HINTS ON BUYING 



69 



if no one nursery is able to make quotations on all the 

 kinds of stock, for many nurseries are short of many 

 items. Most likely you will have to shop around to get 

 everything you want. Sending out a want list will there- 

 fore save you time when you place your orders. 



In making out the list be sure to give the exact number 

 of plants you want and the size. State also whether 

 you wish the stock to come by express, freight, or 

 carload freight. While I am on the subject of freight, 

 let me make a suggestion based on experience, viz, if you 

 are placing any order of fair size with one firm have the 

 stock come' by carload freight^ because: 



1 . It saves packing charges. 



2. The stock is not crowded into small boxes and con- 

 sequently comes through in better shape. 



3. It saves time in unpacking. 



4. The cost of the car is no more than that of the 

 freight alone. 



5. Carload freight is almost as fast as express. 



And lastly, in buying nursery stock don't buy on a 

 basis of price alone, but rather choose quality regardless of 

 a few cents difference in cost. It is true that when you buy 

 from a catalog you must buy blindly, but every nursery 

 has some kind of a reputation, and if you ''keep your ear 

 to the ground*' it won't take you long to know what to 

 expect. 



Now for the list of shrubs, etc., already referred 

 to. I have given the botanical name firsthand then the 

 common name. If I have erred in any of these names 

 I would ask to be pardoned, for until the Joint Committee 

 completes and publishes its ''Official Catalog of Plant 

 Names" there is no one who can be sure. 



