264 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
HIGHER PRICES IIS SPRIISG. 
The Outlook on Peach, Small Fruits, and First Class Apple Trees 
—Demand Continued After Stock Had Been Cleaned Up in 
Many Cases—Plums Were Disappointing—Good Growing 
Season and Easy Digging Conditions, 
Bridgeville, Del., Oct. 9.—Myer & Son : “ We are much 
pleased to be able to report so favorably on fall sales, which 
are larger on peach than for many years to the planters ; in 
fact, we have sold very few at wholesale, and will only have a 
surplus of some sorts, as we expect a large retail trade in 
the spring. Our collection is so far unbroken, but there will 
be a shortage of some of the leading yellow varieties, such as 
Elberta, Crawford, late, Reeves’ Favorite, and Chair’s Choice. 
Apple stock in fair demand ; Keiffer pear slow sale. Black¬ 
berries and raspberries in good demand. Prices are ruling 
good on all lines, and will no doubt be higher in spring on 
peach stock, owing to the shortage on this line all over the 
country.” 
Geneva, N. Y., Oct. 8. —W. & T. Smith Company : “ From 
present indications we will have a heavy fall digging. We are 
just fairly under way at the present time. The abundant 
rains which we have had have made digging fairly easy for this 
time of the year, but stock in general is quite green. From 
the present outlook, trade is just as brisk as last year.” 
Fredonia, N. Y., Oct. 9.— T. S. Hubbard Co.: “Trade 
thus far this fall with us has been satisfactory, although per¬ 
haps not quite up to last year. Our correspondence indicates 
about the usual demand and we look for a large winter and 
spring trade. Prices have been about the same as last year, 
but the supply of stock in our special line is not as large as a 
year ago and we anticipate a shortage in some varieties of 
grape vines, currants and gooseberries before the close of the 
season, with an advance in prices on some of the leading 
kinds. It is too early yet to report on collections or the 
amount of planting next year.” 
West Chester, Pa., Oct. 8. —Hoopes, Bro. & Thomas : 
“We can report our fall sales so far as rather better than 
usual, and believe that when spring comes around, all desirable 
stock will be taken up. Collections this past spring were 
mostly good, but it is too early to say how they will be this 
autumn. We make our plantings about the same each year in 
proportion to our sales, so as not to have a large surplus.” 
Morrisvii.le, Pa., Oct. 10.—Samuel C. Moon : “ We have 
had a fine growing season and all kinds of ornamental stock is 
in good condition and in abundance for usual demands, but 
not much surplus stock in this section. The weather is still 
warm and we have had but very little frost yet. Foliage is 
still full and green, and stock is not yet in proper condition 
for digging ; consequently orders are not coming in as freely as 
in some past seasons, but from what we can see and learn of 
the market, we are anticipating a good fall trade and an 
unusually heavy trade for spring, 1902. 
“ Our young stock did remarkably well the past summer and 
we have a fine offering of ornamental seedlings and small sizes 
for nursery planting. 
“ As I do not raise or handle fruit stock I cannot tell much 
about it in this section. The fruit crop in general in this 
locality has been only medium in quantity and quality this 
season, but prices have been higher than usual.” 
Atlantic, Iowa, Oct. 16 —Silas Wilson: “We have had fine 
fall rains here that have put the ground in fine condition for 
fall digging of trees and plants. Trade is good and stock gen¬ 
erally very fine; the demand for planting in the upper Missis¬ 
sippi valley is good. Fruit growers have to some extent at 
least forgotten their bad loss of two years ago. Native plum 
trees and cherry trees are scarce, and I believe now that all 
kinds of stock will be sold very close before spring trade is 
over. 
“ Farm crops are good and prices for all kinds of crops are 
very remunerative. If you don’t want to sell a farm, you had 
better not offer it for sale. Peach crop in Southwestern Iowa 
was very heavy this year. I think the outlook for good win¬ 
ter’s business was never better.” 
Newark, N. Y., Oct. 21 —Jackson & Perkins Co.: “It is a 
little early yet to give a very accurate report of this fall’s 
trade. For this date we think it has been very good, indeed, 
and that there will be a decided shortage of nearly all kinds of 
stock before spring. As far as we are personally concerned, 
we think we never had so large a proportion of our stock 
engaged at this time of the year, as we have at the present 
time. 
“It appears pretty evident that peaches will be exceedingly 
short before spring; roses also, especially standard varieties of 
H. P.’s are exceedingly scarce and some kinds will, we think, 
be almost unobtainable at any price. It is almost the same 
way with clematis. We think there are very few lines of stock, 
with the possible exception of plums and pears, that are in over 
supply this season. Cherries seem to be a trifle easier than for 
the past year or two, but are still well up in price and in 
strong demand. 
“It is, of course, too early yet, to say much about collec¬ 
tions, as few accounts fall due before the first of December.” 
Add In West _ 
KANSAS APPLE ORCHARDS. 
In marked contrast to the conditions in the East, where the 
apple crop is considered practically nil, is the following story 
from Kansas, as told in the Kansas City “Journal” under a 
September date: 
B. F. Coombs of Kansas City has refused an offer of $50,000 for the 
apples he has hanging on his apple trees in Kansas. The proposition 
was made by C. O. McDonald, representing Patrick Gleason of Le Roy, 
N. Y., who is known as the “ Apple King.” Mr. McDonald indicated 
that he expected the deal to be made, but Mr. Coombs stated still later 
that he had decided not to accept the offer. 
“ I have concluded, after careful investigation,” he said, “ that my 
crop will be worth several thousand dollars more than the amount is 
proposed to give.” 
Mr. McDonald expressed the opinion, after visiting twelve apple 
growing states, that Mr. Coombs’ crop this year will be more valuable 
than that of any other man. He has 640 acres of apples at Parker, 
Kan.; 500 acres at Lane, Kan.; and 460 acres at Willow Springs, Kan. 
It is estimated that his entire yield will exceed 30,000 barrels. He will 
harvest 40 carloads of Jonathans alone. No other man in the world 
will have so many. His trees vary in age from 7 to 14 years and in¬ 
clude the Jonathan, Ben Davis, Winsap, Missouri Pippin and a few 
other varieties. 
Mr. Gleason, whom Mr. McDonald represents, handled 253,000 bar. 
rels—$1,000,000 worth—of the kind of fruits last year. He has cold 
storage facilities this year for 300,000 barrels and expects to handle 
that many. 
W. H. Roedeii, Oseola, Mo., August, 28. 1901.—“I enclose $1 
for National Nurseryman, I can’t do without it. ” 
