158 
September, 1891. 
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GARDEN \ 
HORTICULTURAL SOGI&TlESi 
LThe following poem, which was read at the recent 
meeting of the American Association of Nurserymen 
by X. H. A 10a ugh, we print for the edification of those 
who have no patience with the nurseryman— who < 
being human, will sometimes in the conduct of a com- 
plex business, make mistakes.] 
“ That’s What.” 
Old Adam caroused in the garden, out there. 
With no use for clothing nor pelf : 
He had a “ soft snap " till he “ took in the fair,” 
And thus made a fool of himself ; 
For the “ partner ” knew more— “ in her mind ’’—about 
plants 
And all of the trees in the lot 
Than a “ tree man ” himself, and at the first chance. 
Right into a “ trouble” she got. 
Ulysses was brave, and Sampson was strong. 
King Richard was ” lion of heart,” 
And many such heroes. In story and song 
Have lived, and have played well their part ; 
Poor Stephen was martyred, and Paul was shipwrecked. 
As he sailed on the .Egean Seas, 
And Solomon worried with three hundred wives. 
But none of them ever packed trees ! 
******** 
A warm spell in March had melted the snow. 
The brooks were unbound, and their rippling flow 
Sent a thrill of delight through all Nature— and heard 
Now and then, in the woods, was the early spring bird. 
And I knew there was coming a bustle and strife. 
And I promised myself, that, for once in my life. 
The work should be free from all worry and toll. 
And every thing run “ just as smoothly as oil.” 
Reports were all in, the “ summing up ” scanned. 
Bitch day set for packing, each day's work was planned, 
The stock wasall “invoiced ”— we knew— yes, we knew 
Just how many trees it would take to “ pull through.” 
No tree should be lacking— no plant out of sight. 
But all be on hand, in the trenches, just right; 
Horse chestnuts, tree roses, pond lilies, pecans. 
Persimmons, hydrangeas, by twos and by ones, 
Not to speak of the commoner things on the ground, 
Where p ars, peaches, apples, and plums must he found 
In greatest profusion, of every known kind. 
And not a thing lacking, and nothing behind. 
Thus fortified, thought I. what pleasure ’twould be 
To gather together each plant and each tree. 
Make up the neat bundle, put on the man’s name. 
And send It olT Hying to depot and train. 
But Rob Burns lias told us, that plans neatly laid, 
oft miss in the doing, and go wrong and fade. 
And I fear he was right. 
For, the very first night, 
After packing all day, 
The de’ll was to pay. 
Tree roses all gone— pecans ” up the spout,” 
Horse chestnuts but one left— persimmons were out. 
The “ Marecbal Neil’s ” and the ” Brides ” were all 
gone— 
For his “ best girl ” that dealer had “ scooped ” the last 
one; 
Next day three fresh companies “booked” for the 
ground. 
And where were those missing things now to be found ? 
Ah ! farther away than Phil Sheridan’s steed. 
And his rider, from battle ! -in this direst need 
The telephone bell and the wires were kept hot. 
For, like Rachel’s children, the missing “were not,” 
Till, at last, half awake, half asleep, came the news, 
That Jones had my " needs,” and I jerked off my shoes. 
And hustled to bed, for a nap, for the morrow. 
Would bring, like Poe’s raven, no “surcease of sorrow." 
The day had scarce dawned when the ” racket ” began; 
Out there at the office was every ‘‘tree man ” 
Who was " booked ” for that day — 
They had heard, to they said, 
That the roses were gone. 
On the ground not a one— 
And they swore, how in “blank” could they pack In 
that way. 
Though one chap suggested— “ pack briers instead.” 
With the morning express came the roses and trees. 
And fora whole hour peace reigned:—” If you please,” 
Said my errand boy, “ Mister, the water is out, 
You can’t get a drop at the lower pump spout.” 
A big, burly “ tree man ” had heard the sad tale. 
And he turned to his chum and said, “ Don’t it beat— 
Hale.” 
Then the moss was beginning to run low, they thought. 
And over each basket they " ranted ” and fought— 
My teamster, all smiling, just then hove in sight. 
And said, ” Boss, that car of moss came in last night,” 
So, they swore a few oaths at the “ runners ” and then 
They turned to their work and went at it again. 
The first load of trees had gone off to the train. 
When music began ’mongst the tree men again. 
That big buggy car on the siding, each knew 
Was the car he had ordered— to carry him through. 
No car short of forty feet— fourteen feet high 
Would answer his purpose— he’d have it or die! 
Though I knew well the “ packing” of all of the three 
Would scarce All a car, as a car filled should be. 
My mail now arrived—” Why don’t you ship quick ! ” 
The first letter said—” How in the Saint Nick 
Can I wait? Spring is coming, the buds swelling fast, 
Yes, zero last night, but you know that can’t last. 
