Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. One-year From Bud Sizes Shown are [age XX, X & 3d PRE Superb Trees— Finer Were Never JPost a cs mnt tly| rat chile itomaannsmmoter itt LANT PEACH TREES: every owner of a piece of land, even tho no larger than a town lot, should plant at least two or three. No other fruit tree produces fruit so quickly and abundantly, and with such satisfactory regularity. No other fruit is so universally popular among all classes and in all markets. Planted in commercial quantities in suitable soil and location, no other fruit is more profitable to the grower. On town and city lots, as well as in all family plantations, peach and cherry should predominate; with very little attention the trees may be grown into beautiful specimens, fitting ornaments to any grounds. But the supreme satisfaction to the planter of a peachtree comes with the ripening fruit—great globules of delicious, juicy pulp, so far superior to the green-picked, distance-shipped peach as to be scarcely recognizable as the same fruit. The so-called ““Peach Belt’’ is being carried further north year by year; the introduction of such hardy sorts as Champion, Alton, Illinois, Russell, Washington, Sea Eagle Improved, etc., has made it possible to profitably grow peaches where formerly it was supposed they could not be grown. Prof. Hedrick, of the Geneva, N. Y., Experiment Station, in a talk on ‘‘The Hardiness of the Peach’’ said: ‘‘This fruit has not yet reached its northern limit; culture and soil have much to do with hardi- ness. Trees from the south are not necessarily more tender than those in the north.’’ In support of this statement one has but to recall the fact that Mr. J. H. Hale, the most noted peach grower in the world, has growing in the state of Connecticut, immense peach orchards which have paid him handsomely, fully as well as his orchards in Georgia, - LARGE PEACH TREES are preferred by Mr. Hale for transplanting; he says in the FRUIT GROWER: 8 ft. high. that I do not. ‘““As a general proposition I want a large peach tree, and plant lots of them 6 and I used to try and make myself believe I wanted small trees, but experience has shown me I cut the top off at a height of 18 inches or 2 ft. and remove the side branches. If only one bud puts forth it is apt to discourage the planter, but it should be allowed to grow; the next season cut it back, leaving 3 or 4 buds, and it will put fourth shoots which will make a fine top for the low-headed tree. One Crop Worth More Than Land.— Our Stark Trees had peaches last year which sold at $3.00 per bu; customers said they were the finest they ever saw, the best flavored. There are 7 acres in orchard and this one crop was worth more than the ground on which the trees stand.—E. B. Ety, Mason Co., Ill. Am so Greatly Satisfied and pleased with the Salway Peach you shipped me last spring, that I am going to buy from you my trees for fall planting. Quote price on 1000 very choice Cox Cling and 1000 same grade Salway. The 2000 Salway you shipped me we planted under exactly the same conditions that I had in planting 3000 Elberta from a local nursery and 600 Cox Cling from another. Your stock shows a loss of only about 20 trees, while the Elberta show a loss of more than 60% and the other stock a loss of about 10% .—Dr. J. S. KLoEBer, King Co., Wash. Over $250 Per Acre.—700 peach bought of you 2 years ago have made fine growth. Lost only one tree in setting, altho shipment lay at depot in Fort Worth fora month after arrival. I sold the orchard (about 7 acres) for $1800.00. Will move to Okla. and will want a thousand more Stark peach.—A. E. Jackson, Tarrant Co., Tex. Finest Orchard in the Country.—Mr. C. F. Haight had me go and look at his peach or- chard and it is certainly a beauty, finest 2-yr. peach orchard in this country—looks like a 4-yr.-old; he is very proud of it and is going to have it photo- graphed. It is a good ad. for Stark Trees. Mr. Haight bought 200 pear trees of a dealer and got badly done up; says he will take it into court unless the firm makes it right. Now he wants some Stark pear. Apple trees he got of you did splendidly.— J. D. HoimgEs, Yates Co., N. Y. Splendid Roots.—Just receiv- ed the peach trees—as fine as any- one ever saw and they have such splendid roots. With proper care they will be 2 inches in diameter at end of this season.—Guy W. BOHAMAN, Custer Co., Oklahoma. Best Ever Received.—Stark peach received last spring were the best I ever received from any nurs- ery; after coming so far they were in perfect order. Want a lot more of your peach this Fall.—J. W. BLAcK- BURNE, Sherman Co., Oregon. Highly Pleased.—Received my trees all in fine shape except Abundance Mulb’y which had a barked place; one Gold Plum and one Delicious Apple died too. Am not telling this to make a roar for I could lose half the trees and come out ahead of what I haveseen in ship- ments from other nurseries. Am heartily pleased with the premium Yes, I want big peach trees, and know they are best for the general planter.’’ trees ;if I should pick them from catalogue I could not please myself better. Stark peach trees bought 1906, bloomed and would have fruited only for late freeze. Am highly pleased with all my stuff and thank you heartily for the many favors shown.