256 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
THE PACIFIC COAST ASSOCIATION OF NURSERY¬ 
MEN, BURTON, WASHINGTON 
The twentieth annual convention of the Pacific Coast 
Association of Nurserymen held in Portland, Oregon. July 
11-13, was attended by members of the Association from 
the states of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, 
Utah, New Hampshire and Province of British Columbia, 
besides visitors from other states. 
Co-operation, progress and development in all essen¬ 
tials was in evidence from the past year’s efforts, the poli¬ 
cies and the methods of operation affirmed and plans out¬ 
lined to further increase the measure of service through 
the association in a manner mutually helpful to each and 
all members. 
Continued efforts to stabilize the nursery business dur¬ 
ing the past year is showing satisfactory results. Sur¬ 
veys made during the fall of 1921 served to determine 
more definitely the market value of nursery stock, demon¬ 
strated more particularly with Italian prune. During the 
spring of 1922 a complete survey of the entire Pacific 
Coast was made, results indicating for the coming plant¬ 
ing season that in Italian prune the supply is nearly up to 
normal. French prune and other varieties of prune, plum 
and cherry, below normal about 20 per cent. Peach, pear 
and apricot on the entire Pacific Coast are all below nor¬ 
mal supply 20 to 25 per cent. In apple the present esti¬ 
mate crop is about one and a quarter million trees, which 
is as nearly normal as can be determined at this time. 
Early in the spring the survey indicated an excessive 
proposed apple plant in the Yakima valley. When this 
condition was revealed to nurserymen in that vicinity 
they promptly met and voluntarily reduced the proposed 
bud list about 25 per cent. 
In ornamentals the survey showed that supply has not 
kept up with demand. A considerable number are now 
propagating young plants but the total which will develop 
to suitable shapes and sizes in three to five years is not 
likely to surpass the requirements of the planting public, 
as the ratio of increase in ornamental planting is greater 
than with fruit stocks and unless the regular established 
nurseries keep the productions within reasonable propor¬ 
tion of the increasing demand, outsiders are likely to 
break into the game in a manner to cause uncertainty 
and disappointment to themselves, to nurserymen and the 
public generally. 
Rased on these surveys and the final factor of supply 
and demand, the market value of nursery stock necessar¬ 
ily must be about the same as last year’s values, esti¬ 
mated on prices at which stock cleaned up and the cost 
to replace, which values obtain regardless of the price 
any one or more nurseries may choose for selling. The 
factor of cost of production will cause decrease in the 
market value of apple, perhaps 10 to 15 per cent, because 
supply is more nearly normal, hence from the business 
view point, supply and demand becomes the secondary 
factor to determine market value of apple trees. 
While it is too early to estimate definitely, from gen¬ 
eral observations, it now appears that seedlings for next 
year’s plants of the various classes will be a little below 
normal. With co-operation on the part of all members 
of the Association to carry on these surveys we are thus 
solving the problem of how best to secure normal produc¬ 
tions in relation to supply and demand and to determine 
market values, timely information which can only be 
obtained for the larger and smaller nursery plants fair 
alike to all when there are general united efforts. 
To grade fruit stocks more satisfactorily, for all con¬ 
cerned, caliper will govern rather than height and new 
grading cards specifying the modified standards will be 
sent out in time for grading. Vigor of stocks, accuracy 
in methods and cleanliness from pests must be strictly 
observed to maintain the standard of dependable nur¬ 
sery products. Nurserymen are urged to watch, carefully, 
their plants during the growing season for appearance 
of any injurious insect or fungus disease and to request 
the presence for inspection and advice, of the local horti¬ 
cultural inspector for any needed cause, or if in doubt 
as to any infestation, before digging time. 
The association urges members to exhibit at agricul¬ 
tural fairs, to assist in disseminating information regard¬ 
ing plants and planting in every practical way; to avoid 
any and all unfair, extravagant and misleading state¬ 
ments in any form of advertising; to observe utmost en¬ 
deavor to eliminate sales arguments based on personali¬ 
ties, trade differences or any other unfair competition 
tending to injure individuals, firms or lower the stand¬ 
ards of the vocation. 
Nursery firms who are retailing to planters at whole¬ 
sale prices will bear in mind that by so doing they deprive 
other nurseries from taking their surplus on the basis 
of payment at wholesale rate, plus cost of retailing and 
a fair profit margin. 
Also, unless producing nurseries who sell to dealers, 
generally known as price cutters, get full cash payment 
before delivery, they are likely, sooner or later, to “hold 
the sack” for any unpaid balance, because in the nursery 
business price cutting is generally indicative of unsound 
business methods. A successful nurseryman states the 
best remedy tried to cure dealers of the price cutting habit 
is to allow margin only equal to salesman’s commission 
and when necessary demand security. The cash deposit 
with order plan on all sales will be continued so far as 
practicable. 
Entertainment and hospitality on the part of the people 
of Portland were both elaborate and of practial educa¬ 
tional value, particularly when about 100 guests were 
served with a delicious luncheon at the Weed Landscape 
Nursery and shown through the various plants of Oregon 
Nursery Co., Steele’s Pansy Gardens, Portland Rose Nur¬ 
sery, Clark Bros. Floral Co., Mountain View Floral Co., 
the Villa and Portland Wholesale Nurseries; refresh¬ 
ments bountifully supplied. 
The convention city for 1923 is Boise, Idaho. 
President Weed held the convention in line, strictly for 
highest attainments from start to finish. 
The officers elected to serve for the ensuing year are 
President, Chas. T. Hawkes, Caldwell, Idaho; secretary, 
C. A. Tonneson. Burton, Washington. 
