September, 1907 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



221 



given orders received by long distance 

 telephcne. In order to handle all orders 

 with promptness, Brown Brothers Com- 

 pany had the post office of Browns' 

 Nurseries established. It has proven to 

 be a great convenience to the firm as 

 well as to farmers in the neighborhood. 

 So many hands are employed, it was 

 found necessary to erect two boarding 

 houses en the home nursery, one for 

 those engaged in the offices and the 

 other for nursery hands. Both are 

 large, commodious, and fitted with all 

 modern conveniences. 



Surrounding the office is an acre and 

 a half of fine lawn, on which shrubs and 

 ornamental trees have been planted. 

 This lawn is to be increased in area as 

 circumstances demand. Although laid 

 out and planted only four years ago, the 

 grounds are fast assuming the appear- 

 ance of a beautiful park. The offices 

 and buildings are approached from the 

 highway by an avenue of Montmorency 

 cherry trees over half a mile long which, 

 in the springtime at blooming and in 

 midsummer when the fruit is ripe, pre- 

 sent pictures that are suggestive of the 

 good things that may be expected from 

 the young trees in the nursery grounds 

 on either side. The buildings' crown an 

 eminence from which may be viewed 

 scenery that can scarcely be excelled in 

 any other part of Canada. Visitors to 

 Browns' Nurseries will be well repaid in 

 the enjoyment of the scenery alone. An 

 additional pleasure that is afforded, 

 however, to say nothing of the practical 

 aspect of viewing the nurseries them- 

 selves, is the hospitality of Messrs. 

 Morris. The representative of The 

 Canadian Horticulturist who visited 

 the nurseries on this occasion was kindly 

 driven about from place to place and 

 tntertained by Mr. E. C. Morris. Noth- 

 ing is lacking in the courtesy extended 

 by the firm to visitors. 



THE FRUIT NURSERIES 



In the course of our observations, one 

 field was noticed that contained over 

 600,000 apple trees, saleable this fall. 

 The trees were well grown and gave 

 evidence that the various operations to 

 which they had been subjected by the 

 nurserymen had been properly per- 

 formed. They were stocky and well- 

 grown. "We intend," said Mr. Morris, 

 "to head our trees lower in the future 

 than has been the custom. There is no 

 reason why the head of a fruit tree should 

 be out of reach of the worker. Low- 

 headed trees save labor and expense at 

 spraying and pruning time. They will 

 stand storm and wind better than those 

 that are high. They shade the ground 

 and thereby help to conserve soil mois- 

 ture. The greatest advantage of all, 

 however, and one that outweighs all the 

 good features claimed for a high head, 

 is that the fruit can be picked from the 



ground, no ladders, or short ones at 

 most, being required for the purpose." 

 This question is one well worth consider- 

 ation en the part of nurserymen and 

 fruit growers everywhere. Expressions 

 of opinion are invited for publication. 

 It would seem that the growing scarcity 

 of orchard labor would warn growers 

 against the old practice of heading new- 

 ly-set trees too high. Let us hear from 

 our readers on the subject. 



All kinds of fruit trees that can be 

 grown in Canada are produced on these 

 nurseries. In apples alone, 125 varieties 

 are grown. All the standard sorts are 

 grown and many new ones are under 

 test. Brown Brothers Company are 

 quick to try new varieties and to develop 



ever have come under our observation. 

 The entire lot was as even as trees can 

 be grown. The trees were strong and 

 vigorous. This firm is the largest grow- 

 ers of dwarf pear trees in Canada. Some 

 excellent cherry trees, saleable this fall, 

 were noticed, particularly a fine block 

 of Montmorencys. In peaches, plums, 

 cherries, pears and all kinds of fruits, all 

 the leading varieties that are adapted 

 to Canadian conditions and cHmate are 

 grown. 



GRAPES AND SMALL FRUITS 



Large quantities of grapes, currants, 

 gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, 

 and so forth, are propagated. Thousands 

 of these fruits were seen growing on land 

 best suited to their requirements and 



Young Hydrangeas Growing on Brown's Nurseries — Offices in Background 



those that prove worth while. The firm 

 has introduced many new things in fruit 

 varieties and ornamentals that are of 

 much value to our growers, for profit or 

 ornament as the case may be. 



Some excellent blocks of young peach 

 trees were seen. In their propagation, 

 the usual custom of layering or stratify- 

 ing the pits is not practised. They are 

 sown directly in the rows where the trees 

 are to grow. This practice usually is 

 thought to be not good, as often a por- 

 tion of the seedlings do not grow and, 

 as a result, regularity cannot be attained 

 in the rows. That the operation is suc- 

 cessful with Brown Brothers Company, 

 however, is evidenced by the even stand 

 that results. In the budding of peach 

 seedlings, as well as in the propagation 

 of all kinds of nursery stock, great care 

 is taken in the matter of propagating 

 true to name. Brown Brothers Com- 

 pany pride themselves on filHng the 

 orders of customers with stock that is 

 true to variety type and name. No 

 substitution is practised without the 

 consent of the purchaser. 



One block of 30,000 dwarf Duchess 

 pear trees were particularly deserving 

 of mention. They were the finest that 



care. The young grape vines were in 

 first-class shape. 



A new feature in the nursery was a 

 patch of some 20,000 plants of the 

 Herbert raspberry. This is a variety 

 but little known to growers, and one 

 that deserves a place, and a big place, 

 in commercial plantations. "I believe 

 that the Herbert is the best money- 

 making raspberry that we have," said 

 Mr. Morris. The representative of The 

 Canadian Horticulturist saw a patch 

 of them in fruiting at Brown Brothers' 

 and has seen them growing elsewhere 

 in Ontario. From observing their be- 

 haviour at various places during the 

 past five years, the writer does not 

 hesitate to confirm Mr. Morris' opinion. 

 The berry is of the largest size, bright 

 red, of good body, excellent quality 

 and the bush is very productive. Its 

 hardiness makes it especially valuable 

 in the colder parts of the country. 

 ornamental trees and shrubs 

 If there is one class of stock that re- 

 ceives special attention at Browns' 

 Nurseries, it is ornamental trees, shrubs 

 and vines. This firm is the largest 

 growers of roses and clematis in Can- 

 ada. Over 75,000 field grown roses 



