THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
183 
There are three subjects which, in our judgment, it 
would be very desirable to have presented and thoroughly 
discussed at this meeting. One is the much discussed topic 
of root gall in its relation to the health and productivity 
of fruit trees. Dr. Erwin F. Smith has presented the 
latest on this subject, and will be well qualified to give a 
paper. 
Another topic is the question of inspection of imported 
\ nursery stock. The views of government officials and 
nurserymen are not in accord on this question, and an open 
and above board discussion would probably do much to 
clear the atmosphere. Dr. L. O. Howard, United States 
Entomologist, is the man to present this subject. 
The third topic which, in our judgment, could be dis¬ 
cussed with much profit is the establishment of standard 
grades for nursery stock. If the American Association of 
Nurserymen should establish definite standards for the 
different grades covering fruits and ornamental trees, an 
important step would be taken. We have no suggestions 
as to the person or persons best qualified to prepare and 
present this topic, and leave it open for the consideration 
of the program committee. 
THE PROGRAM 
By Chairman Dayton 
For a great many years, I have heard considerable talk, 
that we ought to have at our Nurserymen’s Convention 
more discussions and more addresses on practical questions 
by nurserymen who are actually engaged in the business. 
I have been trying hard to work up a program along these 
lines, but guess the shot gun would be the only persuasion 
that could convince most nurserymen that it was their 
duty to talk in meeting. However, I think I have a 
pretty good list of practical nurserymen, such men as 
H.' P. Kelsey, J. M. and Wm. Pitkin, F. H. Stannard, 
Abner Hoopes, J. H. Maloney, T. J. Smith, C. J. Maloy, 
E. W. Kirkpatrick, H. C. Chase, E. S. Welch, T. B. Meehan, 
etc., to present subjects along the line of “Ethics of our 
Business,” “How to Extend Our Markets at Wholesale 
and Retail,” “Standardization of Prices at Wholesale and 
Retail,” “Mailing Lists, Should They Be Classified?” 
“Who Are Entitled to Trade Lists?”, “How Best Kept 
Up to Date?” “Should Large Buyers Not in the Trade, 
Such as Parks, Cemeteries, Public Institutions, etc., Be 
Given Trade Prices?” etc. 
My idea is to have each of these subjects handled by 
short papers or talks, to introduce them, by one or two 
men, and to have a large share of the Convention given up 
to discussions on such questions as the above, together 
with the discussions of reports of the committees. As 
you know, our President has appointed several new com¬ 
mittees this year, dealing with very important questions, 
all of which should be discussed by the Convention. It 
is hoped that every nurseryman who attends will come 
prepared to take part in the various discussions. 
There will also be papers'presented by Prof. S. J. Hunter, 
State Entomologist of Kansas, on “Nurserymen and 
Entomologists,” and Dr. J. C. Whitten, of the University 
of Missouri, on “Spring Versus Fall Planting of Fruit 
Trees.” Dr. Whitten has-been conducting experiments 
along this line for a number of years. 
The intention is to have^one long session each day, 
giving up the afternoons and evenings to the various 
Committees, Protective Associations, etc., and to the 
Entertainment Committee. J. H. Dayton. 
The influence of climate on varieties of 
CLIMATIC fruits adapted to different regions is 
INFLUENCES noticeable, no matter in what direction 
one may travel; but, of course, to a 
much less extent if his direction of movement is from 
east to west, than if he moves from north to south or vice 
versa. In proceeding in the first named direction the 
principal differences are exhibited through the require¬ 
ments of the maritime climate in contradistinction to 
those of the continental or interior regions. For instance, 
the requirements of the central Mississippi valley differ 
materially from those of the Pacific Coast in the same 
east and west line, and so it is in regard to the needs of 
the Atlantic seaboard. 
But after all there is a similarity, and we can trace a few 
varieties of apples from Atlantic to Pacific almost in a 
straight line. But reversing the direction of our line of 
travel, and moving from south to north, there is indeed a 
striking difference exhibited by a small change in latitude. 
The indigenous apples of the Carolinas differ markedly in 
characteristics from those of Virginia, and between Virginia 
and the east Atlantic seaboard there is another change. 
This variation goes on as the line of travel passes through 
New England and into Canada. In northern Vermont 
and eastern and southern Quebec there are very few varie¬ 
ties of apples, taking this as our class of fruit under examina¬ 
tion,that are similar in character to those found in Virginia, 
for instance. But even Quebec does not mark the possible 
northern limit, for we have recently been evolving a fruit 
list from Manitoba and the North West Territories. In 
the Canadian Horticulturist for April there are lists from 
Manitoba and lists from Saskatchewan. The Manitoba 
list does not contain a single eastern apple with the excep¬ 
tion of the Duchess, all of the others being Russian varie¬ 
ties, while the list from^Saskatchewan is made up ex¬ 
clusively of hybrids of the wild Siberian crab, Pyrus 
Baccata. As illustrating the rapidity of apple evolution 
in the effort to meet the needs of northern climates, it 
should be noted that the list given is comprised exclusively 
of varieties originated for the express purpose of meeting 
these northern requirements, by the Canadian Experi¬ 
mental Farm authorities. They have been produced by 
crossing the berry crab (Pyrus Baccata) with the hardiest 
forms of the larger Siberian hybrid crab and the hardier 
varieties of Russian apples. 
While there is no immediate likelihood of these northern 
regions becoming competitors in apple growing, yet 
even the insignificant crab is a prized fruit in the region 
where the currant and gooseberry have to be protected 
during the winter with careful solicitude. 
