140 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
Formerly the seeds were put into the envelopes with 
spoons by a large force of girls. Now machines are used 
which fill and seal the packets automatically, each ma¬ 
chine turning out from 25,000 to 35,000 a day. 
Phi la. Ledger. 
SHORTAGES 
At this season of the year the nurseryman when fill¬ 
ing his orders, is often acutely reminded there are 
shortages in certain lines of stock in his nursery, and 
makes mental notes or the other kind, to remedy them 
for another year. 
His efforts to do so often reveal they are scarce in 
other nurseries too. 
When this condition reveals itself in other lines of 
merchandise, conditions are soon remedied. Manufac¬ 
tures soon speed up production to supply the demand. 
We had a good illustration of this during the war in 
ships, guns and everything necessary to carry on the 
war. what previously took months to produce under 
the stress of necessity was produced in weeks or even 
days. 
If the war had been fought with bearing apple trees 
or a general line of nursery products, it would have been 
a different story. It is true the production of nursery 
stock can be increased to any extent as regards quan¬ 
tity, but in time of production only to a very limited 
degree. 
All the labor, science and wealth of the world cannot 
produce an eight year old tree in less than eight years. 
It is perhaps a foolish kind of statement to make be¬ 
cause it is a fact that is patent to everyone. Yet our 
crude, hand to mouth system of supplying the demand, 
or perhaps it would be better to say “needs” of the 
country in nursery products, would indicate there was 
an unlimited supply somewhere, or else they were 
among the unesentials and could be done without if 
there was none available. 
Some might argue that shortages are good things, 
they tend to raise prices and create an urgent demand. 
They may in some items essential to life, but they are a 
poor thing with which to develope a market. 
A large steady consumption is best insured by a great 
popular interest and desire which is readily satisfied. 
Supply precedes demand. 
A DANGEROUS PRACTICE 
Independence, Kansas, February 8. 1922. 
Editor National Nurseryman, 
Flourtown, Penna. 
Please permit me to call the attention of your readers 
to the dangerous practice of throwing hoards down with 
nails sticking from them, and leaving them laying 
around, a constant danger to barefoot children or any¬ 
one with worn thin shoe soles. 
This is a very common habit and causes many deaths 
from Tetanus or Lockjaw unless attended to promptly 
and skillfully. 
RETTER RE SAFE THAN SORRY 
Yours truly, 
NEWS NOTES 
A committee on arrangements of the American Asso¬ 
ciation lias secured the Wolverine Hotel, Detroit, 
Michigan, as headquarters for the convention, June 21- 
23. 
A recent inquiry in the National Nurseryman for 
graft wrapping machines brought out the information 
that it was invented by W. H. Bell, now manager of the 
Huntsville Wholesale Nurseries, Huntsville, Ala. 
Mr. Rell sold his right in the machine to Homer L. 
Read, Louisiana, Mo., who now manufactures them. 
New York State Certificates 
Owing to the fact that the statute pertaining to nur¬ 
sery investigation has had amendments made to it, cer¬ 
tificates which will be issued after the first of Septem¬ 
ber. 1922. will be materially changed. 
Nurserymen having large quantities of printing made 
in advance of their requirements will be interested in 
this change and should get in touch with George W. 
Atwood, Director of Bureau of Plant Industry. Albany, 
N. Y. 
W. Pfaender, Jr., New Ulm, Minnesota, claims to 
have a wonderful new pear seedling especially adapted 
for the Northwest. 
The tree stands exposed to the full sweep of the north 
west winds and has never frozen back an inch in 17 
years. It has proved itself blight proof where named 
varieties standing near have died from the blight. 
The fruit is as large or larger than Bartlett, golden 
yellow in color when fully ripe and of good flavor. 
It was exhibited at the Minnesota State Horticultural 
Society, December 9, 1920 and was pronounced A1 
quality in every respect. 
Small trees will be available next fall and spring un¬ 
der the name of “Mendel Pear.” 
GOOD BUSINESS 
The shortage of hardy plants and gladiolus bulbs in 
general is noticeable now every day. Last summer’s dry, 
hot spells certainly took their toll in our line and the win¬ 
ter has not been the most favorable either. 
Conditions in the field, for shipping plants, have been 
deplorable at times this spring, even last night we had a 
good load oi solt snow, which of course has almost disap¬ 
peared. but just the same it causes a day delay and makes 
the field bad. 
Notwithstanding these conditions, we have been keep¬ 
ing up very nicely with the orders that have been pour¬ 
ing in since February. 
Thus far our business shows an increase of better than 
100 per cent, over last year’s total. We are satsfied. 
All advance orders for gladioli have gone out now. We 
have a fine stock of the leading varieties on hand yet, but 
indications are that we will be sold out sooner than other 
years. 
A. L. POTTER. 
Weller Nurseries Company, Inc. 
