46 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
avoided or at least prevented to a considerable extent, by using 
as apple stock, the native Siberian Crab-apple of Northern 
Japan and Siberia, (Pyrus baccata). This is to be distin¬ 
guished from the type of Siberian Crab recognized in the 
United States under the name of Pyrus pr unfolia, by the fact 
that the calyx is deciduous. That is to say, it is thrown off 
about the time of the ripening of the fruit. There are many 
varieties of this berry crab, P. baccata. They all seem to pos¬ 
sess the quality of great hardiness. 
Professor Hansen has found that the stock is resistant to 
the severe cold of South Dakota, and both he and Professor 
Green are experimenting with this stock in an extensive way. 
A large number of seedlings have been grown and distributed 
to interested nurserymen and fruit growers. 
It is a remarbable thing that this form of apple should be 
hardier in the Mississippi Valley than the native crab, Pyrus 
Ioensis, which is found distributed throughout the region. 
One of the characteristic influences of this stock upon the 
cion, is that it dwarfs it considerably. Apart then from the 
quality of increasing hardiness, is to be considered the pos¬ 
sibility of it proving a desirable dwarf stock for the colder 
regions of this country where the Doucin and Paradise stocks 
would be unsafe. Professor Hansen recommends budding 
instead of root grafting, as the best method of working this 
stock. 
SOIL INOCULATION FOR LEGUMES. 
The work of George T. Moore of the Laboratory of Plant 
Industry in connection with the development of useful va¬ 
rieties of bacteria is well known. The first publication on 
this subject from the author of this important work comes 
to us under number of Bulletin 71. It contains the reports 
of twenty-five hundred farmers who have been experimenting 
with bacteria in connection with the growing of different 
leguminous crops. Over one thousand farmers reported on 
the use of alfalfa bacteria, and of these, five hundred and 
twenty-two reported favorably. Five hundred used red 
clover bacteria, and three hundred reported favorably. Two 
hundred and ninety used cowpea bacteria, and of these, one 
hundred and forty-eight found that it definitely increased 
the crop. Among other crops experimented with were gar¬ 
den pea, common bean, soy bean, hairy vetch, crimson clover, 
field pea, and velvet oean. On the whole the report gives 
very convincing evidence in favor of the use of nitrogen 
collecting bacteria. 
Mary had an autocart, 
She ran it through the briars, 
And after that, ere it would go, 
She had to pump the tires. 
She pumped them up too tight one day, 
’Twas more than they could stand; 
They burst and blew poor Mary to 
A better, happier land. 
—Rural New Yorker. 
COLONIST RATES. 
To Pacific Coast Points, Via WABASH R AILROAD. On sale 
March 1st. to May 15th inclusive, $42.50 to all Pacific Coast points 
from Buffalo. Correspondingly low rates to points in Utah, Montana, 
Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California. Ask your Local Agent 
or write, R. F. Kelley, G. A. P. D. or .Tames Gass, N. Y. S. P. A. 287 
Main Street. Buffalo, N. Y. 
THE READING NURSERY, MASS. 
In an attractive announcement circular issued by a Mr. 
J. Woodward Manning, we learn that he has purchased the 
good-will, rights, titles, and the nursery stock of the Reading- 
Nursery, Reading, Massachusetts, which was established in 
1854 by his father, the late Jacob W. Manning. This nursery 
has an enviable record for integrity and straightforward busi¬ 
ness principles. Mr. Manning was associated with his father in 
business for fifteen years previous to the organization of a part¬ 
nership with his brother, Warren H., for the purpose of conduct¬ 
ing a landscape architects’ business in Boston. During this 
time he made a study of plants adapted to New England 
conditions, and gathered at Reading an unusually full col¬ 
lection of rare trees, shrubs and fruits. The collection of 
perennial plants was also more than ordinarily replete, and - 
was known to botanists the country over. The garden Her¬ 
baria of several agricultural colleges were amplified in con¬ 
siderable measure by the generosity of the owner of the 
Reading nurseries. We offer Mr. Manning our congratula¬ 
tions and best wishes for the success of the Reading nurseries. 
FREIGHT RATE BILL. 
After much discussion a bill to regulate freight rates has been passed 
by the House. It is at present hung up in the Senate. The following 
summary presents the salient features of this bill: 
“ The interstate Commerce Commission shall have the right to name 
a reasonable rate in place of one found to be unjust and unreasonable, 
the same to become operative within thirty days. There shall be no 
suspension of said rate, except upon reversal by the Court of Review. 
“A Court of Transportation is established, composed of five Circuit 
Judges selected by the President, which shall have the power to review 
orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission on appeal. 
“The Interstate Commerce Commission is increased from 5 to 7 
members, no more than 4 of whom shall belong to the same political 
party, and their salaries are increased from $7,500 to $10,000 a year. 
“Refusal to obey an order of the Interstate Commerce Commission 
respecting rates shall be punished by a fine of $5,000 for each day of such 
refusal. 
“The President shall appoint five additional Circuit Judges to take 
the place of those appointed on the Court of Transportation. 
“The Court of Transportation shall hold four sessions a year, begin¬ 
ning on the first Tuesday of March, June, September and December. 
“Appeals may be taken from the Court of Transportation to the 
Supreme Court of the United States.” 
STORED APPLES. 
It appears that there is a greater quantity of apples in store 
houses this year than ever before. From the best statements secured 
about February first there were 2,400,000 barrels in various store 
houses in the United States. This was 200,000 more than at the same 
period in 1904. The increase is largely in the United States. Ontario 
has a slightly larger quantity in store, but Nova Scotia has some 20,000 
barrels less. 
While this quantity is large, it is gratifying to know that the keeping 
quality is unusually good. In the western states, Colorado is beginning 
to show up as an apple producing state. This state has nearly twelve 
times more apples in store this year than last year. West Virginia 
has also produced greatly in excess of 1904. It was estimated that 
there were in common storage in New York about February 1, fully 
500,000 barrels of apples. 
It would appear as though apple handlers would be obliged to move 
their stock before long, especially the stock which_is_in common storage. 
