THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
189 
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. 
Spring Sales Satisfactory—Number One Apple Trees Sold at 
Highest Prices In Years—Plant In Apple Graft Reduced— 
Shortage of Peach -Nurseries Cleaning Lp Close — Col¬ 
lections Reported Good—Season was Backward. 
North Topeka, Kans., April 13 —Peters & Skinner: 
“ With us trade has been brisk in the demand for peach and 
apple, in fact, business in all lines of stock was good, except¬ 
ing in plum and apricot, these are moving slowly. There 
seems to be a shortage of peach in the West, not enough to 
supply the demand. Nurseries here will clean up closer than 
they have for a number of years past. From present indica¬ 
tions we look for good collections.” 
Topeka, Kan., April 12 —F. W. Watson & Co.: “Spring 
sales have been very satisfactory. There has been a shortage 
in two year cherry and No. 1 peach—not enough to supply 
the demand. No. 1 apple trees have sold at highest prices in 
years, and no surplus to burn. There is a small surplus of the 
lighter grades of apple. Apricot slow sale. Plums, excepting 
the natives, surplus with low prices. Collections are good- 
The plant in apple grafts this spring, we believe, will not ex¬ 
ceed 70 per c£nt. of last year’s plant. More pear seed will 
be planted this spring than usual—especially Japan seed. 
About the usual amount of apple seed. One year cherry 
blocks have been dug close, which will cut the number of two 
year trees materially for next fall’s trade ” 
Ottawa, Kan., April 13— A. Willis: “The spring has been 
late and has been unfavorable for work almost beyond 
precedent as we have had in March considerable freeze-ups 
that checked work early and since the freeze-ups have ceased 
we have been delayed by snow and rain. Last week we only 
made about three days’ work, and this week we have had rain 
so as to make it exceedingly unfavorable for work. Last week 
on Monday we had at night about eight inches of snow on 
the ground besides what had melted. I think perhaps there 
was a fall of about a foot of snow and then when that went 
off, the ground was in a very bad fix to get around and pack 
trees. After that we had a big rain that lasted all day Friday 
and the worst thing about it all is we can’t plant. 
“But we have had a good trade and have got along, when all 
the difficulties are considered, well ; and while we have not 
yet received from collections what will enable us to judge 
to any extent what we will get, we hope for the best and 
we will say, as far as we can now, the amount of our trade for 
last fall and spring is about 15 per cent, more than for any 
year before. 
“The outlook at this time for trade for the year to come is, 
we think, a good average ; and as for planting, this is the first 
storm I ever saw that did not clear up. If we may judge from 
that, I think we will have the ground in time fit to plant and 
all will be well.” 
Louisiana, Mo., April 12 ,—Stark Brothers Nurseries and 
Orchards Co.: “We report the largest and most satisfactory 
season’s business in the history of our establishment. 
“Growing stock, also spring planting here and in our other 
nurseries, is in a favorable and promising condition. 
Shenandoah, I a., April 12.-D. S. Lake: “We have 
enjoyed a good spring business so tar, but we are not through 
as yet; I think, however, the spring trade will be good. 
“ There has been a weakening of prices and rather more 
surplus stock showing up than I supposed there would be; but 
on the whole, I look for a very satisfactory spring business, 
with fairly good prices and collections.” 
Geneva, Neb., April 18 —Youngers & Co.: “Trade has 
been exceptionally good, much better than last year. Prices 
have been somewhat higher on most lines of goods and col¬ 
lections are exceptionally prompt. The demand has been 
largely for the better grades of goods. There is quite a 
shortage in the West on cherries and Americana plums. There 
will be some surplus of European plums and the lighter grades 
of apples. Nearly all other lines of stock will be practically 
closed out in the West. 
“ The shortage on cherries has caused many western nur- 
nerymen to draw quite heavily on their one-year blocks, which 
will materially reduce the stock of cherries for next season. 
On the whole we regard the outlook for prices in the future 
very encouraging, at least for the next year. 
“The demand for grafts and propagating stocks would in¬ 
dicate a rather heavier plant than usual. Conditions during 
the fall and winter have been very favorable. Young stock 
has come through in splendid condition, and with the abund¬ 
ance of moisture all over the West, we look for a {.ood stand 
and a good growth the coming season.” 
Shenandoah, Ia., April 19. —E. S. Welch: “We are 
through with the heaviest part of our spring business, but 
have a good many orders to fill yet. Are receiving lots of 
rush orders, which keeps us quite busy with our planting and 
other work in addition. Piices have held up well, and collec¬ 
tions up to the present time have been as good as we could 
expect. I think that collections for the entire season will 
average better than for several years. 
“ The volume of business with us this year will exceed that 
of any former year. Cherry and native plum have been in 
the strongest demand of any staple lines. We will clean up 
very closely, taking into account the quantity and assortment 
of stock that we carry. Our heaviest surplus of stock will be 
of pear and small grades of apple. 
“Another very pleasant feature is that stock on the whole 
has given excellent satisfaction, customeis, as a rule, being 
well pleased. We will increase our planting some, except on 
apple, of which we are not planting quite as heavy as we did 
last year. 
“ We have had muddy, disagreeable weather for working, 
but it has been favorable for the handling of stock.” 
SCALE EASILY CONTROLLED. 
Deveraux Emmett, St. James, Long Island, writing to 
American Gardening, says : 
Although I have more or less “ scale ” through my fruit trees and 
my big willow trees around my place are full of it, I have no difficulty 
in keeping it in check at small expense. I wash all my trees with 
strong whale suds up as far as we can reach about April 1. Also spray 
with weak whale oil solution (10 lbs. soap to 40 gallons water) once 
early in April and once about July 6, when scale is breeding. In 
autumn, if any trees show much scale, wash again and also spray. 
This whole work ouly takes a day or so in a year. It amuses me to 
hear of the wholesale slaughter of affected trees in Ohio and elsewhere 
when it is easy to light the scale. It will spread back into the re¬ 
planted orchards from shade trees, and birds carry it on their feet. I 
use au ordinary Gould spraying pump with nozzle. 
