MAY 5. 189S. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



89 J 



plant, through which it is impossibh; 

 to make a break. Another is Ligustrnm 

 amurense, whir-h is far superior to 

 L. ovalifolium. in that while the latter 

 takes on a brownish tint in winter. L. 

 amurense retains its vivid green color; 

 it is also a much more rapid and com- 

 pact grower. 



Gardenia florida and Olea fragrans 

 are raised in quantity, but there are 

 not enough to meet the demand for 

 these favorites. These are located in 

 frames, in which are also some two 

 luindred thousand privet cuttings, and 

 tea roses b,v the ten thousand. A large 

 area i.s devoted to a trial ground, 

 where the many new plants annually 

 imported are tested as to their adapt- 

 ability to this climate before sending 

 out. The land is rolling and embraces 

 several kinds of soil, from sandy loam 

 with a led suljsoil to black peat in 

 bottoms, where, under the protection 

 afforded liy pine belts, such plants as 

 azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, the 

 more tender sub-tropical plants and 

 many kinds of conifers are sheltered. 



Evergreen shrubs form one of the 

 most important items at this estab- 

 lishment, one acre being alone planted 

 with conifers from 2i->-inch pots; 1!.").- 

 oiMt of the pretty Biota nana and the 

 newer Biota filiformis japonica 

 (Veitch) are at the head of the long 

 procession of this interesting class. 

 Owing to the nature of the soil, aided 

 by a high state of cultivation, roses 

 and fruits attain in one season won- 

 derful growth, both in root and 



pears, maintained chietly for grafts, 

 but at the same time yielding profit- 

 able crops of fruit. Kieffer. Le Conte 

 and Bartlett were the leaders. In or- 

 namental plants I noted especially the 

 rare red-flowering yucca ( Hesperalaea 

 yuccafolia). and Osmanth\is ilicifolius. 

 a beautiful shrub bearing pure white 

 blossoms when in bloom. 

 Commenting upon the season, Mr. 



one almost seven feet. They are an 

 apt illustration of the productiveness 

 of the soil, and may well be termed 

 the six of spades, each being a knight 

 of that useful tool. The heavy work, 

 however, is done by machines, thus 

 effecting a great saving in labor. The 

 help is comfortably quartered on the 

 estate, their domiciles, dotted here and 

 there, being quite picturesque. 



Loo'iing South. 



.\n abundant supply of water is ob- 

 tained from a series of springs. As I 

 stood upon one of the magnificent 

 bluffs and surveyed the superb sur- 

 rounding country, with the hills of 

 South Carolina looming up in the dis- 

 tance. I could but admire the sagacity 

 and foresight of the hospitable head 

 of the firm in selecting such ait ideal 

 spot in which to carry on an immense 

 and flourishing business. W. M. 



Looking East. 

 FRUITLAND NURSERIES, AUGUSTA, GA. 



branch. Vast numbers of both are 

 grown. I can easily Imagine that to 

 see the roses in bloom and to sample 

 the luscious fruit in season is a de- 

 light to be long remembered. Of the 

 long list of roses, one that is particu- 

 larly superb as a hedge plant is the 

 polyantha Marie Favie. It is almost 

 as strong as the brier and quite as 

 fragrant. I noted a grand orchard of 



Berckmans said it has been the best 

 in the history of the house. Two 

 gangs of packers were kept busy night 

 and day to handle the heavy orders. 

 The shipping and office arrangements 

 are most complete in every detail. 



I cannot pass without noticing a 

 substantial part of the establishment, 

 the six brothers Skinner, none of 

 whom is less than six feet tall, and 



NOTES FROM A GEORGIA 

 NURSERY. 



Magnolia Grandiflora — This type has 

 many forms, amongst the most con- 

 spicuous of which are the following: 



Gloriosa — Flowers of immense size, 

 frequently 12 inches in diameter, and 

 usually with three more petals than 

 the type; foliage very large and 

 stocky. 



Ferruginia — So called from the 

 brown, rusty undersurface of the 

 leaves; flowers with rounded petals, of 

 medium size. 



Oxoniensis — Flowers very large. 



De La Gollissoniere, or Nanneten- 

 sis — Very large flowers, sometimes 

 with an extra row of petals. 



The above varieties must all be 

 propagated by grafting in order to 

 have them true, as they sport from 

 seed. Grafted plants usually bear 

 flowers when two to three feet high, 

 and are. therefore, very desirable for 

 northern sections. All are hardy as 

 far north as Washington, and some 

 specimens are reported hardy near 

 Philadelphia. 



