THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
19 
IRote a nb Comment 
Hood River Apples. 
The apples of this famous valley still continue to attract 
attention in the eastern markets. Three cars of Newtown 
Pippins sold recently in New York at $4.00 to $4.50 per box. 
This is the consumer’s price. The great use of these apples to 
the fruiterer is their decorative value. They make beautiful 
window ornaments. Of course this does not infer that they 
are not good to eat, but it is a fact that their beautiful ap¬ 
pearance attracts the buyer. 
Winter Protection for Half Hardy Plants. 
In a recent issue of the “ Florists’. Exchange ” Mr. W. F. 
Massey offers the following practical suggestion for the protec¬ 
tion of plants easily injured by winter cold. The main point he 
makes is that in regions where the plant is nearly hardy enough 
to come through without protection, it is a mistake to cover 
it with soil or heavy protective material. For instance, tea roses 
where nearly hardy are apt to rot if wrapped closely with pro¬ 
tective covering, or covered with soil, while they will winter 
safely if the only protection given takes the form of a heavy 
ground mulch. Mr. Massey recommends sawdust as a good 
mulching material, and the mound should be broad enough and 
deep enough to prevent the ground from freezing hard about 
the roots. There is no doubt that this practice of fall mulching 
is most beneficial. 
Apple Stories. 
This is the year for large stories in connection with the sale 
of apples. Even the growers of oranges and tropical fruits will 
have to take a back seat temporarily. A despatch from Leroy, 
New York, tells the story of a farm sold in that region last year 
for $11,000. On this farm was a good sized orchard, and this 
year the orchard produced 10,000 barrels worth $3 a barrel. A 
very simple way of paying for the farm, and leaving a hand¬ 
some surplus. 
Pecan Growing in California. 
Mr. Leonard Coates, of California, is authority for the state¬ 
ment that fruit growers in that state are becoming interested 
in pecan growing, and some of them are of the opinion that the 
pecan will rival the walnut as a money-maker. This unques¬ 
tionably is largely speculation, but there is no reason to doubt 
that there are many places in the state where the pecan might be 
grown with satisfaction and profit; but we would advise our 
friends of the Pacific Coast to experiment before dashing 
wildly in. 
Removing the Pucker From Persimmons. 
It is reported that Mr. George C. Roeding, the noted nursery¬ 
man of Fresno, has by some occult method taken the “pucker” 
from the green persimmon, and presented it to *the would-be 
consumer minus that objectionable quality. Mr. Roeding packs 
his green persimmons in tubs from which Japanese rice beer has 
been lately removed. The tubs are hermetically sealed, and the 
fruit left in them from eight to ten days. After this period it is 
found that the unpleasant astringent quality has been entirely 
withdrawn from the fruit. We are not informed whether the 
“ pucker ” is replaced by the flavor of the rice beer. Perhaps 
this would prove no objection to some consumers, but it might 
be a point worthy - of consideration. This method has been 
practiced, however, by the Japanese for many years. 
Florida Citrus Crop. 
The amount of the citrus crop for 1907 is estimated at 
2,295,072 boxes. This includes oranges in their various forms 
and grape fruit. The crop of grape fruit and tangerines is only 
about a third of that of 1906. It will take several years yet for 
the output of Florida oranges to approximate the palmy years 
immediately prior to the heavy freeze of 1903-4; but the orange 
areas are being extended, and in the lower end of the peninsula 
grape fruit is being planted in a large way. In the north part 
of the state pecans and peaches are being extensively planted. 
1908 CONVENTION, JUNE 10-12. 
Headquarters At Plankington Hotel, Milwaukee, Wis. 
Rochester, N. Y., Dec. 10, 1907. 
Editor National Nurseryman, 
Sir:— 
I enclose herewith correspondence giving information re¬ 
garding hotel arrangements for the convention of the Ameri¬ 
can Ass’n of Nurserymen to be held at Milwaukee next June. 
I wish to acknowledge the generous assistance of Mr. T. J. 
Ferguson of Wauwatosa, Wis., who personally visited various 
hotels in the interests of the Ass’n and reported fully and sat¬ 
isfactorily to the committee. 
In order that members may obtain satisfactory rates it is 
important that they should write early the management of the 
Plankington House and arrange for reservations. 
Yours very truly, 
Geo. C. Seager, 
Chairman Committee of Arrangements. 
The correspondence is omitted for the reason that the fol¬ 
lowing statement contains the essentials of the hotel arrange¬ 
ments. 
Mr. Seager, in writing to the manager of the Plankington 
House, says:— 
My understanding of your proposition for taking care of 
the convention of the American Association of Nurserymen to 
be held at Milwaukee, June 10-11-12, 1908, is as follows:— 
Rates:—American plan, for one person without bath, $3 a 
day and upwards, with bath $3.50 per day and upwards; two 
persons without bath $6 a day and upwards, with bath $6.50, 
$7 a day and upward. In connection with these rates you sug¬ 
gest that our members make reservations as early as possible 
and in that case if you are unable to reserve room at the rate 
desired, you will suggest how that rate may be obtained by 
taking a room with others say two, three or four people as 
the case may be, and that you have more rooms at the mini¬ 
mum rate than at the higher rate. 
It is my understanding also that you agree to furnish free 
of charge the Colonial room for convention room and a small 
Colonial room for secretary’s office, and exhibition space in 
your club room and ladies’ parlor if a store on the ground floor 
suitable to our committee is not available. 
I presume it is unnecessary for me to ask also that letters 
from our members asking for reservations be in all cases ac¬ 
knowledged. I have found that in some cases hotels simply 
make reservations and do not reply. In that case it leaves our 
members in some doubt as to whether or not they are pro¬ 
vided for. 
On receipt of confirmation from you ot my understanding 
as above outlined I shall be pleased to close with you naming 
the Plankington House as headquarters for our convention. 
I thank you for your very courteous replies to my various in¬ 
quiries and hope that my understanding is correct. I remem¬ 
ber very pleasantly the last convention of our Association held 
at the Plankington and assure you that everything possible 
will be done to bring out a large attendance. 
Geo. C. Seager. 
It is a trifle early to reserve a room but not too soon to talk 
to your wife about attending the convention.—Editor. 
