THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
147 
“Make-Good” catalogues is the title of a book from the 
J. Horace McFarland Organizations, Harrisburg, Pa. Most 
nurserymen have seen the work of this company at some time 
or other and few there are but what would admit that it 
ranks high. In fact, nursery advertising men claim they can 
recognize this company’s work without their signature. If 
any criticism can be given, it is because it is of such a high 
standard as to become monotonous. The book before us 
shows color work in a Mu.skmelon that is satisfying in every 
way except the taste, and from the looks of things this can be 
taken for granted. The color work in the Japanese and 
American Iris are so true that it seems a shame to put so 
much labor upon books that are merely used for six months 
or a year and then thrown away. 
We have before us a catalogue issued by B. K. Bliss & 
Sons, 20 Murray Street, New York, N. Y., in 1872, and for 
comparison sake some of the colored plates of that day were 
compared with the McFarland’s work. The comparison 
shows the remarkable strides that have been made in this art, 
and much of it is undoubtedly due to such as the McFarland 
Organizations, Harrisburg, Pa. 
Congressional distribution of seeds was ended by the 
Senate, February 27 th by eliminating from the Agricultural 
appropriation bill the provision appropriating $256,100.00 for 
that purpose. 
General catalogue of The Storrs & Harrison Company, 
Spring 1913 is before us. On the cover it features Gladiolus 
America in colors, and Anemone Queen Charlotte. This firm 
is one of the very few concerns that carry a complete line of 
what one may designate “Everything for the Garden and 
Grounds.” While perhaps they are more extensively known 
as nurserymen, as indicated by their catalogue they must do a 
large business in vegetable and flower seeds, exotic and green¬ 
house plants, bulbs, hardy perennials. In fact they are 
nurserymen, seedsmen and florists. They have 1,200 acres 
under cultivation, 45 large greenhouses, storage cellars and 
packing houses covering over an acre, and a record of fifty- 
nine years of steady growth shows a business built on good 
foundations. 
We have before us a copy of the State Crop Pest law as 
passed by the legislature of West Virginia, February 21st, 
1913, to take effect from its passage, approved by the 
Governor, February 26th, 1913. The new bill as passed by 
the legislature is practically the same as previously. The 
changes are very minor. A copy of the new law may be 
obtained upon application to W. E. Rumsey, Morgantown, 
West Virginia. 
One of the most attractive catalogues that have come 
before us this spring, is that of the Palisades Nurseries. It is 
most unusual in size for a catalogue, being more like a maga¬ 
zine, but this perha])s adds to its distinguished appearance. 
It is principally Herbaceous Perennials, although apparently 
listing Shrubs, Roses, Evergreens, Trees, etc., at the end. It 
is copiously illustrated and well arranged and carries a very 
complete collection. 
COST OF PRODUCTION 
The following report was received from the Purdue Uni¬ 
versity Agricultural Experiment Station. Fair estimates 
show that it will cost in the neighborhood of $5.50 per acre to 
grow a crop of oats, not counting anything for land rental. 
In fact, the statistics gathered in 1905 from farmers over the 
State give the average cost of producing an acre of oats as 
$5.53. If we add to this sum $5.00 for rent of land, the pro¬ 
duction cost amounts to $10.53 per acre. We readily see 
that the returns are entirely used up in paying for raising the 
average crop. Some are certainly making a profit, while 
many more are as certainly losing money when they raise this 
crop under present conditions. Evidently nursery stock is 
not the only kind of which the cost of production is not 
known, and very often sold below cost. It would seem as if 
the cost of such a crop as oats could very readily be deter¬ 
mined, and there would be little excuse for the farmer losing 
money on this crop after he once knew what his cost of 
production was. 
CIRCASSIAN WALNUT FOR FORESTRY PURPOSES 
The United States, says the Department of Agriculture, 
is probably the largest consumer of Circassian walnut, one 
of the world’s best known and most expensive cabinet woods. 
The high cost of Circassian walnut is due to the scarcity 
of the beautifully figured variety demanded for furniture 
and interior finish, for the tree itself is more widely dis¬ 
tributed than almost any other of commercial importance. 
The demand for the best wood, however, has always out¬ 
run the supply. Even in the eighteenth century, when 
wars in Europe were frequent, so much Circassian walnut 
was used for gunstocks that the supply was seriously de¬ 
pleted. Early in the nineteenth century the wood of 12,000 
trees was used for this purpose alone. Single trees, con¬ 
taining choice burls or fine bird’s-eye figures have sold for 
more than $3,000. 
The tree is native to the eastern slopes of the Caucasus 
and ranges eastward to the foothills of the Himalaya Mount¬ 
ains, from which it extends southward to northern India 
and the mountains of upper Burma. It has been widely 
planted in Europe and the United States, in this country 
under the name of English walnut. The wood grown here, 
however, has not the qualities demanded by the cabinet 
and furniture maker. Much of the Circassian walnut now 
used comes from the Black Sea and from other parts of Asia. 
According to a circular just issued by the Forest Service 
the demand for Circassian walnut has resulted in the sub¬ 
stitution of other woods. Our own red gum is often sold 
as Circassian walnut, and butternut is also similar in general 
appearance to the less highly figured grades. Many good 
African, Asian, and South American woods resemble Circas¬ 
sian walnut, though none possesses the magnificent figure, 
delicate tones, and velvety texture of the latter. The 
circular discusses the supply and uses of Circassian walnut, 
and those who wish to know how possible substitutes may 
be distinguished can learn from this circular the distinctive 
marks wMch the Government’s experts have discovered. 