My ‘packers’ are growling, they must have their trees; 
Be careful though— box them well— don't let them 
freeze ! ” 
And so I proceed to do all that I can 
To tone up the weather, and tone down the man. 
“ See here ! ” said the next letter, “ didn’t I say 
Those trees must be extra, and sure was your pav ? 
And, here, they are second-class, scarcely an Inch, 
Though some of them may be that large, in a pinch; 
And Baldwins— well, may be they’re Baldwins— I fear— 
If they are, they are darker than Baldwins up here. 
They’re ‘ heeled ’—can’t accept them— though may be 
I will 
If you’ll knock off ten dollars, or so, from the bill.” 
I turn to my press book, with heart-aching thought. 
And find it was second-class Baldwins he bought. 
“ Jing-a-ling,” goes the telephone— “ Who is that? 
What ? ” 
"Hello!— are my trees on the ground ?”— " They are 
not ! ” 
“ I can’t pack to-morrow ?— now don’t that beat all ! 
I deliver next Tuesday, and ten miles to haul— 
Say, hello there, say— I’ll be down there at noon, 
Yes, I must, can’t wait longer— no, ’tis not too soon. 
The snow Is about gone— I’m coming, you hear !" 
He’s coming, the “ drummer ’’—not ready— oh, dear! 
Just then a big envelope popped into view. 
As long as your arm, and a half an inch through. 
And the little + " Nutmeg-ger” wanted to know. 
Just how many “ briers ” and trees did we grow, 
Their age and their caliber— inches in height. 
And questions on questions— a terrible sight. 
Till it made one’s head swim, 
At those queries so grim, 
And wonder and plan, • 
From the size of the man. 
If anything more could be pumped out of him. 
******** 
But two days a packing, what trouble, oh, my ! 
My fine resolutions all knocked into “ pi.” 
My foreman ’most " rattled ’’—the hands in a ” stew,” 
With all of us scarce knowing what next to do. 
The weather against us, with frost every night. 
And raining in daytime, with all of its might,— 
In all due solemnity, here I would state 
’ Twould “ rattle ” St. Peter, himself, at the gate. 
Yet God bless the tree man, and give him a cheer. 
He tramps through the cold and the heat, all the year. 
Takes snubs and rebuffs, with a comical smile. 
And gets In a bill, every once in a while. 
Makes farmers plant trees, where they only want hog; 
Rejoices the women—” soft sawders ” the dog, 
And still ploddeth on, doing good as he goes. 
But getting poor credit, from friends and from foes. 
His reward should be certain. In that blissful state. 
Where Peter swings open the beautiful gate. 
N. H. Albauyh. 
t J. H. Hale of Conn., Census Statistician of Nurseries. 
September Operations. 
BEANS. 
T is not too late from North 
Carolina southward to sow 
early in the month a crop 
of snap beans. This crop 
will come in very handy 
for salting down for winter 
use or pickling. 
PEAS. 
Sow in this latitude from the first to the 
middle of the month a crop of Premium 
Gem, or Stratagem peas for late use. Make 
a deep furrow, sow the peas and cover 
lightly. Then gradually draw earth in as 
growth goes on. If mildew sets in dust the 
vines with sulphur. In a fairly good sea- 
son very good crops can be made, but a dry 
hot fall will cut them short. 
CELERY. 
The first of September is early enough to 
set celery plants in the rows in North Caro- 
lina and southward — a month or more ear- 
lier at the North. We detailed last month 
the best plan for setting the plants in the 
South. 
POTATOES. 
If the late crop of Irish potatoes was not 
planted in August, it is still time enough to 
make a crop anywhere south of central 
North Carolina. There is a rapidly growing 
inquiry for these fall-grown potatoes for 
planting in more northern sections in spring. 
We have here in progress an experiment 
with two of the northern stations. They 
sent us the potatoes for early planting and 
we are growing from the product of these a 
late crop, which wall be sent north to plant 
next spring. The result will be noticed 
with a great deal of interest here and else- 
where. 
TURNIPS. 
Early in this month we consider the best 
time to sow the Strap Leaf turnip for table 
use. We use a highly ammoniated super- 
phosphate for this crop, as they should be 
grown nearly as rapidly as a radish to be 
good, and if sown too early will grow too 
large and get pithy. Quickly-grown flat 
turnips as large round as a good sized tea 
cup are much better than large ones of this 
class. For winter use we prefer the Gold- 
en Ball or Long White French. The last 
named, however, must be sown much earl- 
ier as we have heretofore suggested. 
SPINACH. 
Lose no time in getting the winter crop 
of spinach in the ground. We prefer to 
sow this on flattened ridges, so as to keep 
it dry at the roots. North of the southern 
line of Virginia it will need some covering 
in winter. In northern Maryland we found 
it best for family use to sow spinach in 
frames and protect with sashes in cold 
nights. We could then keep all the leaves 
unfrosted — and have them ready for use at 
A 
