TREES AND SHRUBS AT GIBBLAND FARM, 



Abbottsford, Quebec, Canada. 



WAS much interested in the historical 

 notes presented to the readers of the 

 Horticulturist a short time since, by 

 ^ Mr. J. M. Fisk, of Abbottsford. Such 

 records as these are interesting- to the reader 

 who scans periodicals without any special 

 point of interest in mind, but particularly to 

 the fruit growers of the day who desire to 

 know who the pioneers were who made the 



Fig. 1914. 



Old Grafted Aptle Tree at 



GiBBLAND. 



beginnings of an industry which has flour- 

 ished to such a marked degree in the eastern 

 townships of Canada. 



Charles Gibb came to Abbottsford in the 

 spring of 1873. Almost immediately he be- 

 gan the planting of fruit trees. His interest 

 in ornamental shrubs and trees developed or 

 was awakened somewhat later. As I recall 

 it, his first plantings were made with native 

 trees and a row of hardy maples which now 



surround the lawn, were among the first,l;rees 

 set out with a view of beautifying theg^rounids. 

 As time went on and his views on horti<iul- 

 tural topics broadened, his interest in be-iuti- 

 ful trees and shrubs deepened and his desire 

 to place upon his own grounds specimens of 

 the hardier types became keener each year. 

 His visit to Europe in 1883 did much to in- 

 crease his interest and his love for beautify- 

 ing types of trees and shrubs. Between 

 1875 and '85 many forms of native and for- 

 eign shrubs and trees were planted at 

 Abbotsford. The common types, such as 

 cut leaved birches and maples, Norway 

 spruce, Austrian and Scotch pine were planted 

 first. Many of the rarer ornamentals were 

 planted between 1880 and '85. Of course 

 the mistake of planting too closely was not 

 avoided. This is the common error of all 

 lovers of trees and shrubs. When rare and 

 beautiful trees are set out, we should give 

 each tree sufficient space to develop normally. 

 This, of course, is not g^ood landscape g^ar- 

 dening, according- to prevailing fashion, for 

 in following the most recent types of 

 landscape g-ardening practically no atten- 

 tion is paid to the tree as an individual. 

 Each variety is used for the purpose of 

 giving mass effects. In following this kind 

 of planting one may use cheap shrubs and 

 trees and often obtain as pleasing effects as 

 with the more expensive. In the planting- at 

 Abbotsford, it goes without saying- that 

 many ornamentals were set out which failed 

 to endure the somewhat trying climate of the 

 west slope of Yamaska mountain. I recall 

 a beautiful specimen of imperial cut leafed 

 weeping alder, planted in 1882, which sur- 

 vived two or three winters and was a thing- 

 of great beauty, but finally succumbed. So 

 did a number of cut leaved Japanese maples, 

 cut leaved sumach in addition to rhododen- 



