THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
179 
INFLUENCE 
OF STOCK ON 
SCION. 
from West Australia, and arrived in California a short time 
ago. Care was taken to ship entire trees upon which the 
parasitized scales were abundant. An insectary, or insect 
breeding building, is to be erected under the direction of the 
horticultural commissioner, at San Francisco. Here pre¬ 
dacious and beneficial insects will be propagated, and from 
this central point they will be distributed. This is a funda¬ 
mental method of checking the inroads of enemies of the or¬ 
chard. Somehow in the East our special natural friends have not 
been discovered, and therefore have not been cultivated to the 
same extent as in the fruit growing regions of the Pacific Coast. 
How much hardier than normal will a hardy stock make a 
tender scion? The experiences of the Ottawa Experiment 
Farm horticulturist is that the hardiness of a tender variety is 
increased very slightly, if at all, by grafting 
on a hardy stock. That is to say, its 
absolute ability to withstand cold seems to 
be increased very little. Over ninety va¬ 
rieties of apples have been topgraft.d on 
so-called hardy stocks at Ottawa with the expectation that, 
while it was impossible to grow them on their own stocks,yet by 
this means they could be cultivated. The winter of 1903 
came along, with particularly severe weather and wiped out a 
large proportion of these tender kinds. The clividinglinebetween 
the hardy stock and the more or less tender scion was very clear¬ 
ly marked in most cases. For instance, a Northern Spy scion 
occupying half of the top on a Duchess stock, and which had 
grown for thirteen years in a healthy and normal manner, was 
killed exactly down to the point of union with the stock. 
The other half of the top of a strictly hardy variety 
was uninjured. A number of interesting cases of this kind 
occurred throughout the list. Of course this experiment does 
not answer the question as to whether the hardiness of the 
tender variety was increased in any degree whatever, but it 
affords strong evidence that no material change in the con¬ 
stitution of the topgrafted form occurred. 
The establishing of recognized and recognizable grades of 
fruit is a question which has agitated fruit growers and fruit 
handlers for some time. Some horticultural organizations 
have been audacious enough to present 
schedules describing different grades. 
How much good these have done, it is 
impossible to surmise. The trouble with 
an established grade is that what might 
be recognized as a No. 1 Baldwin one year 
might be considerably above or below the mark the year fol¬ 
lowing because seasons profoundly influence the size and 
appearance of fruit. Again it is difficult to make a definition 
so clear that its provisions cannot be evaded. 
Canada successfully enforces an arbitrary inspection law as 
described in Mr. Smith’s letter. All fruit exported to Britain 
or foreign countries must be inspected, and bear the govern¬ 
ment brand. An act of this kind would not meet the approval 
of the American elector, and the advisablity of attempting 
to secure such an act could very properly be gravely 
questioned. 
'If compulsory inspection is out of the question, what shall 
we say of optional inspection? Why not establish definite 
grades and then ask the government to provide the machinery 
whereby official inspection could be secured and a government 
GRADING AND 
INSPECTING 
FRUIT—AN 
OPTIONAL LAW. 
brand obtained? Those who did not care for it need not 
bother about it. Let the opportunity be available, however, 
for the man who cloeswishto ship his goods under an authorized 
brand. This is merely in the form of a suggestion, and by way 
of introducing the subject for a discussion. What are the 
objections? 
All nurserymen are agreed that the inspection laws govern¬ 
ing the interstate shipment of nursery stock are in an exceed¬ 
ingly unsatisfactory condition. Why should a nurseryman 
be obliged to consult a schedule for each 
get together state to which he expects to send stock, 
on legisla TiON. j n order to learn whether he must forward 
a certificate of inspection singly, in dupli¬ 
cate, or in triplicate, whether he must swear the stock was 
fumigated, whether he must pay an arbitrary license, or meet 
half a dozen other provisions concocted by narrow minded 
and one sided legislators? 
The state entomologists and the state nursery inspectors 
should get together on this matter, find out what is reasonable 
and just, not simply what is absolutely ideal from the per¬ 
sonal standpoint, for this is often impracticable, and then 
work with the nurserymen and other horticultural organiza¬ 
tions for some uniformity of law. Reasonableness is bound to 
prevail, when men meet and discuss broad questions of this 
kind with calmness and deliberation. The present regulations 
of some states are not only unreasonable, but they will re¬ 
dound to the injury of the states themselves. 
We are glad to know that the American Association of 
Nurserymen is likely to be represented by a good level head 
in the person of Captain Watrous, of Des Moines, at the coming 
meeting of the state entomologists and nursery inspectors in 
Washington this month. A conference of this kind can 
hardly fail of good results, and we are hopeful that this meet¬ 
ing will be the beginning of an important piece of legislation, 
which will remove onerous burdens from the shoulders of the 
nurserymen of the country. 
NEW COMPANY ORGANIZED. 
The Clinton Falls Nursery Co., Michigan, with a capital of $150,000, 
has recently been incorporated by the following men: Thos. E. Cash- 
man, M. R. Cashman, Jas. R. Laughlin, W. H. Hart, Nellie K. Cashman 
and John A. Cieszenske. 
FOREIGN APPLE MARKETS. 
Latest cable advices from the principal apple markets in England are 
very favorable. All the arrivals in good condition are selling promptly, 
and at very high prices. Red varieties are selling at prices that give 
nets from $3 to $4 a barrel. Here in Boston with some extra fine Kings, 
selling to give nets froni $3.75 to $5.50. Greenings sold to give nets 
from $2 to $3.25. All markets are in good shape, Glasgow continuing to 
be somewhat better than other markets. 
My latest mail advices (Sept. 23), state that in London, Nova Scotia 
apples, ex SS Florence sold to give nets for Gravensteins $3 to $4.25- 
Ribstons sold to give nets from $4.75 to $5.50, with thed emand very 
good. No American apples were offering that week. 
In Liverpool, New York state Baldwins were selling to give nets from 
$2.50 to $3.75. Imperials sold to give nets from $3 to $4.50. Kings 
from $3.75 to $5.50, and Greenings sold from $2 to $3.25. They con¬ 
tinue to look for a very good demand for American and Canadian apples, 
and say after the 15th of October, all markets will have to depend en¬ 
tirely on fruit from this side. 
Geo. A. Cochrane. 
—The Harrison & Sons Nurseries, Berlin, Md., have been visited by a 
great many prominent men this fall. A number of editors and agricul¬ 
tural writers were included in the procession of sightseers. 
