THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
52 
terially to encourage people to plant such orchards. Nurserymen 
who sell through agents can also keep these agents posted and 
give them good information on the profits of orcharding in the 
sections in which they are working. There is always plenty of 
good data to be had, and if we would simply get it together and 
get it in shape so that the agents can use it,—if these agents 
are sent circular letters or bulletins occasionally, giving some 
real figures on what has been accomplished and what might be 
done, undoubtedly they would use such information to good ad¬ 
vantage. 
The nurseryman should advise himself as to the best and 
most up-to-date orchard practices. He should know varieties so 
that he can at least identify the principal ones. He should be 
able to advise intelligently as to the most profitable varieties 
for each part of his territory. He should also be in a position 
to advise relative to cultivation, pruning and spraying, and if he 
sells through agents he should pass such information on to them 
so far as possible and practical. A nurseryman and his repre¬ 
sentatives who are in a position to talk commercial orchard 
problems intelligently will do considerably more to stimulate 
orchard planting and will undoubtedly get more of the commer¬ 
cial orchard business. Such information should point out the 
requirements for success, and it should help to combat the gos¬ 
sip and misunderstanding of those who say “It don’t pay to plant 
orchards.” It has paid in the past and I have confidence in the 
future. 
CONFLUENCE ON FERTILIZER PRORLEMS 
Department of Agriculture Officials and Manufacturers 
Hold Conference 
A meeting of about fifty members of the Department 
of Agricuture and of the National Fertilizer Association 
was held in Washington January 6, following the sug¬ 
gestion of the Association’s Soil Improvement Commit¬ 
tee that an exchange of views and ideas would help 
them in solving some of their present problems. 
After Secretary Wallace had opened the conference 
with a mention of the matters which ought to be con¬ 
sidered by it, C. H. MacDowell and W. D. Huntington 
of the Association presented some of the dominant ques¬ 
tions which are occupying the industry’s attention. The 
credit situation, the industry’s efforts to adjust itself to 
changed conditions, freight rates, the farmers’ own diffi¬ 
culties and the need for improved fertilizer distributing 
machinery were among the points touched on Mr. Hunt¬ 
ington spoke particularly about the industry’s stand in 
favor of high analysis fertilizers and appealed for the 
support of all Government and State agencies in promo¬ 
ting their use in preference to low analysis goods. 
The Department’s work and views on these matters 
were presented by several men who are in close touch 
with the current situation. W. II. Waggaman of the 
Bureau of Soils suggested the possibilities in replacing 
sulphuric acid with phosphoric acid in the manufacture 
of fertilizer and of other interesting phases of the in¬ 
vestigations being made in that direction. Dr. Oswald 
Schreiner of the Bureau of Plant Industry spoke par¬ 
ticularly of the experimental work being done on var¬ 
ious important crops under commercial conditions while 
Dr. 11. C. Taylor. Chief of the Bureau of Markets and 
Crop Estimates brought to the conference some suggest¬ 
ions of practical importance in meeting some of the ex¬ 
isting difficulties. 
L. F. DINTLEMAN. Belleville, III. 
Specialist in Peony Growing, Who Made an Address Before 
the Illinois Nurserymen 
TRANSPLANTING LARGE TREES 
Mr. Stephen Hoyt, nurseryman, of New Canaan, 
Conn., appeared before the students of the nursery 
course at Massachusetts Agricultural College on Jan¬ 
uary 17th and discussed his methods of transplanting 
large trees. This is a branch of the work in which Mr. 
Hoyt’s nurseries have specialized for a number of years 
and have achieved notable success. Mr. Hoyt explained 
his method, both of handling large trees 12-18 inches in 
diameter, and smaller trees. The small ones are usually 
handled with canvas, while the larger ones are dug and 
transported without burlaping but with large balls of 
earth. Mr. Hoyt prefers to do this work during the 
spring months, but has accomplished many successful 
removals during the fall months and even during the 
summer when trees were in foliage. This sort of trans¬ 
planting is more successful with deciduous species. Mr. 
Hoyt does not recommend the transplanting of very 
large evergreens and prefers the early spring months 
for that work. 
The Pin Oak can be transplanted very successfully 
though the Red .Oak is hard to handle, and the White 
Oak difficult also. The Beech transplants well, contrary 
to a common belief. The Dogwood also transplants well. 
After care during the first two years after transplant¬ 
ing is exceedingly important. Most of the losses in 
transplanting trees are due to negligence at this time, 
especially during the second year. Newly transplanted 
large trees should be handled, watered and fed like 
potted plants. All transplanted trees should be headed 
back and thinned out at the time of transplanting in or¬ 
der to bring the tops into balance with the roots. 
Work of this kind is very expensive and liberal 
charges must be made or business will show a loss at 
the end of the year. The usual price for transplanting 
large trees is from $100 up. When trees are guaranteed 
to live 50% should be added to the charge. 
