THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
i8o 
Hmong the Sxpenmcnt Station 
Cdorkcrs 
The Hardy Catalpa in Iowa, Bulletin 120, Iowa State 
Experiment Station. 
This bulletin claims that the hardy catalpa is one of 
the best fence post trees that can be grown in Iowa. It 
reaches its best development in from 16 to 20 years, grow¬ 
ing in this time from 30 to 40 feet in height, with a diameter 
of from seven to eight inches. Such trees will cut three six 
and one-half foot posts. 
The author calls attention to the fact that the tree is not 
quite hardy in Iowa, and as a result of this, the terminal 
buds are killed back, resulting in deflection of the main 
stem, and more serious still, the decay of the affected 
portion. For this reason, the tree is not a satisfactory 
telephone or telegraph pole tree. It is recommended that 
one year seedlings be planted, and that these be set 6x6 
feet apart, given thorough cultivation, and protected 
from rabbits for the first two winters by the use of wooden 
shields. When the Crop is harvested in 15 or 16 years by 
cutting to a 12 to 15 inch stump, it may be expected that 
a second crop, arising from sprouts from the old stumps, 
may be secured. It is very important that the hardy 
catalpa should be used. This is the only one which will 
stand northern conditions, and the only one worth growing 
for post timber purposes. 
Orchard Heating, Press Bulletin 22, Iowa State Experi¬ 
ment Station. 
A great deal of interest is now being manifested in the 
possibility of warding off the injurious effects of frosts by 
heating devices applied directly to the orchard air. This 
circular discusses the kind of fuel to use and recommends 
oil as being cheaper in Iowa than coal. The equipment 
for coal heating, however, is cheaper than for oil. From 
seventy-five to one hundred twenty heaters are required 
per acre. The oil pots are filled by driving a tank wagon 
between the rows of pots, and depositing the oil by means 
of hose which carry it from the tank to the fire pot. The 
following estimate of cost of orchard heating is submitted. 
This estimate is for a ten-acre orchard with one hundred 
oil heaters to the acre. 
1,000 heaters at 20-45 cents each.$200 to $450 
3,000 to 6,000 gallons of oil at 3 cts per 
gal . $90 to 180 
Labor . S to 10 
Storage for oil . 5° "to 100 
Tank wagon ,. 15 to 25 
$360 to $765 
Contrasted with this is the cost of installing the coal heaters 
which is as follows: 
1,000 coal pots at 20 to 45 cents each. . . . $200 to $450 
20 to 40 tons of coal at $3.00 a ton. 60 to 120 
Coal house. 25 to 50 
Kindling and waste. 15 to 25 
$300 to $645 
Obituary 
WILLIAM WEBSTER 
On March 8, William Webster, who was believed to be 
the oldest landscape gardener and horticulturist in the 
country, died at Rochester, New York, at the age of 
ninety-four years. He came to America from England in 
1828, and had a prominent part in the construction of 
some of the noted places of beauty in this country. 
PROGRESS IN ALABAMA 
Nurserymen are having a picnic in this section, and a 
big acreage is now' being planted in fruits, principally 
peaches, but I think apples will lead next season. Stark 
Brothers of Missouri sent several boxes of select varieties 
of apples for free distribution at our State Horticultural 
meeting at Birmingham a few weeks since. This has 
started the ball in motion, as such fruit is rarely seen in 
the South, but I have seen some wonderful specimens 
grown on this mountain plateau without expert knowledge 
or care. A German banking firm has just bought 97,000 
acres in this section for settlement by Germans in forty- 
acre tracts. This will show what can be done under 
careful culture and up-to-date practice. 
Alabama. Thomas Brigden. 
PEACH SEED 
The possibility of getting natural seed, free from taint 
of “yellows” and other communicable diseases, seems to 
be getting more and more remote. In addition to the 
fact that Northern Nurserymen must secure their crop 
from points in the far South, in a region almost inaccessible, 
there are delays on the part of irresponsible railroads to 
be combatted, and last but not least, our interests must 
be placed in the hands of persons or concerns who do not 
seem to realize the prime importance of the proposition. 
Several times recently seed ordered in the middle of 
the summer and paid for in order to guarantee early 
delivery and permit of Fall planting, have not arrived until 
Winters “snowy pinions” filled the air—compelling the 
process of stratifying—unsatisfactory in this latitude. 
The worst is, however, that when we order “Natural 
Tennessee seed” it is likely to come from Virginia, or— 
Michigan! Some enterprising seed gatherer hailing from 
Oklahoma or thereabouts is, we understand, getting an 
option on Michigan canning factory outputs. 
Recently the writer ordered natural Tennessee seed 
and paid for it. Word came that that particular “brand” 
was all sold out, but natural North Carolina seed was just 
as good and could be furnished at the same price. So, we 
took that, but when the seed came it was Smock pits, 
advertised by the same seed gatherer at half the price of 
the seed paid for, and it took a year or two to get a rebate. 
Now, it seems to me, that it will pay nurserymen to 
howl, and howl good and loud, whenever they are victimized 
in this manner, and perhaps persistent, vociferous, and 
united protests will relieve the situation somewhat. 
Perhaps we are isolated instances, however. Perhaps? ! 
L. P. Thurston. 
