THE NATIONAL NUESEEYMAN 
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Would you kindly give us some information in regard 
to the best time of sowing perennials. W. N. 
Ans.—The best time for sowing perennials is now, 
that is providing you have a cool greenhouse. There is 
reallly no difference in raising perennials from seed than 
there is early cabbage or tomatoes. 
You will find shallow boxes 18x24 inches and three 
inches deep is a good practical size. 
See that the bottoms are not too tight to permit of 
drainage. Get a supply of these on hand and a good pile of 
sifted light soil mider cover so it will be in good con¬ 
dition for handling. 
When ready to sow the seeds put a layer of well rotted, 
dryish manure at the bottom of the box, fill up level with 
fine sifted soil, press down the corners, level, then press 
evenly with a flat board, sow the seed thinly, cover 
tightly, the very fine seed need not be covered at all, a 
good rule is to cover the seed about their own depth, 
then sprinkle with a fine rosed watering can, and cover 
the boxes with glass until the seeds germinate. 
After they have made their seed leaves is the critical 
time as many kinds damp off very readily. 
Remove the glass so as to give more air upon the first 
sign of damping, and watch very closely. 
They should be pricked out in other flats or boxes 
just as soon as they can be handled. It is sometimes ne¬ 
cessary to prick them off while they are extremely small 
if the plants are to be saved. 
TENNESSEE STATE NURSEYMEN’S ASSOCIATION 
The Tennessee Nurserymen’s Association met in joint 
convention, with the State Florists and State Beekeepers 
Association and the Tennessee State Horticultural So¬ 
ciety on January 28th to 31st at Nashville, Tenn. 
There was a large and enthusiastic gathering made up 
of the leading nurserymen of Tennessee and neighboring 
states. 
The estimated attendance being about 200. Several 
new members joined the Association which now has a 
membership of 180. 
George W. Poague, Graysville, Tenn., was elected 
President, and G. W. Bentley, Secretary-Treasurer. 
The home place of the Whiting Nursery Company, 
Yankton, South Dakota, has been sold for $300 per acre. 
This is, it is believed, the record price paid for farm 
lands in South Dakota. The place consists of 42 acres 
and is now covered with nursery trees which the Whil¬ 
ing Company will remove so far as they can find a mar¬ 
ket before it vacates on June 1st. 
The Whiting Company will clear off as much of the 
nursery stock as possible before June 1st when Mr. and 
Mrs. Whiting expect to move to Bayfield, Wisconsin, 
where they have heavy interests. 
NEW YORK NURSERYMEN’S DINNER 
Seventy-four nurserymen sat down to the New York 
State Nurserymen’s Association Annual Dinner at the 
Seneca Hotel, Rochester, N. Y., February 22nd, 1919. 
Taking it altogether, the affair was the best attended 
and most successful ever held. 
“Jim” Pitkin was there in his old-time roll of leader of 
the “chanters,” which effectually prevented periods of 
depression. 
Charles H. Perkins, 2nd, President of the New York 
State Nurserymen’s Association, presided, and introduced 
William Pitkin, the Perennial President of the Ananias 
Club, as toastmaster, who performed the duties in his 
usual characteristic way. 
James M. Pitkin gave several humorous reminiscences. 
John H. Dayton read in a serious vein, an admirable 
paper on market conditions. 
John Watson was there and delighted his hearers in a 
masterly oratorical effort. 
The most important event of the evening was the argu¬ 
ment made for the Nurserymen’s National Seiwice Bureau 
by the manager, F. F. Rockwell, of New York. 
He was followed by Robert Pyle and J. Edward Moon, 
who made stirring appeals on the same subject. 
Mr. Allen, of New York, formerly manager of Pyrene 
Company, strongly advocated the value of publicity and 
co-operation. 
GREETINGS 
To the Honorable Chairman and Members of the 
Federal Horticultural Board, 
Washington, D. C. 
We, the members of the Illinois Nurserymen’s Asso¬ 
ciation, duly assembled in convention February 5th, 1919, 
heartily endorse the action of your Board in establishing 
the Federal quarantine No. 37, restricting the importa¬ 
tion of nursery stock and other plants and seeds on and 
after June 1st, 1919. 
Realizing that this quarantine is the result of your 
thorough investigation, we request that this quarantine 
be made permanent so as to safeguard the development 
of the agricultural, horticultural, and forestry interests 
of America, as well as the nurserymen and growers, 
propagating and distributing such nursery stock, plants 
and seeds as are being excluded by this quarantine. 
Illinois Nurserymen’s Association. 
OAK PARK NURSERIES 
The business of the Oak Park Nurseries has been 
purchased by Leslie H. MacRobbie, a contract to that 
effect having been signed this week with the fonner 
owners, E. B. & V. S. Tiger. The nursery will be put in 
shape, new stock will be added, a new office will be built, 
andi it will be opened for business in the spring of 1920. 
Mr. MacRobbie has been in the nursery business in 
Patchogue for the past six years as manager of the Swan 
River Nurseries, which position he will hold until the 
opening of the new business. 
