272 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
MISSISSIPPI 
Rose Specialists 
Heavy Rains Prevent Cultivation 
During the months of May and June we had incessant 
rainfalls which precluded cultivation, and, therefore, all 
stocks suffered for proper attention. The month of May 
was also cold, and this with deficient sunshine further com¬ 
plicated matters. The soil is now drying out and we hope 
to keep the cultivators going as the weather conditions have 
changed for the good during the past few days. The growth 
of stock is below normal somewhat, but fair weather and a 
little hustling on our part will have everything in shape 
within a few weeks. 
We have never been troubled with insects of any kind and 
all of our troubles are with mildew and spot of various kinds 
on our roses when conditions are unfavorable. Our grow¬ 
ing consists of roses principally, and in addition thereto, we 
grow in quantity, ornamental shrubs, peonies, Japanese Iris, 
phlox and cannas in quantity, selling entirely to the 
trade. 
All indications point to a healthy fall trade, and it looks 
as if field grown roses will be scarcer than usual. Thus 
far, orders booked are heavier than usual, and we have 
many inquiries for future business. As a whole, the out¬ 
look is good and we do not anticipate having a surplus of 
anything to offer next spring. 
The United States Nursery Co. 
Rich, Miss. S. W. Crowell, Mgr. 
PENNSYLVANIA 
The Chestnut Blight in the East 
I am just starting from home for a few days’ vacation, 
and can only drop you a line to state that we have nothing 
special to report. We are watching with some interest the 
spread of the Chestnut Blight which I find is greatly on the 
increase at the Pocono Mountains near my summer 
cottage. 
As yet we may say there are only isolated cases, but it 
is evidently more general than it was a year ago. It makes 
rapid work of the trees that it attacks, generally killing 
them in a week or ten days, their foliage withering and 
drying up in a very short time. 
Government experts whom we have consulted inform us 
that they know of no cure other than to remove and burn 
the diseased trees. If it continues it is likely to be very 
destructive to the future chestnut cultivation. We have 
not time to express any new ideas on cultivation, feeding 
or training of nursery stock just now. We have a large 
force of men employed in keeping our nursery clear of 
weeds and in frequently stirring the soil. Stock is making 
a fine growth and the outlook for fall trade is excellent. 
The Wm. H. Moon Co. 
Morrisville, Pa. Wm. H. Moon, Sec’y. 
So far we have had an unusually good growing season. 
Insect pests have been less than usual and so far have 
not caused us trouble. The outlook for fall trade is bright. 
West Chester, Pa. Hoopes Bro. & Thomas Co. 
WISCONSIN 
Late Freeze—Prune Carefully for the North 
The last week in May we had a fall of about eight inches 
of snow accompanied with a severe blizzard and freeze 
which did considerable damage to nursery stock in ship¬ 
ment. Since then we have had very favorable weather and 
stock has been making a fine growth and recovering from 
the very severe drought of last fall. New orders are coming 
in very satisfactorily and the outlook for future trade is 
good. 
During the past four years we have been much troubled 
with leaf hoppers on our young trees in nursery, both apple 
and shade trees. We have done nothing as yet to checking 
them and would like to know what other nurserymen are 
doing to prevent damage by them. 
We believe that the present method practiced by 
nurserymen of heading apple and plum also cherry trees at 
one point, to be wrong. In our young orchard planting we 
have several trees grown naturally without cutting the 
leader and the branches are formed as nature intended. 
The leader has never been cut and they are far better 
orchard trees than those on which the leader has been cut 
back at two or three years. I would like'opinions of nursery 
men and orchardmen on this point who have had more 
experience than we have had. 
Henry Lake Sons Co., 
Black River Falls, Wis. A. H. Lake, Sec’y 
NEW YORK 
Whale Oil and Kerosene Against Aphis 
Taking into consideration the backward spring we had, 
stock is looking fairly well. We have had some aphis on 
apple and a little on cherry, but not enough to amount to a 
great deal. To treat this, we use whale oil and kerosene, 
which works to good advantage. 
In cultivating, we use the two horse cultivator and also 
the one horse Perry cultivator and of course do consider¬ 
able ploughing. This ploughing is done about once every 
three or four weeks and the cultivating is done about once 
every week during the months of June, July and August. 
We use barn yard fertilizer altogether. 
At the present time, prospects for trade are looking 
exceptionally fine, and if they continue we ought to double 
up last year’s business on the retail end. The wholesale is 
a little slow but we expect it to improve later in the season. 
Geneva, N. Y. Rice Bros. Co. 
General Conditions 
Reports from all over the state indicate that the season 
has been a dry one. Usually, however, showers have 
come at the critical moment and saved the stock suffering 
from what might have been a drought. 
Inspection of many nurseries reveals the fact that 
seldom has there been a healthier growth. Trees and 
ornamentals have a sturdy appearance and are free from 
diseases. 
Sales have been steady and are rapidly picking 
up. 
