130 
THE NATIONAL 
NURSERYMAN 
GRADING NURSERY STOCK. 
PRESENTED BY L. A. BERCKMANS BEFORE MEETING OF AMERICAN ASSO¬ 
CIATION OF NURSERYMEN, WEST BADEN, JUNE 1. 1905. 
This subject is one of vital importance, and if a uniforimty of grade 
is established it will simplify sales and prevent many misunderstandings 
and much unpleasant correspondence, which now are very frequent 
between purchaser and seller. 
The cotton trade has a standard grade which is known as the Liver¬ 
pool Classification,” and this is understood by the trade throughout 
the entire universe. Grain men have also a recognized standard for 
grading wheat, corn, oats and other grain. But there being in the 
nursery business so many arbitrary grades, there is of course, no satis¬ 
factory basis for the adjustment of claims. By establishing a standard 
grade of nursery stock we would "know where we are at.” I am 
satisfied that if we will establish a standard grade and calliper our 
sales will be increased and hastened. Owing to the many arbitrary 
grades now in existence it is frequently necessary to ask for samples 
of nursery stock before orders are placed. Many good orders are lost 
by the nurseryman’s supply of a certain grade being exhausted; and 
frequently * he could fill these orders at a good profit if there was an 
established standard of grade, but in many cases, fearing to “buy a 
pig in a poke” he is necessarily obliged to turn down these rush orders. 
A tree to be entitled to the name “ first-elass,” must have a perfect root 
system, be thrifty, straight and free from disease. The proper point 
at which trees should be callipered must be established. Some nur¬ 
serymen calliper at the junction of the bud with the stock, others 
three or four inches above the point where the bud was inserted. I 
have also known instances, when some nurserymen desiring to purchase 
stock, they requested the calliper to be taken twelve inches above the 
junction of the bud with the stock. In top-worked trees, such as 
Weeping Mulberry, Catalpa Bungeii, Weeping Cherries, etc., the 
height of stem and calliper of stock should be given. Many nursery¬ 
men bud Pecans, Chestnuts, etc., from one to three feet above the 
ground, but do not state the height at which the buds are inserted. 
In quoting such stock they give the height from the ground and omit 
to state that the trees are top-worked, and also fail to give the growth 
of the bud or graft. I have frequently seen top-worked Pecans where 
the bud was inserted three feet above the ground, and the bud had 
made a growth of only two to four inches, but such trees were quoted 
as three to four feet trees. 
June-budded Peach-trees have been the cause of many kicks. In 
many instances the buds are inserted anywhere from six to twelve 
inches above the ground but the tree is measured from the ground. 
All of these petty annoyances can be elimitated if we can get together 
and establish a uniformity of grade. 
I will venture to make a few suggestions regarding the most prom¬ 
inent and important items. The sixteenths of an inch should apply 
only to seedlings and stock for grafting or lining out, such as Apples, 
Plums, Pears, Cherries, Roses and Shade Tree seedlings. All trees 
of the regular grades of nursery stock; such as budded and grafted Apples 
Pears, Plums, Peaches, Cherries, Apricots and Shade Trees, for per¬ 
manent planting in orchards, streets or parks should be callipered in 
eighths of an inch. Grafted trees should be callipered three inches 
above the ground. Budded trees three inches above the junction of 
bud and stock. This distance should be well above the swelling. It 
is unnecessary to have so many grades of Peaches, Apples, Pears, etc.; 
for example some Peaches trees are graded 7-16 to 9-16, this should 
be made £ to §. We see other trees graded 9-16 to 11-16, the difference 
between this grade and f to f is infinitesimal. We all know how 
difficult is it to get the stock graded to sixteenths, especially during the 
rush season. I say, Gentlemen, away with the sixteenths so far as 
all the regular grades of nursery stock as above mentioned are concern¬ 
ed. In giving the height of trees grown from cuttings, seeds, grafts 
or layers it should be at the ground line, but budded stock from the 
junction of the bud with the stock, and the bud should be inserted 
not more than two or three inches above the level of the land. I 
trust the few suggestions I have made will bear fruit. It would be 
well to have a committee appointed from members residing in the dif¬ 
ferent sections of the country to take up this question and suggest 
a schedule of grade and calliper which will be accepted as the standard 
by the trade in general. 
fruit and plant jNotcs 
LEADING VARIETIES OF SWEET CHERRIES. 