—Cuas. H. SIKEs, Sierra Co., New Mexico. Twelve Years’ Satisfaction.—Set 1000 Stark peach 1895; am well pleased with trees and fruit.—B. W. McCas.Lanp, Davidson Co., Tenn. The Finest on Stark Trees.—The 1000 Elberta I bought from you 3 years ago are bearing as fine fruit as I ever saw. Last year’s crop was fine, this year’s still better soI am well pleased. You may remember the order that I was dissatisfied with on account of trees being somewhat crooked; they are now fine trees and loaded with the finest and best peaches I ever tasted. I have finer peaches than anyone who has not Stark Trees. If you will refer to my orchard you will have no trouble selling peaches.—W. H. Burrows, Okla. A Gold Mine.—Oklahoma has a fine peach, apple and Japan plum*crop this year. My 600 Stark peach trees, 4 years old, are a gold mine now.—JOHN BARNHILL, Lincoln Co., Okla. $14.20 per Bushel.—Shipped Red Bird Clings last spring on June 8, 10 and 11 and sold them for an average of $14.20 per bushel. This is 30 to 35 davs earlier than Elberta in this section.—W. A. JEFFERS, Crawford Co., Ark. K oi: One-year Cherry Thrifty Splendidly ‘Rooted Preferred by Many Commercial ‘Planters Of the newer varieties, King David, Delicious, Paragon and Stay- man Winesap have a fine, vigorous, frost-resisting bloom. They have escaped when many others were entirely killed. Had thought them about equally hardly, but this year, one of the severest I have ever known, Delicious proved its su- periority; a fair crop on all the trees with temperature at 26 deegrees at blooming time. King David and Stayman Winesap also have a fair crop, but not so good as Delicious. I am not sure that there is a Ben Davis or a York Imperial in the orchard. The fact that an apple has hardiness of bloom to resist three to six degrees more of frost is of far more importance than the time of blooming.—Frank Fem- mons, Madera County, Calif., July 8, 1908. We have just had a most disastrous freeze. Delicious shows but little, if any injury, though the buds showed color fully as much as other sorts, all of which were killed. Delicious is a very hardy tree, early and annual bearer and is almost ice proof.— James M. Zion, Tippecanoe County, Ind. Delicious stood the past winter; tops of several other varieties killed back. Delicious better than McIntosh.—W. J. Sawyer, Yellowstone Co., Mont. Delicious went through the winter in fine shape. I believe it the apple for this section.—H. Lepple, Lawrence Co., S. D. Delicious hardy here—shows up well with any other sort in that réspect.—C. G. Patton, Charles City, Iowa. Delicious are the hardiest, thriftiest trees I have. —J. M. Stevens, Meade Co., S. D. The original tree of Delicious near Des Moines, Iowa, is 26 years old; 40 degrees below zero killed most other sorts of same age, yet the Delicious has given 20 successive crops without a failure. Blooming Period and Yardiness of Bloom For years I have watched the blooming time of apples. It is an interesting subject and I still give it more or less attention, but I have learned that while early or late blooming has its value, yet con- clusions formed from one year are poor guides for the next. The time of blooming is not regular and is often influenced by local changes or soil conditions. Some seasons nearly ail varieties will bloom at nearly the same time; some early bloomers will be a day or two earlier and the later bloomers will be late, but the real difference in time has little practical value. For the last few years, the fact of early and late blooming has been given too much importance. Many people seem to think it the key to the entire situation, and the first question asked of some variety is, ‘‘does it bloom late?’’ From many years’ observation I find that vigor and hardiness of bloom is a fac- tor of far more importance. Some varieties will stand five or six de- Srees more of frost than others. The White Winter Pearmain is one of our early blooming varieties, yet no variety is more dependable for an annual crop. Maiden blush is an- other old apple that spring frosts seldom injure, yet it is one of the first to show bloom. HIGH PRICES FOR FRUIT High Prices for Hood River Apples. What is doubtless the highest price ever paid for any considerablegquantity of apples was that received by Oscar Vanderbuilt of Hood River, Oregon. Mr. Vanderbuilt 60 boxes of DELICIOUS apples and sold them to a Portland buyer for $6.00 per box. The ¥@nderbuilt orchard is one of the oldest in the Hood River Valley, having been planted by EB. Le Smit ne of the pioneers. The newer varieties, such as Delicious, were planted by Mr. Vanderbuilt a™tér he took charge. The crop of apples of the Hood River Apple Association has again sold at record@breaking figures. Fancy Spitzenburgs brought $3.27% per box. Newtown Pippins, $2.75 per box. The boxes referred to hold from 45 to 50 lbs. of fruit. Part of the crop was sold to a firm at Vladisvostock, Russia, and will be exported.—WESTERN FRUIT-GROWER, Oct. 1907. Our People Are Getting Big Prices for their apples. Some large orchards are selling for 75 cents per bushel on the trees, purchaser taking everything, gathering, packing and furnishing barrels. Evaporated rings are bringing 1214 cents on the local market. This year’s crop, in many cases, will pay the growers more clear money than the whole farm, orchard included, could have been bought for a year ago.