WM. R. PraCE & CO. 



FLUSHING^, NEAR NEW YORK- 



ANNOUNCEMENT AND GENERAL REMARKS. 



The Senior Proprietor, Wm. R. Prince, having devoted more than half a century to Pomologi- 

 cal and Horticultural pursuits, and desiring now to withdraw from all active business, has trans- 

 ferred the control of the Nurseries to his son, William Prince, who, with his associates, will con- 

 duct the establishment in its future operations. W. R. P. will, however, give his general supervision 

 to some of the most prominent objects. 



Since the publication of the last General Catalogue of Trees, Shrubs, and Plants, an additional 

 plot comprising 40 acres of excellent Farm land, very favorably situated, has been added to the 

 Nurseries, on which are now growing several hundred thousand trees, in addition to our previous 

 extensive stock. 



This and the other Nurseries are all on what may be termed new soil (in regard to Tree cul- 

 ture), no trees having been previously grown on them; as the building innovations have pressed 

 upon our path so rapidly that the lands formerly occupied by our Nurseries are now populous 

 streets, studded with dwellings. The natural strength and fertility of the soil of this locality is 

 such, that it ensures a most healthy and vigorous growth to the trees, which seem to become hard- 

 ened and confirmed as they progress, and is devoid of that rank, stimulated, and unnatural 

 exuberance which trees so generally exhibit when reared on lands that have never been subjected to 

 previous culture. The Trees thus cultivated, after making at first a rapid development, are so 

 sensitive to cold, that the winter easily affects them, and they gradually pine away till they be- 

 come feeble and unproductive. 



The climate of Long Island being subject at all times to the boisterous winds of the Ocean and 

 the Sound, seems to be particularly favorable to perfecting the hardihood of Trees. The vacilla- 

 tions of alternate cold and mild periods during the winter, accompanied by the frequent freezings 

 and thawiugs to which trees are here subject throughout all stages, prepares them for the endur- 

 ance of the utmost degree of cold and rigor incident to the most northern latitude ; it being found 

 tliat trees, like men, become much more hardened in a changeable climate than in one regularly 

 cold where the constitution is not subjected to trials. 



It is doubtless from this cause that the Long Island trees, with which New England has been 

 generally supplied, and also those which have been sent to the coolest regions of the West, have been 

 found to better withstand the severest winters, than those which have been obtained from other 

 localities. Indeed it can be readily realized that trees so robust and hardy, and yet so vigorous, 

 must possess a great superiority over those grown in localities where the mercury sinks each year 

 to 10® and 20*^ below zero during a very prolonged winter, thus retaining the trees in a frozen, tor- 

 pid and death-like state for many months, freezing and bursting the inner vessels, affecting the sap, 

 and weakening them to such a degree that they can never regain their original health and strength. 

 Some lessons may be derived from the fatal experience of the two past winters at the West, to 

 which may be superadded the inconsiderate use by many nurseries of unsuitable stocks for bud- 

 ding and grafting, and especially of the tender Mazzard stock for Cherries, instead of the hardy 

 Mahaleb, the latter alone being suited to the North and West. 



Our large General Catalogues, which have been distributed throughout the Union, comprise 

 every estimable variety of Fruit ripening throiighout the year, and especially such as have been 

 recommended by the different Pomological Conventions, and embrace Trees of the usual sizes 

 for planting in Orchards and Gardens. All are in the most healthy and vigorous state, and will be 

 supplied at the rates named in the present Catalogue; and it may betaken as a rule that we will 

 at all times sell as low, and many articles lower than they can be obtained elsewhere, of equal size 

 and quality. The Extra-Large sized Trees, which are in a bearing state, have required many years 

 to bring them to their present size, and are such as can seldom be obtained elsetchere, and are worthy 

 of the special attention of those who desire Fruit Trees for immediate bearing, wherebj' many years 

 are gained in the planting of Orchards and Gardens. The Extra-Large sized Ornamental Trees and 

 Shrubbery, including the Large sized Evergreen, are worthy the particular attention of those who 

 desire to promptly embellish their Lawns, Avenues, and other Grounds, and many of them are espec- 

 ially adapted to Cemeteries. None of the Apples and Pears, or other Fruit Trees, are grafted 

 on pieces of roots, as has' been inconsiderately the practice elsewhere. 



Our collection of estimable Fruits of every class, and of Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, inclu- 

 ding Evergreens, is more general and extensive than any other in our Country. We do not here, as is 

 customary and necessary in the western Nurseries of our State, cover three fourths of our grounds 

 with Apple Trees and other common Fruits ; but in accordance with the general demands of our Cor- 

 respondents, we embrace an assortment very enlarged and comprehensive. It will consequently be 

 seen that of Ornamental Trees and Flowering Shrubs, Evergreens, Roses, Climbers, Bulbous Flowers, 

 and Herbaceous Flowering Plants of every Class, there is no comparison between the collections in 

 the Flushing Nurseries and some distant ones, which have been unduly puffed for their extent in 



