An E^stablisKment That Does Credit to Canada 



MOST Canadians, who are interested 

 in horticultural matters, have 

 been accustomed so long to read- 

 ing in United States publications about 

 the immense size and the excellent 

 management of United States nurseries 

 that an impression prevails, with some 

 at least, that it is desirable to purchase 

 their stocks from the other side. That 

 this is the case is evidenced by the fact 

 that the number of trees and plants im- 

 ported from the United States is estim- 

 ated at over 500,000. 



With the object of finding, at first 

 hand, the status of some of our leading 

 Canadian firms, a representative of The 

 Canadian Horticulturist visited the 

 Niagara District recently and, as a re- 

 sult of a day spent in the nurseries of 

 Brown Brothers Company, Nurserymen, 

 Limited, our pride in all things Canadian 

 was considerably intensified. Without 

 any desire to beUttle the splendid nurser- 

 ies in the United States, the visit makes 

 it possible for us to say that we have in 

 Canada as fine a nursery, although not 

 as large as some across the border, as 

 any on the continent, while its system of 

 management is unsurpassed. Not only 

 does this nursery hold its own with the 

 United States firms, but, in common 

 with some of our other nurseries, it 

 possesses certain advantages, the import- 

 ance of which can hardly be over-estim- 

 ated. It is in a position to study the 

 needs of growers at first hand, and to 

 grow the kind of nursery stock that will 

 meet them. The plants are acclimatized 

 and thereby suited for growing in our 

 climate and conditions. All nursery- 

 stock is fumigated according to law, but 

 it is not subjected to a second fumiga- 

 tion, which often is injurious, as is 

 stock purchased in the United States, it 

 being required to be fumigated at the 

 border. Canadian grown stock is best 

 for Canadians. The representative of 

 The Canadian Horticulturist who 

 visited Browns' Nurseries saw unmis- 

 takable evidence of skill in growing, of 

 close attention to the details of nursery 

 management, and of much concern and 

 anxiety in the matter of giving satisfac- 

 tion to customers. 



The offices and nurseries are located 

 in Welland County. The post office is 

 named after the firm, being called 

 Browns' Nurseries. At this post office 

 more mail matter is handled than at any 

 other rural post office in Canada. This 

 indicates the immense business that is 

 done by this firm by correspondence. 



A VARIETY OF SOILS 



Browns' Nurseries were established in 

 1891. One hundred acres of land were 

 chosen in an excellent location. The 

 soil is of a desirable type. It induces 



trees and plants to produce an abund- 

 ance of fibrous roots. The proprietors 

 of these nurseries are alive to the fact 

 that nursery trees constitute a crop 

 which occupies the land for a number of 

 years, and unless the land is in good 

 heart when the trees are planted, there 

 will be little opportunity to raise a good 

 product. With fruit trees, usually the 

 age of thetreejdeterminesitssaleableness ; 

 hence, it is imperative that the growth 

 within the given time be rapid and 

 strong. The soil that comprises the 

 original 100 acres and some 500 acres 

 that have been acquired since — making 



mentals, as their value is determined bv 

 the size of the specimen, with little refer 

 ence to age. Thousands of first-class 

 ornamentals were to be seen in all stages 

 of growth. 



WELL-APPOINTED OFFICES 



To superintend the care and manage- • 

 ment of this great nursery, the residences j 

 of the president of the company, Mr. 

 Edward C. Morris, and of the secretary- 

 treasurer, Mr. David Z. Morris, are 

 located on the home nursery. This en- 

 ables the Messrs. Morris to keep in close 

 touch with all the details of their im- 



Entrance to Brown Brothers' Nurseries — Bordered with Half-Mile Rows of Cherry Trees 





in all 600 acres — is of the character that 

 produces this result. 



The whole 600 acres, comprising seven 

 farms, are devoted to the growing of 

 nursery stock. No fruit or farm crops 

 are grown, except such of the latter as 

 are necessary to rest land that has been 

 "treed." 



$100 AN ACRE FOR MANURE 



Thousands of dollars are spent an- 

 nually on ordinary stable manure. On 

 every acre of land, $100 worth of manure, 

 or practically manure equal to the value 

 of the land, is applied before the trees 

 are planted. This is an immense out- 

 lay. That it is wwrth while is evidenced 

 by the health and vigor of the stock that 

 Browns' Nurseries produce. 



Within the broad area of these nurser- 

 ies, there is a great variety of soils. 

 Nursery stock of all kinds can be planted 

 in the soil best suited for its production. 

 Land that is not sufficiently strong for 

 the growing of fruit trees, can be used, 

 successfully for the growing of oma- 



mense business. The extensive and 

 well-equipped offices also are situated at 

 the central nurseries. The building is 

 sixty by thirty feet, two stories high, 

 with interior appointments in accord 

 with the needs of an establishment that 

 is up-to-date and progressive. The 

 office conveniences are equal to the best 

 in large cities. 



The business of the firm has increased 

 so rapidly that it has been found neces- 

 sary to increase the office room twice, 

 The original office was a small roor ~ 

 twelve by fifteen feet. The next on| 

 was twenty by thirty. This furnished 

 accommodation for only a short time. 

 The present commodious structure was 

 then erected. 



Having the main office located at the 

 central nurseries is an advantage in 

 many ways. Mail orders cen be given 

 prompt and careful attention, and the 

 true condition of the stock available for 

 sale can be ascertained readily. Prompt 

 attention and quick dispatch can be 



