266 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
IN THE SOUTH. 
Demand for Sursery Stock Unusually Heavy This Year—Elberta 
Craze Worse Than Ever—Millions of This Variety Would Have 
Been Planted Had Supply Been Equal to Demand—Prices 
of Some Stock Advanced—Shortage In Some Lines. 
Augusta, Ga., Oct. io—L. A. Berckmans of P. J. Berckmans 
Co : “The demand for the general line of nursery stock is 
unusually heavy this year. 
“The ‘ Elberta craze’ is worse than ever. Had the supply 
of this variety been equal to the demand, there would have 
been millions of this variety planted in the South this season. 
Fortunately the supply was not equal to the demand; in fact, 
the demand for all of the leading varieties of market peaches 
is unprecedentedly large this season. The remunerative prices 
obtained for the Georgia peach this year is the cause of this 
unusual demand. Of course, many of the planters who are 
totally inexperienced in commercial peach culture will make a 
financial failure of their venture, as many persons think the 
peach tree has only to be planted and allowed to ‘hustle’ for 
itself and bring dollars to his pocket. The essentials to 
commercial peach culture are proper location and varieties, 
a knowledge of horticulture, perseverance and capital. 
“ Prices of some lines of nursery stock have been advanced 
over last year’s. There is a shortage in commercial varieties 
of peaches, cherries, some varieties of apples and pears. At 
present we see no prospect of an advancement upon present 
prices of nursery stock. Pecans are being planted on an 
extensive scale. Our state entomologist, Prof. W. M. Scott, is 
working hard to protect the fruit industry from insect and 
fungus depredations; and he has saved the horticulturists and 
farmers of this state thousands of dollars since he has taken 
charge of the entomological work.” 
SECRETS IN HORTICULTURE. 
In a recent issue of the proceedings of the Columbus, Ohio, 
Horticultural Society is an article by W. J. Green on the 
subject of secrets in horticulture, to which the attention of 
nurserymen is directed. He says : 
“My earliest lessons in horticulture were in the nursery, 
orchard and garden, in the arts of propagation of trees and 
plants and in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. A desire 
for more extended knowledge than could be acquired at home 
brought me in contact with experts in various branches of 
horticulture. The ease with which such knowledge could be 
secured, because of the willingness of men of experience to 
impart information, was somewhat surprising. There was 
soon found to be a difference between men of the various 
branches of horticulture, however ; in such branches as had be¬ 
come fully Americanized there appeared to be no secrets : all 
seemed to be open and free to every seeker after knowledge. 
At that time floriculture, and much that pertained to landscape 
gardening was, in my section, largely in the hands of foreigners. 
Among this class there were so-called secrets, and one not of 
the craft often found it difficult to get information. 
“ Explanations, when made, were often mystifying. There 
was an evident attempt to make simple processes appear diffi¬ 
cult, and to magnify the skill of the successful propagator and 
grower. 
“ It appeared to me in those days as though florists were a 
conceited set, puffed up by a little success and spoiled by 
too much deference and flattery. This generalization was too 
broad, as I soon learned, but it was my lot to early make the 
acquaintance of some who seemed to think that a knowledge 
of plants and their culture ought not to become generally dis¬ 
seminated. 
“ This feeling among florists has now largely passed away, 
due very much to the inflnence of Peter Henderson and a 
class of men that has arisen since his time. Barry and Hen¬ 
derson have taught, and manv other noted horticulturists 
have shown by example, that they held the belief that there 
ought to be no secrets in horticulture. 
“It has been an avowed tenet among the foremost in the art 
that free knowledge of horticulture is best for all concerned. 
What one man knows is not of less value to him because he 
shares it with another. To share such knowledge freely and 
ungrudgingly means not only that the experience of others 
maybe freely given in return, but that all horticultural workers 
will be benefited. There ought to be no horticultural secrets, 
for only by a general diffusion of knowledge can there be 
progress. If one could build about his premises a Chinese 
wall, taking care to shut out all advanced ideas from other 
sources, as well as to guard his own discoveries, he would soon 
find himself lagging in the rear of progress. 
“ One makes a serious mistake if he supposes that he can 
keep pace with the progress of the art without the assistance 
of others, and it is almost as great an error to think it possible 
to guard a secret. The conviction has become so strong that 
the individual is under greater obligations to the public 
than the public is to the individual, that but little considera¬ 
tion is shown one who is unwilling to share his discoveries 
with others. It is true that this doctrine may be carried too 
far. The public may ask too much of the individual, when it 
requests him to give up everything, in the way of discovery, 
without compensation. This is seldom expected, however ; 
some things, like new varieties, have a market value, and the 
public is not unwilling to pay the price. It is true that the 
price is often ridiculously low, far below the real value, but 
this is because of the bad reputation and questionable methods 
of dealers in such wares. 
“If these dealers, and even originators, of new varieties, had 
not practiced deception and followed loose methods so often, 
a really valuable variety might be worth something more than 
simply enough to reimburse the dealer for foisting it upon a 
long suffering public. The simple fact that such things have 
been made merchandise of, regardless of merit, has cheated 
the worthy originator out of his just dues. Undoubtedly the 
time has come when there must be reform in methods of intro¬ 
ducing varieties or the public must take them as the miller 
would uncleaned wheat or the weaver unwashed wool, at a 
valuation which allows for shrinkage. The public is not to 
blame for this depreciation, and the elder Barry was not far 
from right in believing that a law, similar to patent right laws, 
protecting new varieties, is not desirable. 
“ The discussion of this feature is not really germane to the 
subject, however, and would obscure the thoughts intended to 
be expressed if carried out fully. The central thought which 
I wish to express is that every one, including both those in and 
out of horticultural work is more benefitted by a general pro¬ 
gress in horticulture than he can possibly be by the applica- 
