THE CULTURE OF CONIFERS 43 



Robert George, E. Y. Teas, E. M. Sherman, Ellwanger & Barry, 

 Thomas McBeth, F. M. Carr, who have suppHed American horti- 

 culture with traditions rich with accompHshment. I am not one 

 of those who beheve that the intelhgence of American nurserymen 

 is inferior to European growers. 



I was surprised recently when one of the editors of a horticul- 

 tural paper said, "Where are we going to get the patience, skill, 

 and experience to grow stocks in this country?" Astonishing, 

 such a statement as this, showing a lamentable lack of confidence 

 in American enterprise, especially in view of recent American 

 accomplishments in every line of activity. 



We have only to look back to the horticultural achievements 

 of thirty and forty years ago when the Parsons Nurseries at Flush- 

 ing, New York, were supplying the growers of Europe with choice, 

 hardy varieties of Conifers and Rhododendrons, which are to-day, 

 in many cases, the sorts grown in Europe for export to xA.merica. 

 Thirty years ago Robert Douglas of Illinois supplied the growers 

 of Europe with a choice collection of American Conifers. 



The United States Department of Agriculture through the 

 Forest Service has established in various parts of the West Govern- 

 ment nurseries for suppl;^ang young trees for reforestation. Each 

 nursery has an annual output of several million young seedlings 

 for forest planting. Eight individual states maintain state nurser- 

 ies for the growing of young trees to supply planting material for 

 state controlled lands and distributon to property owners for 

 forest planting. 



In recent years fruit tree seedlings to be used by American 

 nurserymen for budding and grafting have been produced on an 

 extensive scale by nurser;^Tnen in Kansas. Upwards to sixteen 

 million young roses have been grown annually by Ohio nursery- 

 men. There are fifteen commercial nurseries making a specialty 

 of the propagation of young conifers from seeds, cuttings, and 

 grafts. A good assortment of young ornamental and flowering 

 shrubs is being grown on a commercial scale by experienced propa- 

 gating nurserymen through the East and central West. 



It is a matter of interest to many that the Federal Horticultural 

 Board has recently promulgated a very valuable protective measure 

 to secure this country against depredations of European and 



