K e I J e i' • s Hards ^ m e r i c a n Plants 
effects appeal. It seems strange that while the whole world outside the United States was 
searched and explored to obtain the choicest ornamentals to beautify our grounds, our more 
beautiful and hardy American Plants were almost entirely overlooked, were rarely seen in 
cultivation, and were, in fact, <)uite unknown to Americans. 
Foreigners were quicker to learn the value of our choice natives, for in 1871 Mr. K. 
S. Rand, an early champion of native plants, in his book on '' Rhododendrons and Ameri- 
can Plants," said: "We do not appreciate the wealth of our American flora, and have 
shut our eyes to the richness which lies around us. In England a crowning glory of hor- 
ticultural exhibitions is the show of 'American Plants.' and wc in America do not know 
what they are." 
The late Prof. W. A. Stiles, editor of "Garden and Forest," says of our Carolina 
Mountains: "It is a fact that no part of the world has furnished the gardens of Europe 
and America with so many ornamental plants of this kind [shrubs and lawn trees! as this 
same Alleghany region. Along the course of every rocky stream are masses of the great 
Rhododendron and Kalmia, while on the borders are smaller broad-leaved under-shruDs 
of rarest beauty. But, beyond question, the most beautiful flowering shrubs are the 
Azaleas, which are here massed together in the greatest profusion and luxuriance. There 
are a dozen other genera that could be named, each with a special charm of its own. I o 
these add the species that are small lawn trees in the north, but attain the stature of tim- 
ber trees here, and we have a group that, for neatness of habit and beauty of foliage, 
flowers and fruit, and brilliancy of autumn coloring, has no rival." 
NEW PLANTS 
Highlands Nursery has introduced and disseminated throughout this and foreign 
countries many new plants entirely unknown before to cultivation, including Tsuga caro- 
liniana, Azalea imseyi, Vaccinium hirsutum. Primus alleg/ianiensif, I'accinum erylhro- 
carpon, Gaylussacia iirsina. niervitia sessili/olia . Rulnnia hispida rosea, Rohinia Krl- 
seyi, Dendrium prostralum. Rhododendron punclatum album, Lilium grayi, Sliortia ga- 
lacifolia. Polygonum cilinode, Trillium slylosum. Adopogan montana, Aconilum reclinalum, 
Lacinaria spicata pumila, Carex fraseri, Houslonia lenuifolia, Fiola pedata alba, and 
the delicate little mountain Saxifraga michauxii, and others more largely of economic 
interest: while it has distributed many others which formerly were but rarely seen in culti- 
vation, including Amelanchier bolryapium. Ilex montieola. Magnolia fraseri. Azalea 
arborescens, Azalea lutea, Stuartia pentagyna. Abies fraseri, Pinus pungens, Ilelonins 
bullata. Bicuculla (Dicenira) eximia, Galax ap/iylla, and many others. 
We also introduced "Galax Leaves" (see cover design) to the florists' trade, which 
now uses them by millions for winter decorations and the making of designs, as also the 
graceful " Leucothoe Spray" (see page 46). 
Our altitude gives a temperature ranging from 85 degrees above to 20 degrees below 
zero Fahrenheit, and these temperature conditions, together with an abundant rainfall, 
combine to make thrifty and absolutely hardy stock which cannot be produced at lower 
elevations. 
We are glad to give any information on native plants, and invite correspondence from 
all interested and intending planters, but necessarily in a brief way and to the point. 
Please note that HIGHLANDS NURSERY is nearly 4,000 feet elevation in the 
high Carolina Mountains, where only hardy stock can be giown, while our office 
address is below, to which all communications must be addressed. 
HARLAN P. KELSEY 
Proprietor Highlands Nursery 
Beaton Ruihiin^, BOSTON. MASS.. U.S. A. 
