June 17, 1891.] 



Garden and Forest. 



287 



of the state three companies, organized in Ohio, have pur- 

 chased tracts of 1,300 acres, 1,250 acres and 600 acres respect- 

 ively. Mr. J. H. Hale, of Connecticut, has purchased 800 

 acres, while fruit-growers from New York, Michigan and 

 other states have bought large tracts. The Albaugh Com- 

 pany set out at one time last winter 70,000 Peach-trees on 400 

 acres. It will be seen from this that there is an opening in 

 Georgia for nurserymen. After our large peach crop two 

 years ago many people wished to embark in the fruit business, 

 but there were not trees enough to supply the demand, and 

 there are not enough to-day. In this fruit-growing part of 

 Georgia, where there are little frost, and a soil peculiarly 

 adapted to small fruits, peaches and grapes, there is promise 

 of great fruit-production in the future." 



ROCKY MOUNTAIN EVERGREENS. 



Mr. C. S. Harrison spoke on this subject. He said : 



"The problem of clothing the western plains with forests is 

 an important one. Conifers by the million have been shipped 

 over the Missouri River, and by the million they have failed. 

 Near the one-hundredth meridian the White, Norway and Black 

 Spruces and the Arbor-vitas are failures. The Scotch Pine 

 does well while young, but in time of trial it goes down before 

 the drought. The Austrian Pine thrives while young, but 

 the White Pine is uncertain always. Looking down from 

 the foot-hills of the west, and belting northern Nebraska, there 

 is a Pine, however, which is equal for the emergency. Six , 

 years ago I brought some from the mountains and planted 

 them in the open ground without protection. I cultivated the 

 first year, and after that left them to utter neglect. The 

 ground was sometimes very dry, but none died after they were 

 established, and they averaged about a foot a year in growth ; 

 taken from the mountains they are hard to transplant. One 

 year with another I save fifty per cent. They grow readily 

 from seedlings, and these transplant as well as any evergreens. 



" I think this Pine (P. ponder so) the best for our region. The 

 leaves are glossy and of deep, rich green, and often eight and 

 ten inches in length. The wood is heavy and the grain coarse, 

 from rapid growth, but it takes a fine polish, and is used for 

 grain finish in some of the finest houses in Colorado. 



" The Douglas Spruce is the great timber tree of the Rockies 

 and Sierras. I have recently visited many of the leading nur- 

 series of the east, and find that in rapidity of growth it led 

 all the conifers. This tree has an almpst infinite variety of 

 form and foliage. Some trees will have short leaves, others 

 heavy and long. Some will be light green, and others almost 

 blue, with a frosting of silver. The mountain seedlings trans- 

 plant readily, planted in the open air. 



" Picea pungens is king of the Spruces for the first thirty 

 years of its growth, and its silver sheen is matchless. If any- 

 thing tends to retard the growth, or when old age comes on, 

 its color reverts to green. This is a rigid tree, with stiff shelf- 

 like branches. Only about one tree in four, or perhaps one 

 in ten, will have the exquisite silver color. It transplants very 

 readily. The best way to secure the finest specimens is to go 

 to the mountains and collect the small trees with colors already 

 established. 



" Almost equal in beauty, with more of grace and softer out- 

 lines, is Picea Engelmanni. This is the giant of the high alti- 

 tudes. It grows in a belt reaching nearly 2,000 feet higher 

 than P. pungens, shooting up well to timber-line. It trans- 

 plants very easily. It will resist any degree of cold, and I be- 

 lieve with the Black Hills Spruce it will be one of the timber- 

 trees for the great north-west. This tree has a sheen nearly 

 as rich as that of the P. pungens, and. is often of a graceful 

 drooping habit. 



" Abies concolor is queen of the Firs. No other tree has 

 such a rich variety of color. The Blue Spruce is beautiful 

 while young, but this Fir holds its color. One can often see a 

 grove of these trees with their silver gleaming miles away. 

 Some clusters have very deep color with plentiful frosting, so 

 as fairly to sparkle. The new shoots are of light soft green ; 

 the older growth is nearly blue. On one tree the blossoms 

 and cones will be purple, on another light green, The clear 

 gum exuding from the cones flashes like pearls ; and when a 

 light breeze puts all this beauty in gentle motion, you have a 

 scene worth a journey across the continent to see." 



ONE WAY TO SELL NURSERY STOCK. 



