THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
93 
Obituary. fruit and plant Notes. 
President Henry Hall Goodell of the Massachusetts Agricultural 
College died on April 23rd. He was president of the college since 1880. 
At the time of his death he was on a leave of absence in search of 
health. President Goodell has taken an important part in promoting 
agricultural education, through his connection with the Association 
of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations. 
There died at New London, Conn., on February 17th, John Spalding, 
one of the veteran gardeners of New England. Mr. Spalding was 91 
years of age at the time of his demise. He was born in Perthshire, 
Scotland, but spent most of his life in this country. As a gardener, 
he was well known throughout New England. 
William Paul, an English rosarian of note, died on March 31st, at 
the age of 83. Mr. Paul had spent more than half a century in his rose 
garden, and was one of the best authorities on the rose in recent years. 
He was a contemporary and a co-worker of the late Dean Hole, a 
Fellow of the Linaean Society and one of the oldest Fellows of the 
Royal Agricultural Society of England. 
James Rough, a prominent florist of Boston, died on May 2nd, at the 
age of 57 years. Mr. Rough was a Scotchman, and has been in the 
United States for the past thirty-two years. He was one of the pro¬ 
gressive men in the field of floriculture in New England. 
Frank A. Pierson: The floricultural world lost a progressive young 
man, when Frank A. Pierson, of Cromwell, Conn., died on April 29th, 
of spinal meningitis. Although but 28 years of age, he was well estab- 
tablished in business, and had become a strong factor in commercial 
floriculture. He was the son of the well know florist and nurseryman, 
A. N. Pierson. He not only took an interest in floriculture but in 
municipal affairs, and last fall was elected to the general assembly by 
the Republican party. 
Note and Comment. 
THE SPENCER SEEDLESS APPLE EXPOSED. 
A London (Eng.)letter says that the seedless apple so widely and sys¬ 
tematically advertised in this and other countries has been pronounced 
a fraud by experts Recently great publicity was given to the fact 
that Messrs. Shearn of London had purchased a pair of these apples 
from a Co vent Garden salesman for three pounds; two others having 
been sent to King Edward. The specimens were of the Colorado 
Spencer seedless variety. Certain skeptics challenged the Messrs. 
Shearn to open theirs. This was done before experts, and they were 
ound to contain as many pips (seeds) as, and a larger core, than most 
apples. Messrs. Shearn stated they would bring an action against the 
firm who sold the apples, for misrepresentation. 
DOCTORING FRUIT TREES. 
There has been a good deal said in recent issues of the horticultural 
press regarding the prevention of various plant diseases by the inser¬ 
tions of nostrums of different kinds into the trunks of the trees them¬ 
selves In the April issue of the National Nurseryman and a recent 
number of the Rural New Yorker condemnatory evidence against the 
use of such remedies is given. For instance, it is useless to suppose 
that by boring a hole into a tree and filling it with sulphur, iron filings, 
charcoal, or other insoluble material, that the vitality of the tree is 
likely to be influenced except injuriously. Yet individuals are going 
around the country and claiming to cure plant diseases by such treat¬ 
ment. The writer in the Rural New Yorker actually tried the experi¬ 
ment, and carried it to a conclusive finish, in that the treated trees not 
only did not improve but died much more promptly than others affected 
in the same way, but not treated. 
CO-PARTNERSHIP NOTICE. 
Notice is hereby given that the co-partnership heretofore existing 
between Josiah Hoopes, Abner Hoopes, and George B. Thomas, was 
dissolved on July 1st, A. D., 1904, by the death of Josiah Hoopes. 
The undersigned having purchased the interest of the estate of the 
said Josiah Hoopes, deceased, and the interest of George B. Ihomas, 
in all the assets, good-will and business of the former firm of Hoopes, 
Brother and Thomas, will continue the business under the firm name 
of Hoopes, Brother and Thomas, at West Chester, Penna., and at 
Stephen Girard Building, Philadelphia, Penna. All liabilities ot the 
old firm will be paid and liquidated at West Chester, Penna., where all 
the accounts due to the old firm should be paid. 
Abner Hoopes, 
Wilmer W. Hoopes, 
West Chester, Pa., May 1st, 1905. Charles E. Cattell. 
THE LOQUAT. 
This curious fruit is very interestingly described and figured 
in the issue of May 13th of the Pacific Fruit World. One of 
the leading varieties of the fruit was originated by Mr. C. P. 
Taft of fruit fame in California. This is the Advance, and 
was one of many seedlings grown by Mr. Taft. The loquat is 
a Japanese fruit, and was introduced into the California 
market about twenty years ago. It is increasing in popu¬ 
larity and economic importance. 
Japan Oleaster. 
The Japanese Oleaster is becoming popular in the New 
England states. The fruit is ornamental and the leaves 
being smooth and dark green on the upper surface with 
silver white underneath, and persisting late in the fall, are 
very attractive in contrast to the bright red of the fruit. 
The plant has an additional value in that it is well adapted for 
pot culture. 
MINKLER APPLE. 
Form, oblate with conical tendency, regular; size, medium 
to large; color, yellowish green, washed with brilliant or 
light red, numerous large light dots; skin smooth, slightly 
greasy; cavity broad, medium depth; stem, short, stout; 
basin, broad, very shallow; calyx, large open; flesh, yellow; 
quality, fair, mild subacid, sprightliness; texture, rather 
mealy; core, closed; seed, often imperfect, light brown, long; 
season, early winter. Not exactly winesap like in all its char¬ 
acteristics. Eye open, winesap closed. An attractive apple 
of rather poor quality. Originated in Illinois and would be 
much more generally grown if it were a better bearer. It 
appears to belong to the winesap group. 
BABY RAMBLER ROSE AS A FORCING PLANT. 
Florists are giving considerable attention to the Baby 
Rambler as a forcing plant for Easter. Horticulture for May 
13th records the doings of W. R. Harris, who cut back ramb¬ 
lers in six-inch pots, “which had already flowered at Christ¬ 
mas,” and again forced them so that they bore at Easter from 
six to ten clusters of flowers larger than the best Crimson 
Rambler. “ The prediction is then made that it will entirely 
replace the parent plant as an Easter staple.” Other florists 
are enthusiastic in their belief that the Baby Rambler is 
going to take a very important place as a greenhouse crop at 
that particlular season of the year. 
ROSA RUGOSA. 
The value of this rose lies in its extreme hardiness, its hand¬ 
some luxuriant foliage, and the strikingly attractive char¬ 
acter of its buds. The flowers themselves are single, lack 
lasting qualities, and as a rule are not specially beautiful in 
color, but this rose seems to be destined to be the parent of 
very improtant groups of hybrids of great value for outdoor 
culture. It has already been crossed with the R. Carolina, 
lucida, Californica, ferruginia, Virginiana, blanda, lutea, 
and several hybrid perpetuals. Several of these hybrids have 
already made a place for themselves in nurserymen’s lists 
and in the gardens of interested amateurs. For the West and 
the Northwest particularly this race of roses is of unusual 
value and promise. 
