THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
137 
place, but still live near Frelsburg, where my grandparents 
settled in 1833. 
Mr. Finney and Dr. Gregory started their nurseries in this 
county near Alleyton, Texas, about the same time I did and 
both have been dead for a number of years and their nurseries 
are abandoned. Mr. William Watson of Brenham, and Mr. 
G. Onderdonk, of Nursery, I think, entered the nursery 
business some years before 1 did. 
Frelsburg, Texas. J. F. Leyendecker. 
My father planted his first considerable patch of peach 
seed, about twenty-five bushels, in the fall of ’74. The 
only nursery we knew in Texas at that time was William 
Watson’s at Brenham. J. M. Shell at Georgetown commenced 
in the business, I presume, at the same time we did. About 
1S78 my father had all business done under the name of A. 
M. Ramsey & Son and this was continued until after we 
moved to Austin in the spring of ’94. My father died on the 
30th of December, ’95, leaving the nursery in my name. 
I do not believe I can give you any more information about 
other firms that you do not already know. 
Austin, Texas. F. T. Ramsey. 
SHERMAN NURSERIES ; 
The Sherman Commercial Nurseries and Orchards Company 
at Sherman, Texas, was established in 1874 by A. W. Kerr at 
McKinney, Texas, under the name of the Collin Nursery, and 
soon after was changed to the Commercial Nursery, A W. 
and John S. Kerr, Proprietors. In 1884 land was purchased 
at Sherman, Texas, and the business moved there under the 
name of the Sherman Commercial Nurseries. In 1889, the 
entire business was assupied by John S. Kerr, A. W. Kerr 
retiring. In 1905 the business is being incorporaetd under 
the name of the Commercial Nursery & Orchard Co., a num¬ 
ber of the principal operatives taking stock with the original 
proprietor. 
These nurseries have grown extensive ted orchards and 
propagated leading varieties of standard fruits and ornamen¬ 
tals suited to the Southwest and have been in the fore-front 
as it were, in the march of horticultural progress that has 
characterized their section. A system of selling through 
agents, for whose acts these nurseries have held themselves 
responsible, has proven quite a successful feature, be ides a 
good catalogue and wholesale trade has been enjoyed. The 
capital stock an surplus of the company is $35,000. The 
company has extensive orchards in the Red River Fruit Belt, 
near Pottsboro, besides orchard interests in the Peach Belt 
of Eastern Texas. 
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE’S WORK. 
IMPORTANT CONCESSIONS GAINED. 
CHAIRMAN REED’S REPORT. 
Your humble servant having been appointed Chairman of 
the Transportation Committee attended the meeting of the 
Western Classification Committee at Charlievoix, Michigan, 
July 13th to 18th accompanied by our president Mr. Albertson. 
The attendance at this meeting was the largest in the 
history of the Western Committee; there being present from 
seventy-five to one hundred representatives of the different 
lines of business, each asking for recognition in behalf of their 
own claims. 
We found the committee a very pleasant and agreeable 
class of gentlemen to deal with. They seemed to be willing 
to give us all the time gnd attention we asked for and were 
very courteous in their treatment. Mr. Albertson having- 
taken samples with him of peach seed, seedlings, scions and 
waste excelsior we were able to explain to them exactly what 
we wanted and what these products were. 
We are glad to report that they have given us the 16,000 
minimum on cars thirty-six feet, six inches and under; 
20,000 minimum on cars over thirty-six feet six inches and 
24,000 minimum on cars forty-five feet six inches and over. 
This change will make the classification in cars thirty-six 
feet six inches and under, take 16,000 m’nimum in both 
Western and Officials territories; also in cars forty feet take 
20,000 minimum in both territories in sizes between thirty-six 
and forty feet. There will be some variations in the two 
territories. In cars over forty feet there will also be more 
or less variations, but we think by having same minimum in 
the two sizes of cars that are used more than any other sizes 
by the nurserymen, it will do away with a great many mis¬ 
takes and errors in billing from one territory to the other. 
In regard to waste excelsior, they have granted us a saw¬ 
dust rating on same, which will be third class in less than 
car loads and class E. in car loads when shipped in bales. 
There have been quite a number of other changes, such 
as the elimination of grape vines, osage plants, seedlings, etc., 
which will hereafter be classed as nursery stock. 
We cannot give the report in full at the present writing. 
When we receive a printed report from the coi Uiittee all the 
items will be included, and this will be sent out in due time 
as soon as it is made up. We think now that y following 
the matter up closely that we can probably get all that we 
have asked for and some other things that are also necessary. 
There are several other matters that needed attention, but 
were over-looked in making up the list. This work of course 
has been entirely new to the writer and as Mr. Albertson had 
the lines all in his hands before, it was necessary for him to 
complete the work that had been started and I have much 
pleasure in saying that to him belongs the credit for what we 
have gained. 
Any suggestion along this line of transportation work will 
be gladly received from any members of the Association at 
any time, as it is only by the support of the membership that 
we are able to do the most good. 
CHARLXEVOIX AS A MEETING PLACE. 
We found Charlxevoix an ideal place for a convention. The 
hotel is situated on the Lake Front with the Bay on one 
side. It is quite a large hotel, accommodating about seven 
hundred people having also about thirty acres of lawn, which 
is laid off most attractively. It would make an ideal place 
to hold Nurserymen’s Convention at some time in the future, 
being easy of access of Chicago by boat, also by rail, or by boat 
from the East. 
This hotel is controlled by the railroad and they assure us 
they would make a very favorable rate for the convention, 
as at that time of the year their patronage is rather light. 
There are plenty of small lakes and resorts in the immediate 
vicinity for boating, fishing and all other pleasures, which 
makes it altogether a very pleasant place to pass a vacation. 
Vincennes, Indiana. W. C. Reed, 
Chairman Transportation Committee. 
