66 



THE SMALL NX^RSERY 



object to be kept in mind is the ease of finding stock, 

 and the less varieties there are in a given block, the easier 

 it will be to find any one of them. If the stock is much 

 varied with few plants of a variety, more blocks will be 

 required. Whatever way you work out your plan, it is 

 wise to make a map to keep in the office. 



One other consideration that will largely determine the 

 prices of your finished product is how close you will plant 

 your stock in the row. If your land is fairly reasonable 

 in price there is no question but that the best manner of 

 planting is by the square method. That is, plant the 

 shrubs the same distance apart in the rows as the rows 

 are apart. This is certainly the ideal way. The writer 

 has seen such a common shrub as Japanese Barberry 

 grown according to this system, and every single plant 

 was a specimen and able to command a topnotch price. 

 If your territory is one that will want high-class stock, 

 by all means plant every shrub and tree under this system; 

 it will pay you big dividends. Not only does the stock 

 grow much finer, but you can cultivate more easily and 

 keep things looking better. And, too, with the square 

 system you do not have to have your rows as far apart 

 as you otherwise would. Planting three feet apart will 

 answer well for most stock. 



Having determined on the blocks, planting systems, etc., 

 your next job is to prepare the little sketch or map of 

 your nursery and letter or otherwise indicate each sec- 

 tion. Then when you plant out your Hydrangea p. g. 

 you will simply indicate on the stock book the letter or 

 number of the block where it is to be found. Be sure 

 and provide yourself with good large painted labels^which 

 are not easily broken in cultivating or lost in the^w^eeds; 

 a good size is one by two and a half inches by^two feet. 

 Besides putting the botanical plant names in^black paint 