—CoL. W. G. VINCENHELLER, Director Ark. Experiment Station, Sept. 19, 1907. One of the Biggest apple orchards in Hampshire Co., Mass., has been sold at $3 per bbl. f. 0. b. Western buyers who have been touring Mich. say that many farmers refuse to sell for less than $3 per bbl. on the trees, equivalent to $3.50 to $4 picked. From Monroe Co., N. Y., a Chicago firm recently bought several thousand bbls. of winter apples, giving $3.90 to $4 for No. 1 fruit delivered f. 0. b. lo- cal shipping stations. Only choice fruit was included. A large part of the Belleflower apple crop inthe Pajaro valley of Cal. has been contracted. Buyers opened the season at $1.35 per box, but recent sales have been nearer $1.50 to $1.65. Colorado apple growers are enjoying phenominal prices for this year’s crop. Offers of $2 per box have been turned down by some farmers in the Grand Junction district, the producers holding out for $3. Buyers are hungrily picking up the crop of Ark. Numberless sales are reported at $2.50 per bbl., orchard run, whichis equivalent to $4 for choice storage stock.. The Ark. crop will be needed in the west and souththis year. Late advices from Wayne Co., N. Y.., tell of several sales of winter apples. One big orchard was contracted at $1 per bu. for No. 1 fruit, seconds and windfalls going at 40 cents per bushel. The latest apple sales reported in Ontario, Can., are at $2.85 to $3 per bbl. £. o. b. local shipping stations. These prices have been given for apples that will run 80 to 85 per cent No. 1. Early varieties of fruit have been realizing good figures. AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. Apples Are Selling for Higher Prices than at any time during the last 20 years, if not longer. Buyers endeavored to force the market down to $3.00 a barrel and stubbornly refused for a long while to pay more. However, when they saw that the farmers refused to part with their fruit for any such prices, there was some lively scurrying to close contracts. Asa result, several prominent growers have disposed of their Bers at prices varying from $3.50 for everything as it comes from the trees, without a barrel, to about 00 per barrel and for firsts and seconds packed together. Peaches are scarce. Growers are getting“trom 85 cents to $1.00 a basket for the earlier varieties, with the stiffest kind of a demand. Plums af@an abundant crop, but all best varieties find a ready market at 2 cents per pound. The viele very large and prices bestin many years.—AmerICAN FRUITS, Sept., ’07. Buying Apples by the Dozen, $1 or more for 12. of them, is a commonplace today, says the Boston Transcript. Twenty years ago it was a proceeding seldom heard of, and even ten years ago it was considered a transaction in finance so high that only those who found their necessities among the luxuries thought of being a purchaser at such terms. And it is not one kind alone that has this price put upon it; there are many—seven, or possibly more—that bring this figure, which is no longer con- sidered fancy, and the supply of them creating a demand there are plenty of buyers to take them home. The case invites speculation as to whether an orchard for these apples of gold alone is not a better paying proposition, after all, then any other class of farming.—COLMAN’S RURAL WORLD, Oct. 2, 1907. , In the Sept. Number of the Fruit-Grower we told of Dr. A. E. Miller, Austin, Colo., declining an offer of $40,000 for his 40 acre orchard, the trees then being in their ninth year. When this state- ment was published, a number of our friends said Dr. Miller was foolish for refusing the offer, that $40,000 was a lot of money and that he could grow other trees. It seems that Dr. Miller was not so foolish as some persons thought, for it is estimated that he has $45,000 worth of fruit as this season’s crop. The fruit is fancy andis bringing $3.00 per box. The crop will amount to about 15,000 boxes. The prize apple crop of the Grand Junction (Colo.) district is that of Robt. Orr. A conservative estimate places the yield at 40 boxes per tree, 4,000 boxes to the acre. The owner has been offered $2.00 per box for the fruit as it hangs on the tree. He says he will market the entire crop at $3.00 per box, making the yield per acre, $12,000.—WeEsTERN FRUIT-GROWER, Oct. 1907. - New York City Prices for apples range higher than anywhere else, from $6 to $7 per barrel. The high price is caused by the demand from the European markets, but across the seas they want none but the very choicest fruit. Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, New York and the New England states are furnishing most of the apples for export.—COLEMAN’S RURAL WORLD, Oct. 9, 1907. The Apple Crop of Northern Iowa is the best in years and from this section of the state thousands of bushels will be shipped to different parts of the country. This year’s apples have distanced by a long lead corn and swine or grass fed cattle. Osage, which boasts of being the greatest shipping point for wheat in north Iowa, has developed into a shipping point for apples gathered from her own orchards. One firm alone reports 3,000 bushels of Wealthies and 1,700 frshele of Duchess. The or- chard of J. F. Thompson, containing sixteen acres with 1,600 bearing trees, has netted, above all ex~ penSes, $125 per acre.