376 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
EUROPEAN CONDITIONS 
Excessive Heat and Drought Produce Short Crops 
Editor National Nurseryman: 
Sir:-—The Andre Leroy Nurseries, which I represent in 
this country, have repeatedly complained of injury done to 
their plantations by severe heat and protracted drought; 
and several weeks ago they requested me to stop selling large 
sized stocks, 6-io and 7-12 mm, as, while they foresee a good 
crop of fruit seedlings, they expect that the large sizes will be 
scarce, heat having stopped the development of the plants. 
Such heat as was experienced in France during July and 
August had not been known there for over 100 years. 
Andre L. Causse. 
Editor National Nurseryman: 
Sir: —The disturbing rumors in circulation regarding the 
shortage of European nursery stock are rather exaggerated. 
The quantity is there, but the quality is lacking, as the season 
they are just passing through is the worst ever known in the 
.section of France where nursery stock and fruit tree seedlings 
arc grown. They have not had a drop of rain since June 30th, 
and are having the hottest kind of an American summer. 
For six weeks the thermometer has been above 90°, and for a 
few days 95° to 102° Fahrenheit. This, of course, has had a 
serious effect upon young nursery stocks, much of which is 
likely to be light, poorly rooted, and low grade, unless we 
should have, from now on to digging time, the most favorable 
weather. 
Geo. E. Dickinson. 
Editor National Nurseryman: 
Sir: —The hot summer weather and long continued 
drought in Europe is having a disastrous effect upon growing 
crops. In England and many parts of France and Germany, 
there have been no effective rains for over three months, and 
in places where stock could not be artificially watered, the 
growing crops are shrivelling up. The following items are 
hard hit. 
Manetti. These come principally from England and 
France. In both countries there will be less than half a crop. 
The grade of those shipped will necessarily be inferior. Prac¬ 
tically all of the available crop was bought up before June. 
It is doubtful if American buyers will get more than 60% of 
their requirements, then only where they ordered before June. 
In Germany the season was the hottest and driest they 
have had for 73 years. The effect upon the crop of lily of the 
valley pips is problematical, though it is almost sure that the 
product will be inferior to former seasons. As a precaution, 
most firms are refusing to book further orders except at a 
considerable increase in price. 
France is particularly hard hit. They grow for export 
millions of young fruit and ornamental stocks. Even artifi¬ 
cial watering is ineffective, as the wells are dry. Prices rule 
much higher than usual and there will be many shortages on 
orders. 
Belgium has not suffered so much, as their export stock is 
all artificially watered, but the exceptionally hot summer 
weather shows its effects in the azaleas there. They will be 
smaller and more stunted in growth than usual. Crop is up 
to normal, though the varieties Mad. Vander Cruyssen, 
Mad. Petrick, Simon Mardner and Vervaeneana remain 
scarce, and most growers are limiting orders to percentages of 
these varieties. 
McHutchison & Co. 
Editor National Nurseryman: 
England seems to have suffered more than any other 
country as regards unfavorable conditions for the production 
of nursery stock, and again most severely in the southern 
districts; still our growers, W. Fromow & Sons of Windle- 
sham, Surrey, report their stand of low budded roses to be a 
good one, but the manetti are not expected to give more than 
a half normal crop. 
Holland seems to have suffered but very little. 
Germany has suffered mainly in the seed growing districts; 
likewise in the lily of the valley districts; what will result in 
the latter can not yet be correctly estimated, except that the 
size of the growing pips will be much behind normal years. 
Belgium has suffered through lack of water in the azalea 
districts in and near Ghent. The plants will average smaller 
in the crowns. Otherwise we have no bad reports. 
France reports that manetti, cherry, and plum seedlings 
will be a very short crop caused by the prolonged heat and 
drought. Our people, Levavasseur & Sons, write us from 
Ussy under date of the 9th Sept.: “About Crops the only 
thing we can say is, that we have not had any rain for the last 
two months in France, and in consequence, many hundreds of 
thousands of young seedlings are lost. However, we are 
better off in our irrigated nursery than many others. Every 
week we have French nurserymen coming to look for stocks. 
But we shall wait till October before beginning to sell. Of 
course we reserve our American articles; and we hope to have 
yet quite a line to offer in fruit tree stocks and ornamentals. 
The thermometer is still keeping at and near 100 Degrees 
Fahrenheit.’’ 
Individually we hope that the final outcome will not be 
quite so poor as many are anticipating at present. 
August Rolker & Sons. 
The Central Nursery & Floral Co., of Kalamazoo, Mich., has retired 
from business. 
National Nurseryman: 
We enclose herewith check for $1.00, one year’s subscription to 
the National Nurseryman. We derive a world of information out of 
it and could not get along very well without it. With best wishes we 
beg to remain, yours very truly, 
Texas. Southwestern Nursery Co., 
