Sei'TEMBEK 8, 1021 



The Florists^ Review 



23 



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LOS ANGELES LEADERS 



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BIG NURSERIES AT ONTARIO. 



Armstrong's Achievement. 



Well and favorably known for many 

 years and over a vast expanse of terri- 

 tory, the Arnistronfj Nurseries, of On- 

 tario, Cal., should certainly be visited by 

 everyone who has the oijportuiiily. The 

 business here has been built up strictly 

 on a quality basis, for no matter wlielher 

 it be fruit trees, ornamental shrubbery, 

 plants or auythins else in the line of a 

 nurseryman's business, one may V)e sure 

 of gettinfj the best that a IukIi state of 

 cultivation and a careful selection can 



supply- 

 John S. Armstrong came to Ontario, 

 Cal., from Canada in 18S!) and secured 

 employment in a nursery that was situ- 

 ated just across the street from wliere 

 the present large business has grown up. 

 Soon after his arrival hero Mr. Arm- 

 strong bought out the business of hia 

 employers and started in for himself. 

 In the thirty-odd years since then he has 

 taken advantage of the growth of the 

 country to develop along the lines indi- 

 cated. For several years the business 

 was carried on as a local affair, the 

 colony of Ontario having recently 

 started. But there was plenty of land 

 available for nursery purposes and am- 

 ple water, which Mr. Armstrong leased. 



Steady Success. 



Success having come to him in small 

 matters, ho launched out more heavily, 

 a few years later purchasing a tract of 

 land in what was then known as the 

 Chino Eancho, adding to this by degrees 

 until about .320 acres were comprised in 

 the home nursery. Then thirty acres 

 were acquired at San Antonio Heights, 

 about six miles north of Ontario, at an 

 elevation of about 2,400 feet. This land 

 is practically frostless and is devoted to 

 the propagation and culture of tropical 

 and subtropical fruits. The avocado, 

 or alligator pear, is largely grown liy 

 Mr. Armstrong, and he has probably the 

 largest collection of varieties in south- 

 ern California. Instead of being planted 

 in tin cans and other unsightly recep- 

 tacles, all the avocado trees here are 

 establislied in neat redwood boxes, made 

 small and deep. They tlirive well and 

 are far more attractive to the purchaser 

 this way. In fact, an attractive appear- 

 ance characterizes all tlit> stock shipped 

 from this famous nursery. 



The offices and salesyard are located 

 on Euclid avenue, practically in the cen- 

 ter of the city of Ontario, the former a 

 substantial and attractive building, as 

 will be seen from the illustration on the 

 op])Osite page. Here also are the lath 

 houses and greenhouses, where most of 

 the projiagating of the ornamental stock 

 is carried on. Shipping and ])acking 

 linuses are also lecated in the rear and 

 the whole is run on an excellent and 

 time-saving system. Tliis part alone is 

 one of the most complete establishments 

 in the west. 



Busy by Mail. 



A considerable portion of ^fr. Arm- 

 strong's business is conducted by mail. 

 He published his first catalogue in 190,'{ 



The cxhibUuin fcdlurrs biiinj iir( piuiil 

 for the convention of the (kiUfornia As- 

 socidtion of Nvr.icrijmf n are cxperlid to 

 drmv many trade viaitors to Los- Anmks 

 October :.'() to :.'.!. Additiomd interest 

 will be found by them in a number of 

 establishments in the rieinitu ield(h oc- 

 cupy a prominent place in our indiistri/. 

 Some of these arc described in eurn nt 

 issues of The lievieio, one on this pane. 



and has continued to imj)r(ive it vvvr 

 since. A believer in attractive printing, 

 he always uses the best of cuts and jiress 

 work, so that a catalogue in keeping with 

 th(! character of the place is placed in his 

 customers' h.'uids aiiiiu;illy. The great 

 increase in the ret.'iii end of the business 

 has necessitated cutting down on the 

 wholesale. Until :i few years ago a large 

 (piantity of roses was grown for the 

 wlndesale trade, but tiiis has been prac- 

 tically discontinued, owing to the im- 

 mense demand at retail. 



While the fruit end may not interest 

 florists much, it may be noted that here 

 the same can' is taken to gi\i' a good 



■•lit i lie. Huds for insertion are not taken 

 pioiiiiscuijusly, but from j)r()ven trees in 

 trial orchards, and the fruit tree inisi- 

 iicss is trciiiciidous. Commercial orchard- 

 ists and jilantcrs of big real estate divi- 

 sions arc big customers here and it may 

 be noted in passing that th(> Arm- 

 strong Nurseries have ])ropagated and 

 sobi, probably, mori' olive trees than any 

 other nursery in tlie state. The fore- 

 gdiiig is a brief and incotn[)lete mention 

 dl' a most interesting busini>ss and the 

 writer striiugiy advises \isitors to this 

 section to call and see for themselves 

 the class of work carried on here. They 

 can be assurdl of a hearty welcome by 

 Mr. Armstrong or Mr. Meri weather, the 

 courteous and well known manager here, 

 ami the visit cannot fail to be pleasant 

 ancl instructive. H. II. 11. 



Traverse City, Mich. — Hans Tobler, 

 of this city, lias gone to Three Rivers, 

 Micli., where lie will engage in business 

 witii his son. The establishment at 

 Three Kivers will be conducted under 

 the name of Hans Tobler iV Son. 





Nursery Rows of Golden Arborvttae at Ontario* Cal. 