—FRUIT GROWERS’ JOURNAL, Oct. 1907. B-20~-OF PROF ITS OF AN APPLE ORCHARD SIBEAR CONDENSED FROM A PAPER READ BY JUDGE JOHN Y. STONE, Wi BEFORE MILLS County, Iowa, HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [Judge Stone is a practical, experienced and most successful orchardist, having 115,000 trees in one solid orchard. The figures given are based upon the actual results of his own experience.—STARK BRO’S This paper may be taken as a business sugges- | tion to the man who can plant 20 acres in apple trees. Having broken the land as he would break it for corn, he should plant heavy-bearing, winter varieties, tested and proven to be valuable. Plant the long-lived varieties 33 (or 34) ft. by 26 ft. apart. Then double this by planting the short-lived, early-bearing, heavy-producing varieties midway; trees will then stand 16% (or 17) by 26 ft. Then plant of the last mentioned varieties one tree in the center of each square. This tree will stand 15 (or 1514) feet from each of the four around it. There will then be about 200 trees to each acre. In mingling varieties preserve the position of the long- lived trees for the orchard of after years, when three-fourths of the trees will have been cut down. I would divide the history of this orchard into three periods, viz: 1. The period up to removing the first tree. 2. From thence to the removing of the second lot. 3. The period after that. Now let us consider results by first making esti- mate strong but reasonable, then cut it down half. Ever since growers and dealers commenced to pack apples in Mills Co., Iowa, there has been no difficulty in selling carefully picked winter apples for a price equal to 40% per bushel on the tree. During first period with 4,000 trees on 20 acres we ought to have the following average result: 6thivearee= 1 bu. each—4,000 at 40% on tree $1,600 7th eee 2 se 8,000 “** os 3,200 Sth i 7 eeae: Sees a 12,000 “* wy 4,800 Othe Face ee ee 4 = 16,000 ** es 6,400 10th: 2S eee 5 a3 20,000 “ a 8,000 Lith? Sane 6 ia 24,000 ““ cS 9,600 12th. oss Ae 7 f" 28,000 ““ ei 11,200 13th. ee ee Siceees 32,000 “* S 12,800 14th. | sae ee 9 im 36,000 “ s 14,400 15th; oe LOR as 40,000 * 165000 Total for First Period 220,000 $88,000 Two thousand trees must now be removed and the present productive capacity of the orchard re- duced one-half, with the following results: V6thiyear= 12 bu. each—24,060 at 40% on tree $9,600 Tithe ee ee 13 ES 26,000 * ie 10,400 18th pee Bee 14 oe 28,000 * af: 11,200 19th “* aS rae 30,000 “‘ = 12,000 20th: Sse ee 16 fig 32000Rses * 12,800 Second Period 140,000 < $56,000 First Period 220.000 ~ a 88,000 Total First and Second Periods 360,000 “ $144,000 It is now time that half the remaining trees—all the short-lived varieties—should come out. The orchardist must now get along with 50 trees to the acre—the number which nine-tenths of my horti- cultural friends tell me they started with. Upto this time the trees that have been removed will have yielded 235,000 bushels and NETTED IN CASH $94,000 or $4,700 PER YEAR proft.. He will have then taken and saved from the rejected trees about $94,000 and invested it in government bonds for a rainy day. My wide- planting friends say these 50 trees to the acre will not be a$ fine in form or quite as fine in vigor as if no other trees had been planted amon em: 40 am inclined to believe this claim. But t figure will it cut when standing against the ugSsailable logic of NINETY-FOUR THOUSA DOL- LARS? THE OBJECT of a commercial orchard is not the symmetrical growth of individual trees nor yet the varied beauty of land-scape scenery, but PROFIT. We come now to the third and last period. The remaining 50 trees to the acre ought to live ten years longer and produce an average of 25 bushels to the tree per year, for this period as follows: ¢ Trees 1000, Z50 bu. each in 10 years.........-......-.----------- 250,000 Sold at 40 cents a bushel on trees ---.-:--....................--..$100,000 or about as much during the last 10 years as the rejected trees earned during the preceding 15 years. Let us now recapitulate: Kirst Period)-2 seen 15 years 220,000 bushels $88,000 Secondi:ieeee es eee Siete 140,000 “ 56,000 Thind asm es le aan hee 10) es 250,000 “* 100,000 Total in thirty years ......... 610,000 “* $244,000 While these results are fairly attainable if a high state of the art is practiced, they can never be reached by a man who never cultivates his trees in their early life, or never wages war on insect enemies, or who pastures his orchard at all times with heavy stock, or permits the ground to become compactly sodded or takes annual crops of hay therefrom. His orchard must receive his first and constant care in order to meet just exPectations. If foregoing figures are STARTLING ic is because they are large and n@Otébecause the processes by which they are reach re wild, un- reasonable or improbable. It is processes as well as results that we are ing. For the productive varieties adapted to this climate the foregoing estimate of the product is not extravagant nor even large. “But let us cut it down one-half. The following is the result from 20 acres: e Bushels of apples produced in 30 years.........