Mr. G. L. Grant suggested that if florists could be induced to 

 plant ornamental shrubs of the most attractive varieties on 

 their grounds their customers, when they saw these shrubs 

 in flower, would be glad to place their orders there for de- 

 livery at the proper season if they could be assured of receiv- 

 ing plants of the same varieties. Improper planting has been 

 the cause of much undeserved criticism of nurserymen, and 



so is the frequent long exposure of the stock in unexperienced 

 hands after unpacking and before planting. If a florist had 

 this stock on sale he could send a man who knew how to 

 plant it properly. In other words, it is advisable for nursery- 

 men to cultivate closer relations with florists throughout the 

 country, and sell through them instead of traveling agents. 

 These agents are often unknown, and buyers have become sus- 

 picious of them ; but if they could deal with some one whom 

 they could find again and whom they knew to be trustworthy, 

 they would feel safer in ordering ornamental trees and shrubs ; 

 and inasmuch as they are buying of the local florist herbaceous 

 and other ornamental plants, it would be very natural for them to 

 extend their orders to one in whose judgment on horticultural 

 matters they had confidence. The sample shrubs and trees which 

 the florist could have would be an inducement and an assur- 

 ance to purchasers who have been deluded with colored plates. 

 Besides this, it is well known that trees and shrubs will thrive 

 in one section better than in another. The local florist, being 

 in the vicinity of the buyers, could soon determine which were 

 the best kinds for that particular region, so that the most satis- 

 factory selection would be made. 



In the discussion which followed this essay, Mr. Albaugh 

 thought that while the theory might be good, it would be found 

 in practice that few florists could give sufficient attention to a 

 retail tree business in addition to their own. One intelligent 

 tree agent would sell more stock than a dozen florists in a 

 county by careful canvassing among individuals who take no 

 interest in flowers, and who carefor nothing unless it is forced 

 on their attention and unless they are convinced that there 

 is money in it. Mr. Albaugh had found business men who, 

 for a fair compensation, were willing to devote their entire 

 time to canvassing for the nursery trade, and it was just as le- 

 gitimate a business as any other. After thirty-six years' expe- 

 rience and trying five or six ways of disposing of his goods, 

 and abandoning one after another, he had at last adopted this 

 one. He employs energetic men, and makes himself respon- 

 sible for what they do, giving them certificates that bind their 

 principals legally for their acts. 



Mr. Harris thought that the plan suggested might answer for 

 the sale of ornamental shrubbery, but it would be of no value 

 in selling fruit-trees. Mr. Hale said, that from what he had 

 learned of florists in getting statistics for the census, nursery- 

 men, in many cases, might do well to unite with them in the 

 dissemination of certain specialties, because, in the first place, 

 this would be simply an addition to the florist's business, and, 

 in the second place, he had found the florists, as a class, un- 

 usually enterprising, and the enormous development of their 

 business during the last fifteen or twenty years shows them to 

 be in close touch with the people and the people's wants. 



Mr. Hill had no doubt that an intelligent florist would make 

 a good salesman if he could give time and attention to the 

 matter, but the florist who has not enough business in his 

 legitimate line to occupy him at the time when nursery stock 

 should be sold had better retire. The busy seasons of both 

 industries come at once, and a successful florist has all he can 

 possibly do in his legitimate calling at just the time when 

 shrubs and trees should be sold. 



Notes. 



Three hundred thousand tons of vegetables were brought 

 into the city of Paris last year, and their value reached the 

 amount of $25,000,000. 



The bright purple and fragrant flowers of Clematis crispa 

 are already opening, and since they will continue to appear 

 until frost this must be considered among the valuable garden- 

 plants which are native to this country. Besides the beautiful 

 solitary flowers, the foliage is very graceful, and the plant, 

 although it is found from North Carolina to Texas, is perfectly 

 hardy in our northern states. 



We have received from the Meehan nurseries, German- 

 town, a spray of Benthamia Japonica in bloom, and the flowers 

 closely resemble those of the Flowering Dogwood, although 

 the white satiny bracts are narrower and more sharply pointed. 

 Blooming as it does after the bright green leaves have attained 

 their full size, this is a promising addition to the showy flower- 

 ing shrubs for the gardens of our northern states. 



A German journal states that the "Fragrant Goose-foot" 

 (Chenopodium ambrosioides) is the sixty-sixth plant which has 

 been recommended by Mr. John R. Jackson, of Kew, as a sub- 

 stitute for tea and coffee. It is a native of South America, 

 whence it was exported under the name of "Jesuit Tea," but 

 has become naturalized in Mexico and the West Indies, at the 



