Census of Cultivated Indigenous Plants. 



219 



that established by George C. Woolson at Passaic, New Jer- 

 sey, and it was probably the first to attain prominence. In 

 1870 Mr. Woolson became associated with the late Dr. 

 George Thurber on the American Agriculturist and Hearth and 

 Home, and went to live with him at "The Pines " in Passaic. 

 Dr. Thurber was an excellent botanist and an ardent lover of 

 gardening, and Mr. Woolson found a small collection of na- 

 tive plants growing on his premises. To the enlargement of 

 this private collection Mr. Woolson devoted much energy 

 for several years, and in 1878, having observed the growing 

 demand for native plants, he organized a commercial nursery 

 with Dr. Thurber, under the name of Woolson & Co. Many 

 of the best collectors in the country contributed to the prog- 

 ress of the enterprise and the firm soon gained a wide reputa- 

 tion. In 1889 the firm was reorganized as H. Meyer. The 

 first catalogue of the firm which I have been able to obtain is 

 that of 1883, and this I have quoted in the following cata- 

 logue. 



Harlan P. Kelsey, Linville, North Carolina, is a prom- 

 inent dealer in native plants and has brought to notice 

 many of the rare and interesting species of the Southern Al- 

 leghanies. His first attempt at the cultivation of native 

 plants was made in the spring of 1884, when he was but a 

 lad. His facilities have enlarged year by year, and he is fre- 

 quently quoted in the following record. 



Several other firms pay great attention to native plants and 

 some of them have made important introductions. Among 

 these may be mentioned Jacob W. Manning, Reading, Mass.; 

 United States Nurseries, Short Hills, N. J. ; Thomas Meehan, 

 Germantown, Penn. ; Temple & Beard, Cambridge, Mass.; 

 Reasoner Bros., Manatee, Florida; and very recently the 

 Orcutt Seed and Plant Company, of San Diego, California, 

 has made many introductions. 



The following census, the preparation of which has extended 

 over two years, is supposed to chronicle every species native 

 to North America, north of Mexico, which has been introduced 

 into cultivation in this country through the trade. There are 

 many other species to be found in botanic gardens and private 

 collections, but such do not come within the scheme of this in- 

 quiry. Whenever possible, an approximate date has been as- 



