352 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
Mr. J. F. Litooy, secretary of the association, talked of 
orchard planting not overdone. East of the mountains 
only 25 per cent of the trees planted were ever commercially 
profitable. Under-irrigation perhaps 50 per cent of the trees 
planted were ultimately productive. Mr. Litooy thought 
that for two years there would be lessened commercial 
planting. Within five years we might feel sure that the 
apple orchardist would have production and distribution 
so well in hand as to be very profitable and then, largely 
increased planting. In the judgment of Mr. Litooy, the 
central sale association will ultimately supervise the growing, 
grading and packing. 
Mr. John U. McPherson, state inspector, urged concerted 
action that should make the state responsible for the expense 
of inspecting nursery stock just the same as the state now 
pays the expense of orchard inspection. He believed that 
if the attention of the legislature was called to the question, 
the equity of this method would be apparent. Mr. McPher¬ 
son stated that whereas two years ago there were one hundred 
and twenty-three nurserymen there are now only fifty-four. 
Most of the farmer nurser3rmen have dropped out. Mr. 
McPherson also suggested that the records of his depart¬ 
ment clearly indicated that certain nurseries used Idaho as 
a dumping ground for nursery stock they would not attempt 
to sell at home. Mentioned one case where a planter paid 
cash in advance for 7000 Italian prune trees and succeeded 
in making only 300 of them to grow. In the judgment of 
Mr. McPherson, it would be wise for the society to appoint 
a committee to review the records of this department and 
take such action as might be considered judicious. 
Papers and discussions occupied the morning and the 
afternoon session. The Payette nurserymen entertained 
the society at dinner at 7:30 in the evening with social 
functions following. 
RAMBLING NOTES ON TREE SEEDS 
Many kinds of ornamental trees and shrub seed are now 
ripening up and should be gathered and stored away until 
the proper time comes for sowing. 
In the case of evergreens the majority of them are better 
sown in the spring but there are one or two kinds such as 
the Mahonia aquifolia, M. Japonica and Caroliniana 
that are as well sown as soon as ripe. Most of the ever¬ 
greens sown in the spring come up fairly soon but in some 
instances like the Junipers they do not germinate until the 
spring following their sowing. 
Among the deciduous trees most of the Maples should 
be sown as soon as ripe. This also is true of the White Oak, 
Quercus alba. These acorns are very difficult to keep as 
they start to sprout so very readily. Most of the other 
aeoms can be kept over if properly stored in a cool, dry cellar 
in sand. They can then be sown the following spring. 
Hiekory nuts, with the exception of the Pecan nut, Carya 
olivaeformis, should be sown in the fall as soon as ripe. 
When the large seeds of trees, like the Beech, Pyrus and 
nut trees, are sown in the fall there is the ever present danger 
of mice and other vermin eating them so precautions will 
have to be taken against these pests. 
While it is impossible to specify the exact depth to which 
the seed should be sown, it is a good plan to cover them 
about the depth of their own diameter, but this, of course, 
varies according to whether the soil is heavy or light. Noth¬ 
ing but experience will teach how they should be handled. 
No attempt should be made to cover very fine seed except 
by brushing it with the back of a shovel after it has been 
spread on the ground. 
A good cover for seed beds is a sash made out of inch lath. 
These sash must be close enough to the ground to keep birds 
away and in the case of evergreens must come pff as soon as 
the seed sprouts or every plant will rot or damp off for want 
of sunlight. They may be replaced when they are hardened 
off a little bit but just at the germinating period particular 
attention must be given. 
Very hard shell seeds such as the Locust, Kentucky Coffee, 
CelUs and small seed like asparagus can be hurried along by 
soaking a few days or even longer in water before sowing 
JOINT COMMITTEE ON UNIFORM HORTICULTURAL 
LAWS 
Orenco, Ore., June 30, 1913. 
Dear Sir: 
A resolution, of which the enclosed is a copy, was passed 
without a dissenting vote by the joint convention of the 
American and Pacific Coast Nurserymen, held in Portland, 
Ore., June i6th to 20th, inclusive. The following standing 
committee was appointed to take charge of the work: 
Wm. Pitkin, Rochester, N. Y., Chairman; Peter Youngers, 
Geneva, Nebraska, Treasurer; M. McDonald, Orenco, Ore. 
Immediately following the passing of the resolution, and 
the appointment of the committee, a subscription list was 
passed and members subscribed for the amounts set opposite 
their names, per enclosed copy. It was agreed that this 
subscription list should be sent out to all nurserymen in the 
United States immediately, requesting their subscription to 
be forwarded either to Mr. John Hall, Rochester, N. Y., 
secretary of the American Association; or Mr. C. A. Tonne- 
son, Tacoma, Wash., secretary of the Pacific Coast Asso¬ 
ciation, who will forward the amount to Mr. Peter Youngers, 
of Geneva, Nebraska, treasurer of the American Association, 
who will act as treasurer of the fund. 
The committee was appointed only after the most 
thorough and exhaustive discussion of the subject by mem¬ 
bers of the joint convention who realized the great need of 
bringing about harmonious co-operation among the various 
and diverse horticultural interests of the different states, 
and looking towards a uniform law that will foster, conserve 
and protect all of the horticultural interests of the United 
States. 
Realizing that it will take both time and money to bring 
about this condition, which will require the united action 
and the support of all the horticultural interests of this 
country, you are respectfully requested and urged to make 
a subscription to this fund to the end that this long expected 
work may be carried to a successful finish, under the auspices 
af the two great nursery associations of the United States. 
Just at the close of the Portland convention the writer 
was requested to send out this appeal to all nurserymen in 
