THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
41 
whether or not all this Mississippi Valley is in-any wise 
benefited by any tariff whatever, on all seedlings and on 
ornamental shrubs, roses, etc. There is, so far as I know, 
but one firm in this region growing Mahaleb stocks and in 
spite of that, nearly aff the stocks are imported. We pay 
one fourth more than we should and like the imported 
stock best. The same is true of roses and small shrubs. 
As to small evergreens, it is about a stand off. Some kinds 
are cheapest even with the tariff added; in other cases the 
home grown are most available. I should like to see the 
tariff reduced rather than increased. 
C. L. Watrous. 
Des Moines, Iowa. 
Second: We believe tariff should be revised on nursery 
stock, and especially between the U. S. and Canada it should 
be removed entirely. It would be for the benefit of both 
of these neighboring countries if this tariff were cancelled. 
Jewell Nursery Co. 
Lake City, Minn. 
The tariff: We believe it was the late Grover Cleveland 
who at the time of his first election said he knew but little 
about it; we must claim a like distinction. The Western 
Association approved the schedule as recommended by the 
Tariff Committee. Personally, we believe in free trade, 
but from a selfish standpoint the tariff may, in a small way, 
do for the nursery trade, what it has done for the Steel Trust 
in a big way. 
Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. 
Louisiana, Mo. 
AMONG THE APPLE STOCK MEN. 
Your tariff committee should see to it that there is no 
increase of tariff on nursery stock. If there is any change 
it should be downward. If possible take off ad valorem and 
place on a specific duty and thus avoid trouble in passing 
imports. Great care should be exercised in getting this 
change not to place the duty higher than it is at present. 
Equity demands a sliding scale for the different grades 
of seedlings. 
A. L. Brooke. 
North Topeka, Kans. 
A SLIDING SCALE ON NURSERY STOCK. 
Our views on tariff revision are somewhat at variance 
with those of the National Committee, as set forth in Decem¬ 
ber number of the Nurseryman. It seems to be a well 
established fact that the tariff will be revised under the in¬ 
coming administration, and that the revision is to be along 
the lines of lower, rather than increased duties. We arc 
somewhat doubtful, therefore, as to the wisdom of sub¬ 
mitting a schedule calling for increased duties, as it may 
result in the “powers that be” going altogether too far in the 
opposite direction. We know the Committee states that 
under the schedule as proposed the rates will be raised but 
very little. We can’t arrive at that conclusion, especially 
as it relates to proposed duties on fruit tree stocks an 
item this section of the country is more particularly inter¬ 
ested in. We heartily agree with argument put up by 
the Committee asking for the doing away of the ad valorem 
rate and applying only a straight specific duty. We think 
it very desirable for the trade in general that this change be 
made, as the present system is a great annoyance to say the 
least. We think that instead of a straight $1.00 and $2.00 
duty per M. on these stocks, as proposed, a sliding scale 
should apply, commencing with figures named for No. 1 
grade and dropping a certain amount on each lighter grade. 
In the West and Southwest the No. 2 grade is largely used, 
especially in Mahalebs. August and September am the 
best months for budding these stocks here, and this grade 
produces at that time stocks as large as can be budded suc¬ 
cessfully. Taking a recently received price list, it''can 
easily be figured out that the duty under the proposed 
schedule on No. 1 stocks, or say | mm. grade, will be in¬ 
creased from 14 cents per M. on Mahalebs to about 18 cents 
on pear figured on « mm. grade; while in two instances 
(Mazzards and Myrobolans) the new schedule will be cheaper 
by about two cents per M. Now, take No. 2, or f mm. 
grade, and under the proposed schedule we find the duty 
will be increased materially on every item, ranging from 
35 cents on Mahalebs to 79 cents per M. on Pear. Now, our 
contention is that if a No. 2 grade of stocks will give as good 
results to a certain section of the country that a No. 1 
grade will to another; then the user of the lighter grade 
should not be required to pay any more money in duty to 
secure that grade than the buyer of No. 1 stocks. A sliding 
scale of about 25 cents per M. less on each grade under No. 
1 would, in our opinion, remedy the defect referred to herein 
and allow each buyer to use whatever grade he preferred at 
practically the same cost in duty, and which we believe is 
only fair to all concerned. 
Another matter, that must be considered in this con¬ 
nection, is that of freight rates. The rates to the West and 
Southwest are fully double what they are to Eastern points. 
Therefore it behooves nurserymen in this section, where 
possible, to use the lighter grades. 
L. R. Taylor & Sons. 
Topeka, Kans. 
A NEBRASKAN’S VIEW. 
In regard to our advise on the tariff revision in relation 
to nursery stock, there are some points about it u hich w e 
feel quite interested in, for instance, one is that of the duty 
on roses. "W”e have noticed some individuals ha\ e been 
advocating a rise on roses. The rate that is now paid, ve 
believe is 2 >£c. We think this is plenty high and should be 
left where it is, at least not raised any more. We all grow 
moie or less roses and we feel that this amount protects us 
amply. Our leading rose growers, since they have thor¬ 
oughly learned the varieties easiest grown, have just quit 
and will not grow some of our very popular varieties, 
General Washington, for instance, so that the rose buyers 
must go to European markets for such varieties in order 
to get & plants to supply his trade. . To have to purchase 
these in Europe and pay any more than 2>^c import will 
surely seem to us to be an injustice. 