-...-------. 305,000 Sold at 40 cents per bushel..____.. Sercen wack Soe see coe = oe eeeSeeee $122,000 Income per year for 30 years, over..... ...... $4,000 The most cautious and conservative man will ad- mit the reduction of the estimate to be more than enough for all purposes of reliability. But then letus CUT ESTIMATE IN TWO AGAIN. Then we have: Bushels of apples produced in 30 years...-................. 152,500 Soldiat 40\cents! per bushelss sees oe cceeee) ee eee $61.000 Income per year for 30 years, ovetr........ $2,000 The most melancholy horticultural pessimist would not ask to have the estimate cut below this. Let me ak WHAT OTHER BUSINESS ON EARTH holds out as much promise in profit and at the same time as much opportunity for a high order of mental entertainment and physical effort? The orchardist must live a life of intelligence, vigilance, energy, but he will find it ever interest- ing and agreeable. a) STrarRK Bro’s NURSERIES « ORCHARDS Co. CAPITAL STOCK $1,000,000.00—ALL PAID UP BRANCH NURSERIES STARKDALE, MO. PORTLAND, N. ¥. ROCKPORT, ILL. DANSVILLE, N. ¥. — FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. HUNTSVILLE, ALA. no es LOUISIANA, MO. Mar. 16, 1908 DeEaR Sirn:— We ask your attention to the enclosed price list and other printed matter, particularly to the mailing card ‘‘Requisition for Sample Apples.’’ SAMPLE APPLES. To date we have sent out more than 3500 sample packages—they have gone practically everywhere. Our supply of fruit will be exhausted before very long so if samples are wanted, you should advise promptly by filling out and mailing Requisition Card herewith. We now can furnish two sorts, Black Ben and Delicious, the Kings of all commercial and quality apples of their respective classes. If you prefer to have us send the-apples by mail, send us 35” in stamps to pay postage and we will send post paid. However, the package will go by express to a majority of points in the U. S. for from 25” to 35% as there is a special rate on sample fruit, but if the distance is very great postage will be cheaper. Mr. Nevanus Myers, Cape May Co., N. J. writes: ‘‘Sample apples received; expressage 45%, but anyone of the three is worth the entire amount to a per- son who has never seen or tasted these wonderful apples. Too much cannot be said for the quality of Delicious.’’ A customer writes that our colored plates do not do the fruit justice; that samples are ‘‘more beautiful than the pictures.’’ And this is true; art cannot equal the beauties of nature. DELICIOUS has more than made good everywhere—creating a sensation in every locality where it has fruited and on all markets, where it in- variably out-sells all other varieties. And what is more, after once appearing on a market the demand for it increases by leaps and bounds. The tree is healthy, vigorous and hardy, even in Dakota, and shows remarkable adaptability throughout the U. S. as wellas in foreign countries, particularly in New Zealand where it is pronounced aphis resistant. The original tree has not missed bearing since it produced its first fruit about 20 years ago. Everyone who eats the apple praises it extravagantly, “‘“superb,’? ‘‘delicious,’’ ‘‘grand’’ being the usual expressions. Should you plant but one tree, let it be Delicious; and the more you plant the better pleased you willbe. To meet the inevitable demand, we are propagating more trees of Delicious than of any other sort, not excepting Black Ben, and we will appreciate the favor if our customers who planted Delicious in the past will furnish us as many scions as their trees will supply. We will pay you what is right for your trouble. Please let us know if you can furnish and about how many. MAGNIFICENT PEACH TREES. Our propagators, also our customere who have seen them, pronounce our blocks the handsomest we have ever grown. ‘‘Seeing is believing;’’ therefore, if you desire, we will send you without charge, samples of our XX size Elberta; all they will cost you will be the expressage. Furthermore, we willseil XX size Elberta at the price of X size—see price list enclosed. Understand, this offer means that we will sell XX, 5 to 7 ft. Elberta at the price quoted in our price list for X, 4 to5 ft. trees. Undoubtedly a large, well-grown peach tree is the best foundation for a commercial orchard—note what Mr. J. H. Hale-says on this subject on 2d page of 4-page circular enclosed. BARTLETT PEAR. For several years the demand has been greater than the supply. The fruit has been bringing top prices, paying western growers in some cases from $1,500 to $2,000 per acre. We have filled orders for thousands and thousands of trees but in spite of this, are still enabled to offer a few thousand Bartleit, both l-yr. and 2-yr.