THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
245 
At the head of the list of papers to be presented is one by 
Prof. L. H. Bailey, entitled “ A Companion of Eastern and 
Pacific Coast Fruit Culture. ” Prof. Bailey has been for two 
months on the Pacific coast. There are other topics of in¬ 
terest to nurserymen. Biennial membership in the society 
may be had on payment of $2 to the secretary Wm. A. Taylor, 
Assistant Pomologist, Washington, D. C. 
A PITLESS PRUNE. 
And now it is the pitless prune ! We have had the coreless 
pear, the seedless blackberry, the seedless grape, and a long 
line of novelties which have borne out, in some measure at 
least, the claims made for them. Luther Burbank, the wizard 
of Santa Rosa, California, has been experimenting for several 
years in an effort to produce what would be to fruit-drying 
what the development of the Thompson seedless grape has 
been ta raisin-making. 
To Prof. L. H. Bailey of Cornell University, and Prof. 
Osterhont of the University of California, says the California 
Cultivator, Mr. Burbank recently showed many samples of his 
new prune, which was obtained by crossing the ordinary 
French prune with a plum. While there is not a pit in the 
fruit, there is a small seed, but it is not such that it need be 
extracted before drying. The seed is edible and is so small 
that the prune may be practically considered seedless. 
“It is a great thing for fruit men,” said Prof. Bailey ; “a 
wonderful discovery. This latest discovery ought to create a 
sensation among eastern horticulturists.” 
Let the good work go on. Perhaps we shall soon have a 
rindless melon, shell-less nuts, pitless cherries, and—who shall 
say—a lifeless San Jose scale. 
HEARTILY ENDORSED. 
We heartily endorse the following editorial comment by the 
Rural New Yorker : 
\ 
The unimportant question as to whether one naval com¬ 
mander or another is entitled to more credit for the defeat of 
the Spanish war squadron off Santiago during the late war is 
to be fought out in an expensive court of inquiry, to the de¬ 
triment of public business. Judged by the commotion this 
dispute has occasioned one might think the question involved 
was vital to the public welfare, but when it is considered that 
the officers concerned were trained and educated at the ex¬ 
pense of the government, have received a liberal compensa¬ 
tion through a lifetime of preparation for just such a con¬ 
tingency, and since were both promoted to a rank that ensures 
ample pension on retirement, it seems nothing more can be 
due them. The spectacle of individuals doing fairly well their 
ordinary duty is not so rare that hysterics need follow. 
Myriads of workers in every humble walk in life do as well 
every day without comment or expectation of unusual reward. 
It would be more creditable and in keeping with modern 
ideas of civilization to find the public interested in a discus¬ 
sion whether the originator of the Concord grape, or of the 
Wealthy apple was deserving of the greater honor. These 
men fought the grimmest of all enemies, poverty and obscurity, 
with no hope of substantial reward, and left results of per¬ 
manent national value behind them, but even the names of 
these unselfish benefactors are known to few who profit by 
them. 
SUGGESTION TO NURSERYMEN. 
Prof. Samuel B. Green, St. Anthony Park, Minn., who 
recently visited European countries, tells of a custom that 
prevails among nurserymen and seedsmen in some of those 
countries, by which the public is a gainer, saysColman’s Rural 
World. “ Effort is made,” he sa> s, “ to get land that lies along 
a railway track, and then making it beautiful with a succession 
of flowering and foilage plants. Near by, of course, they will 
have a large but neat sign indicating whose establishment it is. 
This form of advertising seemed to be a special feature among 
English nurserymen, and a very pleasant feature it is. There 
is a dignity and high standard and truthfulness about such 
advertising which no printing will take the place of. When 
such places are by the side of some suburban line that is-pat¬ 
ronized by hundreds of thousands of people daily, many of 
whom come to note the frequent changes in landscape effects 
produced during the season, I am inclined to think it a very 
desirable form of advertising.” 
T. S. HUBBARD BACK FROM EUROPE. 
T. S. Hubbard, of Genesee, returned July 4th on the 
Deutschland from a four and one half months’ oriental tour. 
Mr. Hubbard spent a month in Egypt going up the Nile as far 
as the second cataract; a month in Palestine going by horse¬ 
back in a three weeks camping tour from Jerusalem to Damas¬ 
cus and thence via Baalbec to Beyrout ; a week along the 
eastern coast and among the islands of the Mediterranean, 
stopping at several points including Smyrna, Tarsus, Isle of 
Rhodes, and thence to Athens. 
About a week’s time was spent each in Athens, Florence, 
Venice, Rome, Switzerland and Paris, and two weeks in Lon¬ 
don. He reports a very enjoyable and profitable tour. Mr. 
Hubbard’s health is not at all good at present, but he hopes 
after a period of rest that it may improve. 
FLORISTS’ CONVENTION. 
The seventeenth annual convention of the American Society 
of Florists was held in Buffalo, August 6—8. President 
O’Mara delivered an address reviewing the work of the year. 
Secretary Stewart reported a membership of 734. Treasurer 
Beatty reported receipts of $3,000.45, balance on hand 
$2,023.25 and $1,425.17 in the permanent fund. Reports 
were made by state vice presidents. The society’s charter 
obtained from the United States government was accepted. 
In the discussion of the new constitution and by-laws, articled ; 
relating to the matter of co-operative societies, was provoca¬ 
tive of much discussion, which at times became quite heated; 
but the matter was finally disposed of by striking out the entire 
article, and the appointment of a committee of five, to be 
named by the president later, to redraft this article on the 
lines of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and other 
bodies having working sections. 
It was decided to meet at Asheville, N. C., next year, that 
place receiving 70 votes; Milwaukee was the choice of 66 , 
Nashville 2 . The following officers were elected: President, 
John Burton, Chestnut Hill, Pa.; vice-president, J. W. C. 
Deake, Asheville, N. C.; secretary, William J. Stewart, Boston; 
treasurer, H. B. Beatty, Oil City, Pa. 
