THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
39 
THE TARIFF ON NURSERY STOCK 
A Comprehensive Review from the Standpoint of Importer 
as well as Grower. 
Every Man Has a Right to be Heard on the Tariff Question for in One Way or Another Both Pro¬ 
ducer and Consumer are Concerned Directly or Indirectly. No One Firm or Group of Nur¬ 
sery Firms is Expected to Dictate the Fiscal Policy Affecting the Nursery Interests of the 
Country. Keeping in Mind the Vigorous and Generous Efforts of the Committee on Tariff 
to Secure a Satisfactory Revison an d the Fact That They Wish to Obtain fr om the Nursery¬ 
men of the Country Their Views on This Important Matter, We are Pleased to Present the 
Following Extracts From Letters Received From All Parts of the Country. It is Interesting 
to Observe That a Note of Confidence in Our Ability to Stand Alone and Unprotected Appears 
Here and There. The General Argument Appears, However, to Favor an Increase and a Specific 
Rather Than Ad Valorem Duty. 
SOME VIEWS FROM NEW ENGLAND AND NEW YORK. 
We do not see any reason for their being any duty on 
Myrobolan, quince, pear, Manetti and Maheleb stocks, 
practically none are grown in this country, therefore, why 
should the nurserymen be taxed for them? Of course, 
large quantities of apple seedlings are grown in the West, 
but they have become, in many cases, infected with disease 
so that Eastern nurserymen at least are depending more 
and more on imported apple seedlings and will continue to 
do so whatever the duty may be, rather than run the risk 
of losing 50 to 75% of their crop by disease caused by using 
seedlings infected by disease on the start. 
We think the duty on large conifers, ornamental trees, 
and shrubs should be increased, as at present rates, Holland 
growers can successfully compete in these lines with nursery¬ 
men in the Eastern part of the United States. 
The Barnes Brothers Nursery Co., Inc., 
John R. Barnes, Pres. 
Yalesville, Conn. 
MASSACHUSETTS AND THE UNSELFISH REPUBLICAN. 
The handwriting on the wall is that protective tariffs 
must go. I am a republican and grow a certain class of 
plants that would be benefited by a tariff but it is nothing 
but absolutely sheer selfishness on my part to expect every¬ 
body else to support me by protecting my specialty. I 
realize that this attitude is unusual and may sound modest 
to the ordinary hearer, but you must understand that I 
am almost in the socialist ranks, and as I intimated before, 
if with good health and the greatest natural resources in the 
world we cannot exist in the United States without cod¬ 
dling a few who happen to be on top, then let us go out of 
existence and let some more virile race take our place. 
I am at little loss to know why you would be delighted 
to give me space in the February issue,—whether it is to 
“soak” me for my rather socialistic views or whether you 
have a tendency that way yourself. However, it wouldn’t 
make the slightest difference with me which attitude 
you happened to assume so far as I am concerned. B A or 
yourself you had better jump on the band wagon and cut 
out some of your protective ideas, which 1 think have been 
inoculated in your veins. 
You must remember that I was brought up a New York 
Tribune Republican, but that is no reason why I should 
stay a “hard-shell” all my days. 
. To me it is highly amusing how our library philanthro¬ 
pist Carnegie has suddenly seen “the great light” after he 
has made his neat little pile and now sets back with smiling 
face and gives Public Library benefits to all mankind out 
of his gains made by protective tariffs and perhaps railroad 
rebates. 
Harlan P. Kelsey. 
Salem, Mass. 
WESTERN NEW YORK. 
In revising the present tariff, of which w'e have our 
doubts of much in it being changed, we express ourselves 
as follows. In adjusting same, common sense views should 
prevail and where any changes are made it should be for 
the benefit of all concerned. 
We advocate a specific duty should rule on all fruit-tree 
and other stocks, cuttings, seedlings and layers, so much, 
say $2.00 or so per thousand, but no advalorum duty to be 
placed in addition. These stocks, and seedlings of all 
kinds which take two and three years to bring them fit for 
market are beneficial to all growers in this country. The 
blooming roots and plants used by florists, such as Chinese 
Azaleas, hyacinths, lilies, tulips and other bulbs should be 
admitted free of duty, but all other stocks such as ornamen¬ 
tal trees, and fruit trees of all kinds, and roses, rhododen¬ 
drons, paeonies, clematis, Dutchman’s pipe and some other 
items should have a specific duty 5c on each and every kind 
fit for immediate planting. This would encourage the 
American growers and give a healthy tone to the business. 
We would instance the evil of the present tariff to our 
growers, by one illustration. Take roses for instance. 
It is asserted that about two millions of roses are passed 
through the New York custom house each season. These 
roses are fit for retailing and planting in the garden, a 
finished product. About one half of these imported roses 
are sold by department stores, retailed at 10c. each, this 
