THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
339 
fruit and plant Notes. 
STRAWBERRIES FROM SEED. 
One of the latest stunts in the introduction of new 
plants is 'the offering of strawberry seed, with the assurance 
that this seed will produce true to variety. The variety in 
question is introduced under the name of the Blizzard King. 
At the same time we are told that it comes from France. 
The fact that it is sent out from vine and ol.ve growing 
France, is in our opinion, a poor recommendation for hardi¬ 
ness, and the statement that it is a hybrid and yet will come 
true from seed, is far fetched to say the least, and to anyone 
who cares to consider the matter, a very dubious reference. 
It is a pity that statements of this kind should creep into 
reputable nursery catalogues for they only have the effect 
of depreciating the value of nursery literature. 
HYBRID PLUMS. 
Dr. Van Fleet of the Rural New Yorker Test Grounds is 
authority for the statement that “None of the Burbank 
hybrids showing the influence of Prunus Simoni, such as 
Climax, Chaleo, Maynard and Wickson, appear to be worth 
planting in this locality.” The trees are said to lack in 
vitality and the fruit, though handsome in appearance, and 
moderately good in quality, is subject to fruit rot and other 
fungous troubles. This statement refers to the lower 
Hudson River region. We can hardly agree with Dr. Van 
Fleet’s statement that Abundance is of superb quality when 
properly grown, but are quite in accord with him when he 
states that the tree is weak and very susceptible to rot. It 
seems undoubtedly true that the greatest value of these 
plums will be developed when grown in the Pacific Coast 
region. Wickson is appreciated in certain parts of Califor¬ 
nia, but we fear that many orchardists who have planted it 
extensively in New England or New York, will regret the 
venture before many years. 
THE AVOCADO PEAR. 
This tropical fruit, often called the Alligator Pear, more 
commonly known by this name in the South than in the 
North, is finding its way into the Northern and Eastern 
markets. We confidently look forward to the time when it 
will be available in season to those who can afford to buy 
it, in all markets from Richmond to New York. The taste 
is not an acquired one. Most people like it on first introduc¬ 
tion. One of the causes of its slow introduction is the diffi¬ 
culty of propagating it, but this is now being overcome and 
we predict that orchardists who have developed plantations 
of this variety will in the near future be reaping a comfort¬ 
able profit. 
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I KIEFFER PEAR IN NEW ENGLAND. 
It appears now as though growers of Ivieffer pears must 
look for a foreign outlet for this variety. There is no doubt 
that it has worn out its welcome in most markets in the 
United States, but we were assured recently by prominent 
buyers at Covent Garden, London, that the Kieffer was one 
of the most satisfactory varieties which they sold. This 
was probably accounted for by the fact that it handles so 
well. 
a 
THE APPLE OUTLOOK. 
It seems probable that buyers will hold off rather 
cautiously this fall with the remembrance of last year’s dis¬ 
asters still in mind. A few orchards have already been 
bought in Western New York, but the mass of buyers have 
not yet convassed the situation. The man who has a repu¬ 
tation for good fruit is the man who will first be visited. 
The mediocre cultivator must trail along behind. Un¬ 
doubtedly buyers wall he more conservative than last year, 
and one can hardly blame them if he knows anything of the 
sad experience which visited many of them during the win¬ 
ter and spring. When in Covent Garden, London, some 
time ago, we saw Western apples selling for less than the 
figure paid for them F. O. B. Oregon nearly a year before. 
This meant a loss of approximately two dollars a box to the 
men who handled them in the meantime. At this writing 
the foreign outlook is not promising. 
OREGON APPLES. 
The Hood River men are actively and busily engaged 
in advertising the red apples of that region. It is reported 
that the output of the Hood River section will amount to 
about 250 cars. This of course, is a very rough estimate and 
probably stretches the yield 15 per cent, or 20 per cent. 
These men are good growers as well as good advertisers and 
they deserve all the good fortune which has come or is likely 
to befall them. 
FOREIGN APPLE MARKETS. 
English Crop Very Large and Good—Very Moderate Prices 
Likely to Rule this Season. 
All advices from my English and continental correspondents in 
regard to the apple outlook in Europe this season, are of the same 
tenor, and that is, the crops of Europe are likely to be very large and 
fine, so that the outlook for American and Canadian apples is not as 
bright as one could wish. Of course English apples are all of a dull 
color and they must have a considerable quantity for table use of 
the red varieties, which this country and Canada can give them. 
All know what a disastrous season last year was to speculators 
and shippers of apples and it is to be hoped this year buyers will be 
more conservative and I think the tendency will be to ship only the 
finest fruit. The result of last year’s shipments proved to a cer¬ 
tainty that if just half of the apples that were barreled and shipped 
had been thrown away the other half would have brought more 
money than the whole crop did. There has got to be a higher 
standard of grading than heretofore to make the business of export- 1 
ing profitable. The standards in most sections of New England, last 
year, were very low, and in many cases the ones and t’wos were 
packed together This I think will be generally discontinued for 
the experience last year is too fresh in the minds of exporters to 
repeat it this year in the face of such a large crop as England has. 
Some shipments from this side have already gone forward, of the 
fall varieties, but being packed in barrels the bulk arrived out in bad 
order. It is too risky to pack fall fruit in barrels but some apples, 
such as Gravenstein, Alexander, Duchess and kindred varieties, 
can be shipped in safety in the half barrel case that I have advocated 
for years. All the fruit I have shipped for growers in this kind of a 
case has always arrived out in good order, and when highly graded 
brought nearly as much as fine fruit in barrels. Some shipments 
were made last season in the bushel box, but the freight and charges 
were about as much as for the half barrel case I allude to. 
I feel quite confident, this case, which holds just half a barrel 
quantity of fruit, will become the popular package for apples, espec¬ 
ially for exporting. Its having two compartments and thoroughly 
ventilated insures the safety of fruit while in transit and for keeping 
a long time, has no rival. I have kept such varieties as Fameuse 
(Snows), Wealthy and Duchess for 13 months, and in perfect condi¬ 
tion. Geo. A. Cochrane, Boston. 