—excellent stock. But they will not last long, so if you want Bartlett rush your order. SORTS FOR TRIAL. To Experiment Stations and other reliable parties interested in testing new varieties, we will send complimentary for trial, as long as the supply lasts, new and promising sorts. For the north where hardiness is the great consideration, we have Stella apricot, originated by Mr. Theodore Williams of Nebr., has withstood a temperature of 40° below zero and produced fruit the following summer; from the same source we get Stella plum, notable for size, quality and hardiness; from New Zealand we have Zealandi plum, recommended as a plum of good quality, ripening a month earlier than Red June. We have also several promising Japan plums and the Stark Cole cherry; Mammoth Grimes Golden apple from Ky.; Smith apple and O. Z. Cling peach, both from Ark.; Stark Winter pear, a very promising late-keeper; Eclipse grape, one of the very earliest, of fine size, quality and appearance—a few vines for testing by grape experts. SPRING TRADE. When the recent financial furry came on some were much concerned, fearing the effect upon spring trade; but our sales are the largest we have ever received to date; last week’s sales surpassed any other week in our history, the orders coming from all over the country—a sure indication that the ‘‘panic’’ did not extend to the legitimate farmer. Orders should be sent promptly while our assortment is unbroken. MAGNIFICENT STOCK. We have it in quantity and quality, tho some sizes and some few sorts are getting scarce—the demand exhausting the supply of Rome Beauty, Banana, Newtown Pippin appies; Muir, Phillips Cling and Tuscan Cling peaches, and Blenheim apricot. These sorts are practically sold out at this tims, but we have a superb stock coming on for fall and will book orders for fall delivery at any time. The demand for Black Ben has been so great that our stock of XX 2-yr. trees is practically exhausted, but we have a good supply of X and 3d size 2-yr., also l-yr. in all sizes, There is no better foundation for commercial orchards than these medium sizes and l-yr. trees. In other lines we have the largest, best assorted, most complete stock of fruit trees to be found in the U. S., if not in the world. In small fruit plants, ornamentals, roses (including Snow Queen (Frau Karl Druschki) and Gruss an Teplitz, so highly commended in Mar. No. of CountRY LIFE IN AMERICA), shade trees, etc., we are leaders. We call particular attention to our handsome blocks of NORWAY MAPLE, CUT-LEAF WEEPING BIRCH and TULIP TREE, all usually very scarce and always in great demand, as they are the handsomest of all shade trees; we at last have grown a stock that we think will equal the demand. Mul- berry, of the better sorts, is another item usually scarce; our stock includes all the improved varieties, of which we have a good supply of fine trees. PLANTING SEASON. Our trade extends from ocean to ocean and from the gulf northward as far as trees are grown; consequently we are shipping every day from early Oct. until early in May, our immense cool-storage houses enabling us to keep stock in good planting condition several weeks after outside vegetation has started; so there is plenty of time for planting even in the extreme south where every year thousands of Stark Trees are successfully planted weeks after southern trees are in leaf. Order promptly, we will ship promptly and thus you will save a year’s time. STARK FRUIT BOOK. Have you received a copy? If not we will send it free if you will’sitply ask for it. Mr. J. Yates Peak, one of the best known horticultural authorities of N. Y. says: ‘‘Its contents are invaluable to all pomologists. Condensed in its 40 pages, it has enough up-to- date information to fill a large book, the very pith of thousands of tests made in all sections by experts and practical fruit growers. It is a book to keep close at hand for reference and the closest study. Shall read every word of it.’’ If your neighbor is interested send his name for a copy of our book. VALUABLE WORK. Tue Fruit-Growsr, St. Joseph, Mo., offers to give free a King David or Delicious apple tree and a Banner grape vine for one new subscription sent with your renewal to the Fruit-GRoWER for one year. Or if you are not a subscriber, the publishers will send you the apple tree and grape vine if you will send 2 new subscriptions, your own and one froma neighbor. The regular subscription price to the FRUIT- GROWER is $1.00 per year, but the publishers offer to accept your renewal and one new subscription for $1.00 (or two new subscriptions for $1.00), exactly half price, and you get the premium free. Write for sample copy of the March number which they will gladly send without charge. Or, better still, send the subscriptions at once—you will not regret it; you will find any number of the 12 worth the entire subscription price. Now our only interest in recommending the FRUIT-GROWER is to put in the hands of orchardists what we consider is the best fruit paper published, and to see King David apple and Banner grape widely distributed as they deserve. The right to propagate King David cost us $1,000 cash and Banner grape nearly as much. We will gladly pay another $1,000 for the propagating rights of an apple that will equal Delicious or King David. We sometimes think that our entire nurseries should be devoted to the growing of these two superb sorts. It will take many thousands of acres of bearing Delicious orchards to supply the demand already created for this unequalled fruit; and when King David becomes as well known it will be in still greater demand. Mr. Oscar Redfield, Chelan Co., Wash., writes: ‘‘Inquired of Mr. Alexander regarding King David. He says those he grew tasted similar to Jonathan, looked like Jonathan, but flesh was on the yellow order, like Spitzenburg. Delicious have been bearing here for 5 years; they are annual bearers and grow to perfection. Many pronounce them the finest apple they ever tasted. Think it willkeep you busy filling orders for Delicious.”’ TO PROSPECTIVE CUSTOMERS. It is only natural that planters, particularly inexperienced horticulturists, should be on the look-out for the cheapest trees they can get; but what many fail to take into consideration is the fact that the lowest priced tree is not the cheapest. Itis not our aim to produce a tree that can be sold at an extremely low price; onthe contrary, our entire business has been built on the proposition of furnishing planters with the very best trees that can be produced and at the lowest price consistant with first-class, dependable stock. A tree that dies, or one that bears inferior fruit or no fruit at all, is not cheap at half a cent; it is the very poorest sort of economy to save a few cents each on the original cost of trees at the expense of quality. In comparing prices take quality into consideration; take into consideration the fact that we make no charge for boxes or packing as most nurseries do; also that we pay the freight in accordance with our free freight offer; that we guarantee safe arrival—in fact guarantee entire satisfaction. For those who prefer to pay their own freight we will gladly quote special net prices, f.0. b. cars here. We appreciate the fact that ‘‘a pleased customer is the best advertisement.’’ Our aim is to please every one of our customers and in 99 cases out of 100 we succeed; in the one case where we fail, we will gladly correct ailerrors to the last cent if promptly called to our attention. WE WANT YOUR ORDER and if you favor us we promise to do our best to handle it in such a manner that you will become our permanent customer. Truly, Won. P. STARK, TREAS. IS = Ges PURSE TT ME ee eee | 4 » i \ ; . a | ante vr ae ake oe ~- Wis ae 3 en", '5 eu Vin tyee teas < Vp abzt hy) ROBES E 20 0 $5 4 + : ivr Aree | peer WP were oy: eyes ip a mer et es fc." eit 2 AN They bear young, the United States and Canada. ...... much more widely planted than at present. PLANT CHERRIES FOR QUICK PROFIT seldom miss a crop; fruit always in demand at high prices—large markets never fully supplied HE CHERRY is the most neglected of all the important fruits which succeed in It is a delicious and refreshing fruit and should be It is always in demand and the market is rarely plutted.. |... . ‘ In most localities there are not enough grown to supply the home demand. 555. one There is no doubt that if cherries were sold at reasonable prices they would be as popular to eat out of hand as they are in Europe. Canned and preserved, in most towns and cities they are considered a great treat, owing to the prohibitive prices which have to be paid for the fruit. A revival of interest in cherry culture is sure to take place at no distant date. It offers one of the best fields for fruit growing that the writer knows of. SPECIAL REPORT, AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Cherry Fruiting at Two Years.—Very much pleased with the trees received from you; all are doing well. Cherry planted 2 years ago have each acrop. This makes our third order for Stark Trees.—J. T. SmiTH, Randolph Co., Ill. Loaded Every Year.—Among a lot of nursery stock from you was a cherry tree which has been loaded every year. Have gathered enough fruit from this tree in one year to pay for all the stuff I bought of you and the bill was over $19.—Mrs. AL. McQuay, Champaign Co., Ills. Poorer Trees at a Higher Price.—Cherry came promptly and are now in the ground; am highly pleased with them. A few had short roots but liberal count prevents my saying a word. Have a very nice cherry orchard but bought my trees before this in New York and got poorer trees and paid more money.—J. M. GARRETT, Sec’y Ky. Horticultural Society, Woodford Co., Ky. Finest Among 5000.—Cherry purchased from you are the finest trees I have among 5000 on my farm.—H. J. Mappart, Fairfax Co., Va. JUST ABOUT DELICIOUS Best on Earth.—Give price on 1000 Delicious. Have an 8-year Delicious tree that gave 15 boxes fancy, best on earth apples. Land selling here for $2600 per acre, best orchards. Shall plant 10 acres to icious.—J. H. SAYLER, Mesa Co., Colo. Hardigfss of Delicious.—In addition to top grafting, set a few root grafts of Delicious, Stayman@ginesap and King David, with several other sor They were set late and grew late. Deliciou$ is hardy, showing well with any other sort in that respect. Your are to be congratulated for finding so promising-an apple.