16 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
Hssodation Items. Season and Crade. 
INTERESTING NOTES FROM CHAIRMEN OF COM¬ 
MITTEES. 
TARIFF COMMITTEE. 
Editor National Nurseryman. 
Dear Sir: Replying to yours of the 7th inst. I wish to say, 
that a thorough investigation of the tariff as regards nursery 
stock leads me to the conclusion that it is useless to attempt 
to remedy existing evils which are due to the administration 
of United States customs laws. These laws apply harshly 
to other lines of imports notably the seed trade, as well as to 
nursery products. Probably 80 per cent, of the imports in 
nursery stock are bought four to six months in advance of 
shipment. Under the law, if the goods are plenty and the 
price for the remaining 10 per cent, falls, the importer must 
pay the invoice or contract price and cannot benefit by the 
cheaper price. If on the other hand, stock is scarce at the end 
of the season and prices rise, this increased value for the small 
quantity unsold sets the figures for the whole year’s output. 
It’s a “heads I win, tails you lose” sort of business with the 
United States Government in the lead. 
Rochester, N. Y. Irving Rouse, 
Chairman. 
TRANSPORTATION. 
Dear Sir: I regret that the members of the Committee 
on Transportation have nothing new to report at the present 
time. We arc doing everything possible to get matters in 
good shape, and are expecting to go before the Western Freight 
Classification Committee again in January; we have also 
been trying to get affairs in shape to take our case before 
the Official Committee, but it is hard to tell just what will 
be accomplished at either place. Do not know just what 
bearing the new uniform bill of lading bill may have on the 
results of our work. We are working hard and hope to accom¬ 
plish something of benefit to the nurserymen before spring 
business opens up, and as soon as anything definite is done 
will be glad to report again. 
Bridgeport, Ind. E. Albertson. 
FREIGHT CLASSIFICATION. 
Editor National Nurseryman. 
Dear Sir: Replying to your esteemed favor of the 7th 
inst. would say that the Committee of the National Nursery¬ 
men’s Association appointed to meet and consider eastern 
freight classification in New York, have not yet had their 
meeting, but it is now expected that not only the commit¬ 
tee, but several of the interested Eastern Nurserymen will 
meet the Classification Committee in New York during the 
month of January. 
Further than this I know of nothing to report in regard to 
the matter. We hope to have with us at that time Mr. Albert¬ 
son, Chairman on Transportation, who has given such un¬ 
tiring and efficient service in the cause. 
Morrisville, Pa. Wm. H. Moon. 
“Snowed under with work even if we do live in the south. Hardly time 
to eat and sleep during the next three months.,” writes our good friend 
Taber, of Glen Saint Mary, Fla. 
From a growing standpoint, this season has been an excellent one. 
Even after our severe winter, stock has made a fine growth. Business, 
although dull early in the season, has picked up and we expect the 
usual volume for spring. 
Geneva, N. Y. The R. G. Chase Co. 
We have had a fair growing season although some of our trees did 
not make up as well as usual. Business is good and we will sell all our 
stock except some ornamentals. 
Abner Hoopes, of Hoopes Bros. & Thomas. 
West Chester, Pa. 
The season has given us a fair growth on apple and cherry trees but 
rather poor on pear trees. Seedlings of Cherry, pear and apples are in 
fine condition. 
Gresham, Ore. Eastwood Nurseries. 
The season has been decidedly favorable for growing stock. 
With seven months hot arid sun and proper irrigation and cut’¬ 
ll re, arid-climate rose bushes have developed beyond expectation. We 
do not reach the trade for fall sales but in our business history the out¬ 
look for spring was never better. 
Riverside, Cal. Chase Rose Company. 
Editor National Nurseryman 
About the usual spring plant was made in this section and with a very 
favorable growing season that we have had. Nursery stock is looking 
exceptionally well. 
All kinds of dormant budded stocks seem to be in good condition for 
the winter. The outlook is much better than one year ago. The 
demand for marketable stock is fully up to the average. There is some 
shortage on cherry and plum and prices are well maintained. Pears a 
little higher than one year ago. Peaches about equal to the demand. 
Salesmen anticipate a better business for the winter than last year 
when the unusual cold weather prevented regular work. Our shipping 
season is about over and collections have been very good. We think 
marketable stock will be well cleaned up for spring trade. 
Tippecanoe City, Ohio. The Farmers Nursery Co. 
OPTIMISTIC ON LONG ISLAND. 
Editor National Nurseryman 
Dear Sir :—In response to your esteemed favor of October 25th, 
which I found awaiting my attention upon my return from Europe, I 
would say that having been absent from the United States for a period 
of ten weeks, I hardly feel competent to answer your questions fully. 
So far as the growing of stock is concerned, the season has been a very 
favorable one. We have had continuous rains and a moderate tem¬ 
perature. Stock planted last spring has done exceptionally well 
especially the evergreens and the loss on the same has been decidedR 
small. The fall season for transplanting has been very favorable and 
we have succeeded in moving a large quantity of stock in fine condition. 
From the business standpoint we feel very hopeful. As you are 
aware, we began the sale of our nursery stock last spring. Our venture 
is comparatively a new one and the market which we have is some.vhat 
limited as we are growing an expensive class of stock. Nevertheless, we 
have been favored with a fair amount of business and we are in hopes of 
increasing it in the future. 
So far as the general nursery business is concerned, I am not in a 
position to advance a competent opinion. The general impression 
which I have received throughout Europe is that the nursery trade is 
dull, and I have received an intimation since returning to America that 
the trade in general has not been overly brisk. This I think probably 
due someivhat to the disturbance of businesss caused by the Presi¬ 
dential election, but now that this is settled, and it has also been de¬ 
termined that the policy which has controlled the government of this 
country for the past eight years, shall be continued for four years more, 
I feel quite certain that there is an era of prosperity ahead of us in 
which the nursery trade will participate to its full share. 
Queens, L. I. " C. W. Ward, 
The Cottage Gardens Co. 
