446 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
directly to send quite another thing. While this practice 
brings, of course, its retributive reward, it does much harm, 
and the sooner it is stopped everywhere and by everybody, 
the better for all concerned. Some of the pressing needs of 
the times, especially in ornamental stock, are more careful and 
accurate grading, more frequent transplanting, and greater 
care in digging and packing all kinds of lawn and street trees, 
evergreens, and larger specimens. An Illinois mursery, not 
long ago, shipped a quantity of good sized pines and spruces 
as first class and well rooted trees, minus the important 
lower branches, and with roots chopped off like Christmas 
trees. Of course, there was trouble, as there should have 
been, all along the line. 
Ornamentals in Demand 
The kind of nursery stock most in demand in the East, say 
east of Chicago, is, we should say, really good ornamentals. 
Notwithstanding the unsatisfactory conditions in the 
industrial, transportation and financial affairs of the country 
since the panic of 1907, the use of all kinds of good hardy 
ornamental stocks has rapidly increased, and this growing 
demand must, from the increased interest in both public and 
private parks and fine ornamental grotmds generally, be rap¬ 
idly augumented in future. Fortunately this class of material 
is readily grown and freely produced, so that the supply 
should keep pace with the demand. 
The National Nurseryman is performing a valuable 
service to the trade in calling forth the practical experiences 
of those having a wide range in the business; for it is from 
the observation and experience of others that we can all draw 
many valuable lessons for ourselves. 
New York. Fred’k W. Kelsey. 
A Voice from New Mexico 
I am growing stock only in a small way, planting from 
10,000 to 15,000 trees of various sorts, principally apple. Our 
altitude is too high for the best results. I grow stock because 
I have difficulty in getting some of the varieties we want here. 
The namef*of the finest pear grown here I am unable to get. 
To be certain I shall have it, I grow it. Thousands of trees 
are planted here every season. I have about 90% of the 
trade. 
Miami, N. M. Wm. Mohler. 
Improve the Quality 
This has been a very good season for growing nursery 
stock in this particular locality. In May we had about three 
weeks of hot, dry weather which killed a great many newly 
planted shrubs and seedlings, but since that time we have 
had enough rain to produce a good growth on most 
ornamentals. For over a month we have had rain almost 
every day and stock has made a very rapid late growth, which 
is now ripening in good shape for the winter. 
Trade conditions during the early part of the season 
seemed slow, but at the present time look right, and with 
proper weather conditions all the nurserymen around Chicago 
will do a good business. 
There is a steady demand for almost all kinds of orna¬ 
mentals, but especially for first class stock in all lines. The 
time is now here when we should strive for quality as well as 
quantity. Stock that has merit will bring a good price at any 
time. 
ICnowledge of what constitutes good stock is increasing in 
the public mind, and it is therefore up to the nurseryman to 
produce an article that will give satisfaction to his trade. 
Aurora, Ill. Aurora Nursery Company. 
Characteristics of the Season 
This has been a very peculiar and unusual season in our 
section. It has been the hottest and driest siunmer on 
record, that is, from March ist to August ist. Since 
August I St, we have had plenty of rain and warm weather up 
to the present date. Ten years ago (1901), taking the season 
from March ist to October ist, was perhaps drier than this 
year, as we had a great deal of rain this year in August and 
September. 
Effect on Growth of Stock 
The dry weather, coming as early in the season as it did, 
was extremely hard on spring-planted stock, such as apple 
grafts and seedling. Where the ground was not in perfect 
shape at planting time, the loss was very heavy. The 
shrinkage was so great, that some blocks of grafts and seed¬ 
lings were plowed up and the stand on many others was quite 
poor. This poor preparation of the soil in the spring was 
noticed throughout the season. As the ground dried deeper 
and deeper, stocks began to die on this coarse pebbly ground, 
and continued to do so until the rains came in August. 
We found it a very great advantage to follow “Campbell’s 
Dry Farming Methods throughout the Year.’’ Shallow 
cultivation and a dust mulch was the watchword. Although 
it seemed we were doing nothing but stirring up the dust, we 
found we got good results in conserving moisture, by going 
over our fields once every four to six days. By this method 
of cultivation, we were able to keep stock alive and growing 
slowly until the rains came. Since the first of August, all 
kinds of stock have made a marvelous growth. We had 
excellent growing weather, throughout August and Septem¬ 
ber, and stock made quite a little growth during the early 
days of this month. Apple seedling and apple grafts in our 
immediate vicinity are abpve normal for growth. 
Trade Conditions 
The demand for Apple seedling has been unusually heavy 
thus far, many growers being sold out, and buying to fill 
orders at this time. No trouble to sell apple trees at top 
prices. We have turned down many orders for early fall 
shipment, on account of stock being too green. The call for 
peach is very good, and we are surprised to see the cherry tree 
market picking up as it has. 
The above represents conditions in the Kansas River 
valley and immediate vicinity. Since the writer, E. R. 
Taylor, bought out the other members of our firm at the end 
of last year’s business, he has been too busy to do much visit¬ 
ing with the nurserymen at any distance from home. 
Topeka, Kans. L. R. Taylor & Sons. 