—C. G. PATTEN,/ Originator of New Eruits, Floyd Co., Iowa. Superior to Banaiia. —Have about 300 boxes Delicious. In past years have seen a great many varieties, but do not hesitate to say that Delicious= is all its name implies;~and a finer flavored and looking apple we have never seen. Unless our trade buys them up very quickly at our price, $4.00 per box, will watch the keeping qualities. Being so large, they should be packed with great care so as not to stem prick them. Do not think so much of Banana as of Delicious. Banama comes in the class of summer apples and when real ripe has the flavor of Maiden Blush which is very liable to turn mealy after being held some time. Note by western papers that Banana have been sold at $6.00 to $12.00 per box, but they were all bought by Andrew Carnegie. Just at present, financial conditions in Chicago are such that Andrew Carnegies are very scarce, and it takes nerve to ask a man $4.00 per box* for apples.— H. Woops & Co., Wholesale Fruits, Chicago. A Very Valuable Point.—We have just had a most disastrous freeze. Delicious shows but little if any effect, notwithstanding the fact thatthe buds showed cBlor fully as. much as standard sorts; all buds of which were killed. With -me, Delicious is a hardy tree, bearer of beatiful delicious apples which*at= tracted great attention among my World’s Fair exhibit where I received gold medal. I am sur- prised and glad to know it: appears almost ice proof.—James M. Zion, Tippecanoe Co., Ind. The Grocers Like Delicious.—A friend who is in the largest grocery store here, came tome with two apples which he wanted named. ‘‘One of them, ’’he said, ‘‘Is the best apple I have ever seen. It retains its flavor and its rich juice better than any apple I ever handled.’’ It was Delicious. This party had a half barrel of Delicious also a number of barrels of Stayman Winesap but he thought Delicious better than Stayman W. He sold all Delicious he had at5% per pound.—J. M. IRVINE, Editor The Fruit Grower, St. Joseph, Mo. All Want Delicious.—After sampling the Delicious, have decided to plant 100 trees. Please quote price.—CapT. Geo. T. LINCOLN, Pres’t Arkansas State Horticultural Society. Magnificent.—Box of Delicious came the day before Christmas. They were magnificent, the handsomest lot of apples I ever saw together.— W. F. HEIKES, Madison Co., Ala. From New York’s Noted Authority.— Delicious is certainly all the name implies, while Black Ben and Stayman Winesap were fine speci- mens.—S. D. WILLARD, N. Y. Exp. Station. «faction. : are Stark Trees; they bear true to name and early and annual, From a Wholesale Fruit Dealer.—We are getting interested in King David and want to know more about it. Can you send us samples? We received a. few samples of Delicious which were about the finest thing the Newhalls ever saw or ate. If yow-can beat them with King David, we think you will be ‘‘going some.’’—F. NEWHALL & Sons, Wholesale Fruits, So. Water St., Chicago. LATER. —Haye seen a good many fine apples in my time, but EF never saw a package, equal to that box of Delicious and Stayman Winesap you so kindly sent us. Every apple was perfect and so - large and high quality they are a constant delight to the eye and taste. We certainly are ap- preciating them to the full.—BENJ. NEWHALL. $6 Per Box.—Three years ago I sold my orchard to Oscar Vanderbuilt and he had a few boxes of Delicious this year. Mr. Vanderbuilt picked up every Delicious he could find, about 50 boxes, and sold them to a Portland hotel for $6.00 per box.—E. L. Smit, Wasco Co., Or. Far Superior to Samples.—Have found a tree here top grafted to Delicious some 6 or 7 years ago from which the owner, Mr. C. G. Smith, picked 14 boxes this year. I saw some of the ap- ples and just as I wrote you I thought they would be, they are far superior tothe samples you sent me—solid red with very pronounced yellow dots, with the 5 little protuberances at the calyx end. Quality all you claim for it. Have 100 Delicious trees and if I had more land would plant all to this variety.—GEO. LAGRANGE, Mesa Co., Colo. The Famous Wenatchee Valley.—Last spring I made a larger delivery of Stark Trees here than all other nurseries combined. Trees arrived in goad condition and gave splendid satis- The majority of bearing orchards here have done their share in making the Wenatchee Valley famous. Delicious is bearing and is becom- _ ing the leader; too much cannot be said for this splendid apple. Senator and Stayman Winesap are also fine.—O. M. Brooks, Chelan Co., Wash. Brings High Prices Everywhere.—Saw some glorious apples from the state of Washington in our Washington, D. C. market recently, and among them Delicious which was bringing the highest price of all apples in our fancy stores.— Pror. H. E. VAN DEMAN, Ex. U.S. Pomologist. WILSON JUNE (Jan Jacinto.) Like an enormously large Red June apple, of which it isa cross, coming in just as the Red June goes ont. Tree vigorous, hardy, exceedingly young bearer, prolific; 4-yr. trees July 23, 1906, had 8 to 15 large ripe apples, looking like fine Black Ben; five 9-yr. trees.yielded 27 bu.; brings highest prices. Kansas City Commission house wrote J. F. Bain, Lincoln, Ark.: ‘‘Ship me more of those fine Red Apples.’’ A variety of the highest merit both for market and table. Fruit hangs to the tree re- markably well and a fine keeper for an early apple. Fortunate will be the orchardist who gets an early start of this apple. Origin Washington Co., Ark., many years ago; first grafted and sent out for trial in 1893. Has been called San Jacinto in Texas and given several other names elsewhere, © ?