THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
405 
stock out and on farm crops to such an extent that the sales 
have not been what we expected, though our business shows 
an increase over last year. 
So far as improvements are concerned, will say that we 
have demonstrated beyond a doubt the advisability of “dry 
farming’’ methods, as it was by the use of same that we saved 
our stock from utter ruin. 
We hope to have many prosperous years before we get 
another like this past one. 
Lawrence, Kans. Western Nursery Co. 
The season here has been unusually hot and dry. As a 
sample, less than three inches of water fell in May, June, and 
July. 
Growth has been retarded very much, and in many cases 
more in height than in caliper, thus making many trees 
unusually stocky. 
Trade conditions seem to be as good as could be expected, 
but on the whole crop conditions, owing to the drouth, are 
unfavorable over a wide texent of country. The nursery 
trade sympathizes with the general conditions, and no doubt 
will be less prosperous this year than usual. 
A general assortment, as in other years, is in demand. 
We made a larger plant than usual but the unfavorable 
season will cut it down a good deal. Our storage plant is one 
of the best in the country, and we shall make no change in it 
this year. 
We should have been glad to enlarge our water supply, 
but we know of no plan to secure more rain, and irrigation 
was not practicable. So'we had to do the best we could with 
what we had. 
In apples, Jonathan seems now to be in the lead with 
Grimes’ Golden, Rome Beauty, Stayman Winesap, Arkansas 
Black in good demand, while Beii Davis is losing badly from 
its high favor of old, and Missouri Pippin is also losing badly. 
Winesap is also much called for. 
No varieties that have been in strong demand have gone 
out wholly, but demand has fallen off. 
It will be noted that, owing to the unfavorable season, 
we are not able to offer anything in unusual amounts, while 
we are short in many things, so of necessity our trade this 
year will be less than usual. We shall certainly be glad to 
read the interesting reports you will present from our friends 
in the trade, and hope many of them have had a good year. 
Ottawa, Kans. A. Willis & Co. 
We had very dry weather at the beginning of the season, 
the drouth continuing until August i.st. 
The larger part of our nursery business is devoted to the 
growing of strawberry plants. Our fields are planted on very 
rich soil, and with perfect cultivation we lost very few plants. 
A heavy rain came August 2d, and we have had plenty of 
rain since. Plants grew rapidly, and in all probability we 
shall have as good a crop of plants as we ever grew. 
The prospect is for a heavy trade in all kinds of small fruit 
plants. The seasons of ’og-’io were both unusually hard 
ones for growing small fruit plants. Therefore, we have not 
done much to increase our business. 
Among the new varieties of promise are Evening Star and 
Buster Strawberries, and also the fall bearing varieties, 
Americus and Francis. Both these varieties are loaded with 
berries at this writing, but the supply of plants of these two 
varieties is much less than the demand. 
Holton, Kans. F. W. Dixon. 
HOT IN MICHIGAN 
This has been the most fickle and peculiar season we have 
ever witnessed. The early part was extremely wet and 
excessively hot, causing vegetation to grow in an unnatural 
way. 
Apple Grafts and much cutting stock was lost through the 
excessive heat. During budding season we had it very dry, 
and stocks outside of peach have made a rather light growth. 
We have about 500,000 peach budded that are prime blocks, 
but our other blocks, while fair, are not up to the usual 
standard by any means. On the other hand, our marketable 
blocks of apple, pear, and cherry are better in comparison with 
former years than our peach and plum blocks are. 
Our trade is very largely with the large Michigan planters 
for, in fact, our company is entirely owned by large planters, 
and trade conditions with us vary according to the results 
obtained from the commercial crop each season. The 
demand will be equal to last season on apple and about 75% 
on peach and cherry. Other items about normal. 
During the past season we have added the seed depart¬ 
ment to our business and are now establishing a northern 
branch at Traverse City, in order to give acclimated stock 
and save freight to our many customers in the northern part 
of the State. 
Our main suggestion on nursery management would be the 
initial selection of propagating stock. Too many of our lead¬ 
ing nurserymen are budding varieties supposed to be correct 
on someone’s say so. They should be of known parentage, 
when fewer mistakes and a more satisfactory feeling between 
planter and nurseryman would exist, and trade be materially 
benefitted through the confidence resulting. 
We have a variety of peach we call Bass which has to the 
present time proven immune to Yellows and Little Peach. It 
has a very peculiar foliage and in fruit resembles Chair’s 
Choice. We do not feel that it will always prove Yellows- 
proof, but we do know from actual experience it is especially 
immune. 
The list of varieties to be discarded should include all 
those of low quality, regardless of their bearing. Our fruit 
markets are already too fully supplied with low quality stuff 
that bears well and looks good. If the fruit business main¬ 
tains its present volume, we must supply fruits that will be 
eaten with relish and called for again. 
The Wolverine Co-Operative Nursery Co., Ltd. 
Paw Paw, Mich. 
Prosperous 
The season, beginning with early spring, has been a very 
open one and without any frost up to Oct.ist. The rainfall 
has been more than normal, which has caused an excessive 
growth of vegetation. Nursery stock is maturing finely, has 
an exceptionally good growth and is very promising. 
The demand for nursery stock in our business is increasing 
very rapidly and has more than doubled within the last three 
years. This season the trade prospects are fine. Standard 
apples and peaches are most in demand, although in some 
sections cherries and pears are receiving considerable atten¬ 
tion. 
We have added to our fields two large fanns the past year, 
which makes over 1,000 acres now cultivated in the nursery 
business, and yet we are unable to supply all the demands. 
Our storage equipment is really the best in the world, and our 
facilities for handling our products could hardly be improved 
upon. We find in nursery management it is necessary to be 
absolutely careful and on time with every process of growth 
and cultivation. Ornamental gardening and parkwork is 
becoming one of our special employments, and we have made 
much preparation in stock, with skilled help to care for the 
same. Our business is flouirshing in every department. 
Monroe, Mich. The Greening Nursery Co. 
We will say that 1911 has been a very peculiar season with 
us. Up to the middle of July we were threatened with 
drought as diastrous as that of 1910. About that time, 
however, the rains began, and since then we have had a 
phenomenal growth in nearly all classes of stock. \' ery much 
