162 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
and of the loftier Babelsberg away to the left. Passing out by 
the Teltowe Thor, the railway station was soon reached, and the 
visit to Potsdam ended. M. D. 
THE NURSERY OF MESSRS HEINS AT HALSTENBECK. 
5th August. 
This nursery, which is situated a few miles from Hamburg, 
embraces about 125 acres. It furnishes every year about 
100 waggon loads of plants, over and above a large number which 
are sent out in hampers and bundles, the total number despatched 
annually being approximately 40,000,000. The species of trees 
raised are in general those that are met with in Scottish nurseries, 
but of late years somewhat of a specialty has been made of the 
Douglas fir, Menzies spruce, and the Weymouth pine, which have 
been largely planted all over Germany, the last-mentioned tree 
being greatly in favour in Bavaria. The hawthorn is also raised 
in enormous quantities, the firm having the reputation of possess- 
ing a very fine strain of this plant. From fifty to sixty hands 
are regularly employed, but at times, when work is pressing, the 
number is increased to a hundred or more. 
Close proximity to the railway enables the Messrs Heins to 
despatch the plants in very fine condition, most of the small 
Conifers being loaded straight into the trucks without previous 
packing. Hardwoods, and large trees generally, are made up into 
bundles by means of a special machine, and trees packed in this 
way are found to stand a long railway journey in an exceptionally 
satisfactory manner. 
In spring, when sowing and transplanting operations are in full 
swing, a cold dry east wind prevails in this part of Prussia, which 
does great damage to young nursery-stock. In order to counteract 
the effects of this cold drying wind, Messrs Heins, two years ago, 
laid down a system of water-piping over a part of their nursery, 
the pressure being derived from a petroleum-engine of two-horse 
power. The results of the irrigation have been very satisfactory, 
the death-rate amongst the plants in spring having been greatly 
reduced. The nursery is thoroughly equipped with all the 
modern appliances for cultivating the ground, sowing, planting, 
and removing the stock, cleaning and storing of seeds, and for the 
general despatch of business. 
