296 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
IIAMP GARNER'S FLOWER RED 
Old Damp Garner’s flower bed is bare now; but a 
couple of months ago he was seen talking across it to 
his daughter by marriage. Damp lives on his Civil War 
pension, though he says he “didn’t use to, because it 
wasn’t enough, and buy whisky.” 
Just across the road live his son and his son’s wife. 
Ilamp eats with the family, but sleeps alone in the old 
farmhouse. This day Hamp was in a reminiscent mood. 
“In many ways, Letty, this has been a reinarkable 
summer,” he said. “There’s a lot of booze yet. Rut the 
price of a toss is well-nigh prohibitive to most of the 
boys. In consequence, all summer long, hereabouts, we 
have had an agreeable change o’ scenery-—more red 
roses and fewer red noses—if ye git me!”— Colliers. 
TREND OF FARM PRICES 
The level of prices paid producers of the United 
States for the principal crops decreased about 11.6 per 
cent during October; in the last ten years the price level 
decreased about 6.6 per cent during October. On Novem¬ 
ber 1 the index figure of prices was about 39.6 per cent 
lower than a year ago, 66.6 per cent lower than two 
years ago, and 33.7 per cent lower than the average of 
the past 10 years on November 1. 
The prices of meat animals—hogs, cattle, sheep, and 
chickens—to producers of the United States decreased 
3.2 per cent from September 16 to October 16; in the 
past 10 years prices decreased in like period 3.2 per 
cent. On October 16 the index figure of prices for these 
meat animals was about 41 per cent lower than a year 
ago, 43.6 per cent lower than two years ago, and 26.6 
per cent lower than the average of the past 10 years on 
October 16. 
RUSINESS CONDITIONS 
Mr. William Pitkin, president of the Chase Bros. Co., 
Rochester, N. Y., is very optimistic in regard to condi¬ 
tions in the nursery business, especially of the retail 
agency trade. 
He believes it is in a sound healthy condition and sees 
no reason why it should not continue until the close of 
next spring’s selling season. To quote Mr. Pitkin: 
“Other lines of business seem to be complaining bit¬ 
terly about sales. So far we have not felt any slump 
and do not believe that we shall. If the slump were go¬ 
ing to hit u3 it would have hit us before this. We are 
past the danger point. 
“For several years prior to and including spring of 
1918 our volume of sales was very uniform. For 1919 
we increased about 30%; for 1920 another increase of 
60% and for 1921 still another increase of 60%, which 
was our peak year. So far this year we are about 10% 
ahead of that peak year. 
"The census reports for 1920, covering the orchards 
of the entire country show very large decreases in the 
quantity ol bearing fruit trees and also in the number 
ol younger trees not yet bearing, all of which indicates 
a large demand for our products during the next few 
years. 
“I see no reason why the well-organized retail agency 
concerns should not continue to do a large business and 
find a ready market, at fair prices, for all the fruit trees 
that they should reasonably produce.” 
COMPULSORY MINIMUM WAGES 
Nurserymen in the United States have their labor 
troubles in various forms and perhaps at times feel 
they would be willing to do anything if they could only 
get skilled dependable help. But they should at least be 
thankful they can bargain what rate of wages they 
shall pay. 
In England there is a measure before the House of 
Commons which fixes a compulsory minimum wage of 
60 shillings per week with working hours not to exceed 
48 in any week or 8% any day. There is to be a compul¬ 
sory week day half holiday and an annual holiday of 
one week at full pay. 
The Bill also allows higher rates of pay, to be fixed 
by Conciliation Committees in different localities. 
Mount Arbor Nurseries, Shenandoah, Iowa, reports “a 
very fine fall out through this part of the country. Have 
only had two real hard frosts, which have made it ideal 
for getting in the stock, and also for planting. Fall or¬ 
ders have held on longer than usual, and believe most 
firms through this section of the country have had a very 
good fall business. It started out rather slowly at first, 
but picked up as the season advanced, and has been hold¬ 
ing on real well. 
AS I SEE IT 
By M. T. Nutt 
It seems to me that growers of herbaceous plants have 
not kept up with the times or studied the best methods 
of producing these plants—or to come to the point, the 
stock offered is neither satisfactory or really marketable. 
Recently I needed, to complete some planting plans, 
a large assortment of varieties and finally accumulated 
them from possibly a dozen sources. The plants I re¬ 
ceived were generally most unsatisfactory, either small 
plants from two and a half inch pots or little, poorly 
rooted divisions. None of them had stood transportation 
in really good condition, though in most cases they had 
been carefully packed. 
Some of our most common, strong growing sorts were 
field grown and were very fine, such as Iris, Paeonies, 
Funkias, Mallows, Hollyhocks and a few others, but Del¬ 
phiniums, Digitalis, Aquilegias, Lychnis, Myosotis, etc., 
were most disappointing, and it required much urging 
on my part and assurances, of which I own I did not feel, 
to persuade my customer to let me plant them. I have 
had many similar experiences in the past fifteen years, 
and the results of such plantings have proven very disap¬ 
pointing. 
There appears to me to be no reason why all varieties 1 
