THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
came, but the later growth is good. Trade conditions are 
fair, and we have more demand for ornamentals than any¬ 
thing else. We find it necessary constantly to enlarge our 
plant. 
North Abington, Mass. W. H. Wyman. 
The season has been somewhat exceptional with us, being 
very dry in the early part of the summer, with plenty of rain 
later on. This naturally retarded the growth of the stock in 
the early part of the season, but the plants made it up later 
on; and as a general thing, we think they have made as much 
growth this year as during any other. 
As to trade conditions, would say we have nothing of 
which to complain, as our business this year has been very 
good, much better than we expected. The early demand for 
evergreens during the first of August was small, of course, on 
account of the dry weather, but the later rains have made 
them begin to move to our satisfaction. As to the kind of 
stock in demand, it seems to be a general line. 
In regard to improvements, we are using more land for 
planting out as fast as we can get hold of it. Up to the present 
time, we have enlarged our plantings up to 500 acres. This 
year we have made no increase in business facilities, as our 
place has been thoroughly equipped for several years. 
Elizabeth, N. J. The Elizabeth Nursery Co. 
We have passed through a summer of extreme heat and 
drought, the effect of which has been to cut the growth of 
nearly everything. Commencing about Sept, ist, we have 
had abundant rains, so that with us nearly all stock has made 
more growth since that date than the entire season before. 
It is too early yet to forecast what the fall sales may bring us, 
as in this section the demand comes late in the season. There 
seems to be a fair demand for almost anything that is well 
grown. 
Elizabeth, N. J. Hiram T. Jones. 
NEW YORK 
A Protest Against Storage Cellars 
In this age of material progress, anyone criticising the 
methods of conducting the nursery business will incur 
imminent risk of securing not perhaps the hostility, but cer¬ 
tainly the pity or scorn, or both, of the up to date nursery¬ 
man. Expecting this, I nevertheless enter my protest against 
the practice of storing in frost proof cellars—trees and shrubs 
of nearly all descriptions and varieties. From the commer¬ 
cial nurseryman’s point of view, it is doubtless a great con¬ 
venience, enabling him more expeditiously and more economi¬ 
cally to handle his spring business. Upon that plea the prac¬ 
tice can be justified. But to declare that it is good for stock 
so stored is another matter, and such declaration is influenced 
more by personal desire and convenience, than by sober 
reflection and judgment. To pretend that trees corded in 
great piles will be in better condition in spring than if left in 
the ground outside under natural conditions requires for its 
acceptance and justification a degree of credulity that I do 
not possess, and which my experience and observation con¬ 
tradict. That such trees will start more slowly in spring is 
certain, not so much because of retarded development as 
because of impaired vitality. There are plants used in the 
nursery business that must be stored somewhere if they are 
to survive our northern winters; but they ought to be con¬ 
sidered, as they are, exotics. Such plants are wanted in 
localities where they are hardy, and even in localities where 
they are not hardy; and to have them at all, they must be 
stored somewhere free from exposure and winter killing. 
But to pretend that fruit trees generally are advantaged by 
such treatment is a mistake, and a mistake known as such by 
its practitioners, whose interests warp their judgment. It is 
as logical to pretend that trees packed for months will keep 
better and be in better condition than will trees that are 
freshly dug and, with the least exposure, transplanted. 
There are many fallacies current in the world whose origin 
and practice can be traced to self-interest, and not to any 
belief in their necessity for the advantage and benefit of man. 
The indiscriminate storage of trees in winter is one of the 
practices, and from the viewpoint of the consumer is nearly 
an unmixed evil. 
Flushing, N. Y. ' Theo. Foulk. 
It affords us pleasure to say, that while this season has 
been an exceptionally dry one, particularly the early part, 
stock on the whole has done remarkably well, especially any¬ 
thing which was established, due principally to constant 
cultivation. 
Buds and two year old trees will compare favorably with 
those of last season, whereas seedlings did not make their 
usual vigorous growth; nevertheless, the percentage of loss is 
slight. 
During early summer, trade conditions were slow, there 
being a light demand for cherries, plums, and standard pears. 
However, the situation improved during August and Septem¬ 
ber, hence there is, in this section, a very small surplus on 
these items at the present time. 
Apple and peach trees have been and still are commanding 
good prices, and it is more than probable they will continue to 
do so throughout the season; for there is an unusual number 
of this class of goods going West, especially of the former. 
Indications, we believe, justify us in saying that cherries will 
bring more satisfactory prices during the coming spring 
months than they do today. 
Too Many Varieties 
We are very glad to have an opportunity of suggesting to 
nurserymen that there are altogether too many poor and 
actually worthless varieties of apples and peaches being 
propagated which should be eliminated entirely. Neither 
soil nor climatic conditions, no matter how favorable, will 
ever make them desirable for commercial planting; for when 
same come into bearing the fruit has no particular value and 
naturally discourages planting; whereas, if we all discard 
such kinds and advocate the propagation of varieties with 
some merit—and those that will net profit—^it will stimulate 
planting wonderfully. 
Too many growers never consider the retailers’ needs, but 
continue to raise strong growing varieties, regardless of the 
quality of fruit that same produce; and just as long as these 
inferior varieties are grown and offered at a bargain, they will 
be sold to the planter. 
Growers are losing money under such practice, for the 
planter cannot reap satisfactory profits from an orchard pro¬ 
ducing valueless varieties; consequently, he does not expend 
what he would, if that same orchard embraced varieties 
which would net him good substantial returns. 
Give the quality instead of handing out a “lemon,” and you 
will find your trees moving at better prices; for every whole¬ 
saler is dependent on the planter, through the reatiler, for the 
consumption of his goods. 
We trust that those who anticipate doing much grafting 
this winter will give the above suggestions some considera¬ 
tion. 
Storage Cellar Satisfactory 
One year ago the 15 th of the present month we completed 
our cold storage (120x80 ft.) built of brick and tile. Stock 
kept throughout the winter in fine condition, and we earnestly 
hope every nurseryman is as well pleased with his storage 
plant as we are with ours. 
We desire to impress upon nurserymen the importance of 
floor ventilation. It is almost an absolute necessity to have 
ventilating doors and shutters close to the groimd at both 
