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THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
as root-stock for plums and almond for prunes than we 
were. 
By classifying the nurseries by regions, some addi¬ 
tional information is brought out regarding the prefer¬ 
ence for certain stocks in certain places. While we know, 
of course, that any given nursery doing a large business 
sells stock all over the state, it is assumed that it will be 
influenced by the desires of growers who may live com¬ 
paratively near by, under their particular set of climatic 
and soil conditions. 
Three regions have been recognized, namely the foot¬ 
hills, interior valleys, and coastal valleys. It is interest¬ 
ing to compare or contrast the reports of root-stocks used 
by the nurseries in these different regions with the aver¬ 
age for the whole state. It is also interesting to com¬ 
pare them with one another. 
In the case of almonds, there are no great regional 
differences in the use of stocks, almond, the preferred 
root, being about the same in all districts. Apricot is a 
much more popular root-stock for apricot trees in the in¬ 
terior valleys than it is in either the foothills or in the 
coastal region. Likewise the peach is used much more 
as a stock in the same region than it is in either of the 
others. One striking feature is that myrobolan is so 
popular as a stock for apricots in the foothills and coastal 
valleys, while only a small percentage is used in the in¬ 
terior. Another interesting feature brought out is that 
Mahaeb root-stock is so popular in the interior valleys 
and so unpopular in the foothills. Peach is a very pop¬ 
ular stock for plums and prunes in the interior valleys 
and foothills, but is not favored by the coastal valley nur¬ 
series. Almond is a very popular stock for prunes in the 
coastal region, but is used only in a small way in the 
foothills and interior valleys. Finally, a very large per¬ 
centage of apricot is being used for stock for prunes in 
the interior valleys, while none is used in the foothills 
and less than 2% in the coastal region. 
It might he added that for the first time one coastal val¬ 
ley nursery reports the use of a considerable percentage 
of Kieffer pear root as a stock for pears. The Kieffer, 
because the seeds can he procured from canneries, is 
often in the East, especially when imported stock is 
scarce, but this is the first time I have met with this stock 
in California. There is no reason why Kieffer should not 
make a reasonably good stock, as it is probably more re¬ 
sistant to blight than French stock, although it is not as 
safe as the Japanese root. 
Apparently the increased use of apricot as a stock for 
prunes is based on the belief that the apricot is more tol¬ 
erant of a slightly alkaline soil than any of the other 
available stocks; at least this is the reason given for its 
use. In this case I should like to again call attention to 
the advisability of making larger use of Primus david- 
iana as a root-stock for peaches, and perhaps for plums 
and prunes, also where the soil is too alkaline, for other 
stocks to thrive. I recently had an opportunity of visit¬ 
ing an orchard, near Yuba City, growing on davidiana 
stock, and just now about four years old. Previous plant¬ 
ings of peaches on peach stock speedily died on account 
ol the alkali.— From the Transactions and Proceedings 
of the California Nurserymen’s Association. 
REPORT SHOWING STOCK ON HAND 
The list of unsold stock published by the Western As¬ 
sociation of Nurserymen showing stock on hand Septem¬ 
ber 1st, 1920, shows the nurserymen in the western part 
of the country are getting closer together in their efforts 
to regulate the supply of nursery stock to meet the de¬ 
mand. 
Although the list only gives stock of staple kinds held 
by twenty-three firms in twelve states, it shows the pos¬ 
sibilities and tremendous value of such listing, especially 
if the idea were carried out covering the whole United 
States, sectioned off into isothermal regions, that grow 
similar stock and where nurserymen are likely to do bus¬ 
iness with each other. 
Such lists would have a tremendous influence in reg¬ 
ulating the plantings of the different nurserymen be¬ 
cause they could see at a glance what stocks were scarce 
and which were likely to he in surplus. 
Their plantings would have a tendency to be less com¬ 
petitive and more co-operative in supplying the general 
demand. 
No doubt the prime reason for the report is to show 
where stock can be procured. This, of course, is inval¬ 
uable hut the idea enlarged to cover the entire legitimate 
nursery business of the country would do much toward 
eliminating the jobber and speculator, as all entitled to 
the information would know where different stocks 
could be procured. 
NEW HYBRID FRUIT PLANT 
A new hybrid fruit plant, a cross between a black cur¬ 
rant and a gooseberry, has been added to the official list 
of such plants. It has been obtained by James Innes, of 
Knockando, Speyside, Scotland, and has been growing 
five years. 
According to the Ministry of Agriculture the berries 
resemble a black currant of large size—gooseberry in 
taste and a currant in appearance. When the sample of 
berries was first received, it was believed currants had 
been sent in mistake, hut the foliage was like that of the 
gooseberry, with plentiful thorns and there was no per¬ 
fume such as the currant possesses. The Ministry has 
requested cuttings for testing with the object of proving 
whether the fruit has any economic value.— -Commerce 
Reports. 
UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION 
Assistant Horticulturist. Salary $2,040 to $2,280. 
Receipt of applications to close December 21, 1920. Ap¬ 
plicants should at once apply for form 2118, stating the 
title of the examination desired, to the Civil Service Com¬ 
mission, Washington, D. C. 
Curtis Nye Smith, formerly attorney for the 
nursery trade, announces the removal of his law offices 
to 73 Tremont St., Suite 701, Boston, Mass. 
J. O. Kelley & Sons, Jeff, Alabama, report they are 
very closely sold out on nursery stock. 
