THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
1 12 
WHAT IS A SEEDLING ? 
Will a Tree Remain a Seedling Forever if not Previously Grafted 
Or Budded no Matter How Often Transplanted ? Does 
Botanical Classification Differ From 
Nurserymen’s Classification ? 
The following very pertinent and practical question was pre¬ 
sented a few days ago to the National Nurseryman for 
answer through the columns of this journal, and we would be 
pleased to publish answers as they are sent to us : 
Editor National Nurseryman : 
What is the correct classification from nurserymen’s commercial 
ruling of 1 year, 2 year, 3 or more years transplanted seedlings of 
evergreens, or fruit or ornamental trees ? Does the trade continue to 
call them seedlings, and will a tree remain a seedling forever if not 
previously grafted or budded, no matter how often transplanted ? We 
should like to know the exact and cor¬ 
rect nurserymen’s version of this. Does 
the botanical classification vary from 
the nurserymens’ classification ? 
August Rolker & Sons. 
New York, Aug. 22, 1902. 
Answers were received from the 
following : 
N. H. ALBAUGH. 
N. H. Albaugh, Phoneton, O.— 
“ Evergreens in seedbed are seed¬ 
lings. Evergreens transplanted 
and trimmed and shaped become 
nursery stock. The same rule 
would apply to deciduous orna¬ 
mental trees. Fruit trees, not 
budded or grafted, remain seed¬ 
lings ; otherwise nursery stock. 
Evergreens are seedlings when 
they stand in the seed bed, where 
the seed was sown. When they 
are taken up from the seedbed 
they go through a nurseryman’s 
process, the roots are shortened, 
and they are transplanted a certain 
distance apart in rows, and there 
cultivated and properly shaped. 
They thus become nursery stock, 
seedlings transplanted and budded 
IRVING ROUSE. 
Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 27.—Irving Rouse: “The paragraph 
relating to evergreen seedlings in the tariff act was placed 
there in deference to the wishes of the Western evergreen 
growers. They undoubtedly intended to cover, and our com¬ 
mittee so understood, all evergreen seedlings whether one, two 
or three year transplanted or not and in fact everything not 
large enough to be planted separately and called a tree. 
“The committee expected that an evergreen seedling large 
enough to be set out as a separate tree would no longer be 
classed as a seedling, but as nursery stock and dutiable at 25 
per cent, ad valorem.” 
PROF. L. H. BAILEY. 
Ithaca, N. Y., Aug. 27.—Professor L. H. Bailey: “I am not 
informed as to the technical use of the word seedling by 
nurserymen in their classification. 
The word seedling really means 
a plant which comes directly from 
the seed. In horticultural practice 
we use the term seedling for a 
plant which-comes directly from 
seed without the interposition of 
budding or grafting. We should 
not include in the term seedling, 
plants that are grown originally 
by other means, as by cuttings and 
layers. 
“ It makes no difference how old 
a tree is if it has been produced 
by seed and has not been budded 
or grafted ; it is still a seedling. 
“Botanists use the term in a 
somewhat different sense, how¬ 
ever. They employ it to designate 
young plants raised from seeds in 
distinction from those which have 
become well established. In this 
sense it is used in Sir John 
Lubbock’s great work on ‘ Seed¬ 
lings 
W. LEE WILSON, Deceased. 
Secretary Southern Nurserymens’ Association. 
as certainly as fruit tree 
or grafted ; as in each 
case they are changed by 
seryman.” 
the proper treatment by the nur- 
THOMAS B. MEEHAN. 
Dreshertown, Pa., Aug. 25.— Thomas B. Meehan: “ In my 
opinion an evergreen seedling ceases to be a seedling when it 
is transplanted into nursery rows. 
“In classifying the different seedlings in our Catalogue, we 
consider a seedling plant to be such, as long as it remains in 
the seed bed, but just as soon as we take it out of the original 
seed bed, and transplant it into a nursery row, it becomes a 
transplanted plant. 
“ It seems to me the point can be considered in no other 
way than this.” 
The announcement of the Pierson-Sefton Company, Jersey City, 
N.J., to design, manufacture and construct, high grade glass struc¬ 
tures for horticultural purposes, is of special interest to all nurserymen 
who have greenhouses which they expect to enlarge or who are about 
to construct such houses. This new stock company has new factories 
equipped with machinery of tbe most approved type and it is in a 
position to build a large amount of high grade work quickly, thor¬ 
oughly and economically. Mr. Lincoln Pierson has been secretary of 
the Lord & Burnham Co. for the past twelve years, having had charge 
of the architectural and sales department of that company. Mr. 
William Sefton has been superintendent of Hitchings & Co. for the 
past six years, having had charge of their manufacturing and con¬ 
struction department. During this period both have had a large and 
varied experience, having been responsible for the designing and con¬ 
struction of many of the largest and most notable glass structures in 
this country, including both park, private and commercial work. 
They have purchased the Paul M. Pierson patents, and have other 
patents pending which they declare will enable them to erect a very 
much better appearing and more durable structure than any of the 
existing types of houses now on the market. While they confidently 
believe they can build a better house than any of the old companies, 
they can also build any of the existing types equally as well and as 
cheaply. It would undoubtedly be of advantage to obtain their plans 
and estimates. 
