THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
175 
time that mulberries introduced into Nebraska and Kansas by the 
Mennonites from eastern Russia, were beginning to fruit. These trees 
attracted the attention of wide awake Nebraska nurserymen who 
seized the opportunity and sold all over the country large 
numbers of seedling Russian mulberries. The tree is one of the easiest 
of our fruit trees to grow from seed, consequently they could be put upon 
the market very cheaply. By the time however, they reached the 
planter through the medium of the tree missionary, they had grown 
to be valuable stock. Many of these trees are a disappointment because 
the hopes of the planters were far above and beyond possible reali¬ 
zation. Here and there however, some of these seedlings of special 
merit are bringing satisfaction and pleasure to those who have planted 
them. 
The Russsian Mulberry is not a fraud in all respects. It. has many 
good points but it should not be classed with cherries or blackberries, 
nor be regarded as a staple'fruit. 
Many foreigners appreciate it and 
use it. It is hardly fair to call it a 
“poor man’s fruit,” but if bearing 
under adverse circumstances and 
under neglect would qualify it to 
carry this title then it rightfully be¬ 
longs to it. 
There is now a good work to be 
done by someone in connection with 
the selection of important and desir¬ 
able strains of this type of mulberry. 
The great variation exhibited by 
seedlings makes the work of selec¬ 
tion all the more promising. As a 
northern fruit it is entirely worthy. 
Let us not decry or fail to give 
proper credit to the Russian Mul¬ 
berry, or to those who have labored 
to introduce it. 
Ithaca. W. H. 
Doings of Societies. 
PEAR ON APPLE. 
G. E. Heaton, of Paso Robles, 
Cal., reports that he has had excel¬ 
lent success in top grafting a pear 
tree with apples. These were set 
in the spring of 1G03, and bore a 
good crop of fruit in 1S05. The 
scions were set in the ordinary way 
by sawing off branches to 2 
inches in diameter, and setting two 
grafts in each. The graft took well 
and the growth was vigorous. Who 
else has had the experience in this 
kind of top-working ? 
New York Federation of State Agricultural Societies. 
An important organization was effected at Cornell University a short 
time since, when representatives of the various agricultural interests of 
the state met and formed an association for the purpose of co-operating 
in those things which make for the upbuilding and the advancement of 
agricultural education. Delegates of most associations in the state were 
present, and the following officers were elected for the ensuing year. M. 
H. Ohlin, President; T. B. Wilson, Secretary; John Hall, Treasurer; 
executive committee; E. B. Norris, E. P. Powell, F. Marks, Gilbert m! 
Tucker. This organization will watch with a jelous eye all movements 
influencing or pertaining to the pro¬ 
motion of agricultural knowledge in 
the Empire State. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY 
OF AMERICA. 
The Chrysanthemum Society of 
America will hold its annual meet¬ 
ing in Philadelphia, November 7 
to 11. The Society will meet with 
the Pennsylvania Horticultural 
Society in the fine hall owned by 
the latter association. An excellent 
premium list has been arranged. 
AMERICAN POMOLGICAL 
SOCIETY. 
MEDALS FOR NURSERYMEN. 
One of the finest collections of 
pears ever shown in the west, was 
that of Ellwanger & Barry, of Roch¬ 
ester, N. Y., at Kansas City meeting 
of the American Pomological So¬ 
ciety. One hundred and twenty- 
nine varieties were exhibited. The 
committee on awards recognized 
the exhibit by giving it a Wilder 
silver medal. 
Another exhibit striking on ac¬ 
count of the hansomely colored 
specimens of apples was shown by 
Stark Bros., of Louisana, Mo. This 
exhibit received a bronze medal as 
an award of merit. 
O’MARA YS. BURBANKITIS. 
Mr. Patrick O’Mara of the Peter 
Henderson Co., has developed a 
lively discussion in the Florist’s 
Exchange by failing to eulogize the work of Burbank in'the high strain 
ordinarily adopted by Californians and some easterners who have 
visited Mr. Burbank’s plant breeding grounds. Mr. O’Mara was taken 
to task by Mr. Burpee for his lack of appreciation, and at the last 
meeting of the New York Florists’ Club, states his position, producing 
evidence in support of his former assertions leaving the matter very 
comfortably desposed so far as he is concerned. There is no doubt 
that in recent times there has developed an unfortunate habit of 
placing the work of Mr. Burbank upon a pedestal far above that of his 
compeers. It is a question of giving credit consistently and justly, 
and not merely blowing a trumpet. A writer has stated that many 
of our periodicals have been seized with a severe attack of Burbankitis, 
and there is some truth in this. We feel quite sure that Mr. Burbank 
himself has no pleasure in reading such garbled, extravagant statements, 
and claims regarding his accomplishments and his expectations; and 
this whole highfalution-periodical-write-up business must bring him 
much vexation of spirit. 
The beautiful Silver Spruce with stately Norways in the Background. 
W. & T. Smith Co., Geneva, N. Y. 
PLUMS IN THE CANADIAN 
NIAGARA DISTRICT. 
It appears that orchardists in this 
region are replacing their domestica 
plums with Japanese varieties. The 
domestica plum has not been 
profitable for a number of years j 
and there has been a gradual movement on the part of fruit growers 
to take them out and plant other types. In New York State a num¬ 
ber of growers change them over by top grafting, but in Ontario the 
. changes are effected by replanting. Lombard, which at one time was 
the standard commercial sort in the Niagara peninsula, is giving way 
to red June, Burbank and Satsuma. Whether this change is wise will 
be demonstrated by the experience of the next four or five years. In 
our opinion it is an open question. When we consider the suscept¬ 
ibility of Japanese plums to San Jos£ scale, and their naturally short life 
it places a large interrogation point after this project. 
Mr. E. G. Mendenhall, Kinmundy, Ill., is Secretary-Treasurer of the 
Southern Illinois Horticultural Society. Write him for information 
regarding the forthcoming meeting at Olney- A full schedule of the 
meetings of the state and district Horticultural Societies is given in 
each number of the Country Gentleman, An excellent feature. 
