CHAPTER V 

 SOURCES OF PLANT MATERIAL 



IT is obvious that the species of plants native to any locality are 

 best adapted for landscape use in that locality from every point 

 of view, but we never fully appreciate the things we see about us 

 every day, so there is a constant demand for new plants with striking 

 leaf, flower or form interest that is unfamiliar to native plant material. 

 Hence it is not surprising that the majority of plants used today in 

 most sections of the country are of foreign origin. The history of 

 plant discoveries and improvements is full of romance. Explorers have 

 delved into the far corners of the earth for new plants. 



At first people traded seeds or cuttings and raised their own plants, 

 but increasing demand soon resulted in the establishment of nurseries, 

 where reproduction and cultivation is accomplished on a wholesale 

 basis, and plants are grown with ease in transplanting as the principal 

 end in view. Today the nursery business is unable to supply the de- 

 mand for plant material, as the advantages of planting good nursery 

 grown plants are generally known- 

 Seeds are also raised in great quantities, and can be bought 

 cheaply. Unfortunately the quality is not standardized, and on 

 account of varying climatic conditions from year to year it is imposi- 

 ble for any grower to maintain standard and quantity of production 

 at the same time. Hence it is necessary to keep well informed of the 

 success of various seedsmen with different kinds of seed from year to 

 year. 



Collected plants or seeds, i e., those collected from wild or natural 

 plantations, are seldom as satisfactory as nursery grown material, for 

 they have not the vigor attained by nursery plants or seeds as a result 

 of careful growing under the most favorable conditions, for the special 

 purpose of planting to obtain immediate results in flourishing growth 

 and well developed foliage and flowers in profusion. 



In the early days of American horticulture, nursery growers did 

 their own propagating to a large extent, but with the increasing demand 

 for stock, and in view of the quick profits to be made from imported 

 plants propagated and grown with cheap labor and more favorable soil 

 and climatic conditions, we became largely dependent upon Europe 



