79° 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
Unfortunately the day was rainy and the photographs we 
were able to obtain were not satisfactory. Photographs 
taken under an umbrella rarely materialize to the satisfaction 
of the artist! 
PACKING AND SHIPPING 
The packing is done under the eye of the manager, Mr. 
H. W. Van der Bom, who personally passes upon the stock 
used in filling each foreign order. They are packed either 
in bales or in boxes depending upon the size of the stock. 
All the smaller grades go into strong paper-lined 
boxes. The larger stock is 
packed in bales with the 
aid of baling machines. 
They are placed on cars 
at the local station, con¬ 
signed to Rotterdam, going 
from thence by the Hol¬ 
land American line unless 
otherwise instructed. Ou- 
denbosch is one of the 
interesting nursery regions 
of Holland and will well 
repay a visit. Mr. Van der 
Bom is energetic, intelligent 
and hospitable. A visit 
to his establishment will 
bring pleasure and profit 
to the tourist. The firm 
has been represented in 
America since its inception 
by McHutchison & Co., 17 
Murray St., New York. 
MR. J. R. MAYHEW OF 
WAXAHACHIE, TEXAS, 
ON SUPPLY PRICES 
Before Texas Nurserymen 
From reports I have 
been able to gather rela¬ 
ting to supply of stock 
for Fall and Spring trade, 
I am led to believe that 
good nursery stock is in strong demand at decidedly 
better prices than formerly, and that all standard stock 
should go at good prices very early in the season. This is 
especially true of dormant bud, one year peach in high 
grades, apple, apricot, plum, ornamental trees and shrubs, 
evergreens and roses. I see no reason why all surplus should 
not go into a ready market at satisfactory prices. Texas 
nurserymen should, as far as is practicable, deal with one 
another, for many reasons. Our varieties are pretty much 
the same, our plan of grading alike, and the item of freight is 
one not to be overlooked. You can afford to pay more for 
stock if you buy close to home, besides this you get as good 
or better service and keep Texas money at home. A further 
consideration, it is easier to stand one another off than it is 
the fellow of foreign proclivities, and I need not mention the 
fact that buying from one another contributes to one 
another’s success, the best part of the consideration. 
Norway Maples, Union Nurseries, Oudenbosch, Holland 
Perhaps the most encouraging development of the past 
year is the upward revision of most retail catalogues. No 
longer do we see the determination of Texas nurserymen to 
sell stock at less than the cost of production, but on the con¬ 
trary a few retailers are learning the worth of their products 
and are not afraid to ask their worth. This is true, how¬ 
ever, not as a rule but rather the exception. In this connec¬ 
tion I beg to refer you to wholesale price lists from every 
portion of the country, and suggest that so far as the 
future is concerned, the tendency of wholesale 
prices is upward. This 
must influence the retail 
price, and my prophecy is, 
the man who sells cheap 
trees, either to dealer or 
customer, during the sea¬ 
son, 1910-11, will lose 
money. The day of cheap 
trees is past. Every item 
of expense that goes into 
growing stock must be 
incurred at greater cost 
than formerly. The labor 
you use is no better" 1 but 
costs 25% more than'five 
years ago. This problem, 
gentlemen, must be met, 
and the only suggestion I 
have to offer is an upward 
revision in retail price lists. 
I have talked upward revis¬ 
ion so much in my own 
household that my asso¬ 
ciates accuse me of going 
over bodily to the Repub¬ 
licans. There is yet too 
great a difference in retail 
price lists, and until there 
is at least a reasonable uni¬ 
formity in prices, nursery¬ 
men will continue to find 
the question embarrassing. 
There is absolutely no more reason why one nursery¬ 
man should offer trees of a certain grade and variety 
at a price 50% below a competitor than that a dry goods 
merchant should do it. Ours is perhaps the only business 
where this insane policy is tolerated. I hope within the 
very near future to see this f great evil corrected, and 
repeat, the past year has shown some improvement. 
HORTICULTURAL IMPORTERS ASSOCIATION 
A meeting of the Horticultural Importers’ Association 
was held on October T3th injKew York City. This Associa¬ 
tion was formed about three years ago and includes in its 
memberships most of the large import houses and aims to 
keep its members in touch with the trend of trade in nursery 
products. 