T. A. FARRAND, SOUTH HAVEN FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATION, MICHIGAN, 
IN SPECIAL CHERBY REPORT OF AMERICAN 
POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Bing Originated in Oregon and introduced by Seth Lewelling of 
Milwakuee, Oregon. Very large; roundish heart shape; almost black; 
flesh firm, meaty; flavor vinous, sweet; high quality; season medium. 
A most promising variety. (Description made by Van Deman.) 
Cleveland Tree a very strong, vigorous, spreading grower, and pro¬ 
ductive. Fruit, medium to large, form compressed slightly heart 
shaped; color light yellow shaded, with red on one side; flesh light, 
quite firm, juicy, quality fair, mid-season. 
Elton Tree a good grower, but lacks productiveness here. Fruit 
very large, compressed elongated, heart shaped. Skin pale yellow, 
blushed with red, flesh light medium, firm juicy, with a sweet, rich 
vinous flavor, quality best, mid-season. 
Kirtland’s Mary Quite an old variety, which seems to be but little 
planted. Tree only moderately vigorous, but very productive. Fruit 
large, roundish, heart shaped. Skin, handsomely mottled, light and 
dark red, on yellow ground, light fleshed, very firm, juicy, early to 
mid-season, fine quality, weak point; lack of vigor. . 
Lambert Originated with J. H. Lambert of Portland, Oregon, on 
his fruit farm at Milwaukee, Oregon. Fruit large to very large, ob¬ 
tusely heart shaped, sutured side compressed, suture a mere line; 
ground color dark amber becoming covered at maturity with a beau¬ 
tiful dark, rich magenta, the ground color showing mottled; flesh dark, 
rich, firm and juicy with a sprightly flavor. Stem R inches, stout 
and attached in a shollaw narrow cavity. Pit small. 
Napoleon One of the most popular varieties for all sections. The 
trees are strong vigorous growers, and very productive. Fruit is of 
large size, handsomely mottled, light and dark, with very firm light- 
colored flesh, and good quality, mid-season. 
Rockport Highly recommended from many sections, both east and 
Rest. Tree moderately vigorous, but productive. Fruit of large 
size, good quality and appearance; form, roundish, compressed, heart- 
shaped; skin, yellow with dark red blush; flesh, light, tender and 
juicy. Quality very good, early to mid-season. 
Tartarian Black One of the oldest, and is at present one of the 
most popular market varieties in the more favorable localities. Lacks 
the vigor and hardiness of the Napoleon and Windsor as grown here. 
Windsor Origin, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. This is one of the 
newest varieties that has gained a National reputation, and it is safe 
to say, shopld be included in every sweet cherry list. The trees are 
hardy, vigorous, and very productive. Fruit large, roundish, heart- 
shaped; skin, dark liver-colored; flesh, dark red, yery firm, juicy, 
fine quality, medium late. 
Wood Recommended from nearly all sections for near-by markets 
and home use. Tree, strong, vigorous grower, very productive. Fruit, 
medium to large, heart-shaped; skin, pale yellow, with pale red blush; 
flesh, white, very tender, juicy, with sweet, mild pleasant flavor; good 
quality; season early. Inclined to rot badly. 
Yellow Spanish This old, well known variety does well under 
varied conditions, and for this reason it still holds a popular place on 
the lists. 
TWO PROMISING NEW CHERRIES. 
Dikeman Cherry (Bigarreau): Size medium, on young trees about 
the size of a Gov. Wood; on old trees larger. Shape, truncated heart, 
flattened. Color, very dark liver, nearly black. Flesh very firm; 
juice, purple. Skin rather tough, rarely cracks or rots. Flavor 
sprightly, sweet. Ripens after English Morello. Its season here in 
Oceana county, Michigan, is from August 1st to September 1st. Tree 
very thrifty, upright grower; begins fruiting young, but requires age 
to lay on profitable crops. 
Cook’s Imperial: “We would say that this cherry was originated 
by Mr. Steven Cook, of Benton Harbor, it being a seedling from the 
