitting wind-up to a most prosperous 
fall business. Roses and the handsome Biota aurea nana head 
the list for record sales. More than 20,000 of this pretty conifer 
were shipped from these nurseries the past season, and, as 
evidence of its popularity, more orders are on file than it is 
possible to fill just now. Some 75 , 000 , in various stages of 
growth, are coming along, so there is no danger of the stock 
becoming extinct for awhile. 
A new biota (B. japonica filiformis) will become very popu¬ 
lar. It has a spiral and spreading habit, of a filmy nature, 
most graceful. In new ligustrums, I noted L. marginata aurea 
macrophylla, and excelsum superbum, all very fine, the last 
named particularly so—large foliage, well and evenly marked. 
It is doubtful if these plants are hardy north of Washington, 
although L. amorensis, which was considered a half-hardy 
plant, is doing well as far north as Newport, R. I. Citrus 
trifoliata is increasing in favor as a hedge plant ; it is proof 
against the attacks of any animal ; one introduction suffices. 
As I gazed at a noble specimen of the green holly which was 
literally smothered in scarlet berries, I pictured it in some of 
our New York stores. What a furore it would create ! This 
grand old tree has stood in the same spot for forty-five years, 
and is the pride of its foster parent, P. J. Berckmans, Sr. 
The new century was ushered in with consignments to Cuba 
and Porto Rico, also a big shipment to Bombay, India., 
Among the varied assortment was every kind of nut tree, 
largely pecans. Home trade is not overlooked in the rush. 
At time of my visit, Robert Berckmans was leaving for 
Charleston, S. C., to see about planting 165 acres which will 
form the exposition grounds. The stoneless peach is in big 
demand. At the fruit farm, situated a few miles southwest, 
close upon 40,000 trees of this kind are planted out. Before 
closing these notes, I must not forget to mention the climbing 
Soupert rose, which is a fine thing. The flower is similar to 
the old variety, but the plant blooms freer and in clusters, the 
habit being very rampa»t. That pretty bouvardia-like plant, 
Pentos lanceolata, stands the hot sun here, and blooms freely 
throughout the entire summer. Swainsona galegifolia has 
proven hardy here during the past winter.— Florists’ Exchange. 
COMMENT ON W. N. Y. MEETING. 
Country Gentlemen —“The official inspection of nursery stock 
seems to have become a settled affair in our fruit-growing industries. 
Nearly all the states have provided for such inspections, and Canadian 
legislation has been peculiarly drastic. The odd thing about it, 
apparently, is that the nurserymen are, as a class, strongly in favor of 
these inspection laws —quite as much so as the fruit-planters. The 
Country Gentlemen has insisted from the beginning, however, the 
interests of the nurserymen and tree-planters were one ; and it is a 
special gratification to us therefore, to find the result so soon justifying 
our contention.” 
Rural New Yorker —“The people are modifying their views 
regarding the scale and fumigation, and this is no time for the nur¬ 
serymen to adopt such methods in order to keep fruit growers quiet. 
The society finally agreed to ask for an appropriation of $25,000 with 
which the Commissioner of Agriculture will enforce the present law. 
Let this law be honestly enforced, and if it does not answer let us have 
one that will do the work. The nurserymen must not get the idea that 
they are the only ones to be considered in this matter. The fruit 
growers have far more at stake, and any effort to stifle their views at 
public meetings should be sternly condemned.” 
American Agriculturist —“ The animated discussion by the 
Western New York Horticultural society last week should not cause a 
division in the organization. The society is the most powerful and 
influential body of horticulturists in this country, if not in the world. 
The San Jose scale question which seemed to divide the organization 
can be amicably adjusted. The society will lose much of its prestige 
as a factor in American horticulture should a division occur and some 
plan should be perfected for a fair and lasting settlement of the differ¬ 
ences between nurserymen and fruit growers. The San Jose scale 
question is without doubt one of the most important subjects confront¬ 
ing American horticulture to-day. Fumigation of nursery stock to 
control the scale is a simple and inexpensive operation. Once this fact is 
understood, nurserymen who now regard disinfection as a great hard¬ 
ship will be among the first to favor it. This has already been the 
experience in other sections. Certain progressive nurserymen are 
installing outfits for the pu-rpose.” 
American Gardening —“It is regrettable to notice that another 
scare regarding San Jose scale is being energetically worked up by 
excited fruit growers and politicians in New York state. The indica. 
tions are that a number of gentlemen, otherwise considered sane, have 
gone clean crazy on the subject of legislation touching the eradication 
of this scale. To calm outsiders it would look as though a number of 
enthusiasts stay up of nights thinking about Albany and the almost 
almighty power of the legislative body that meets in that city. 
“All the legislation in the world will not eradicate the San Jose 
scale; and there is not the slightest doubt that the evil will right 
itself providing the workers take the necessary precautions and assist 
in the eradication. And this can be done without legislation. 
“Compulsory fumigation in the State of New York means a great 
deal. It means the tying up of a huge amount of capital and the ruin 
of a large industry; furthermore if the agitation be continued and 
these gentlemen only cry out loud enough and long enough, their 
voices will also be heard in the foreign markets of which they talk so 
much and so glibly and which they cannot for one minute do without. 
We say their voices will be heard in these markets and the echo will 
bring back the refrain, ‘Y'ou are pest ridden ; we must legislate to 
keep your vile fruit out of our country.’ ” 
