130 
COMMERCIAL NURSERY AND GARDEN OF MESSRS. PARSONS & CO. 
would increase the productive wealth of the farm¬ 
ers^ $3,300,000. Now add to this, as expressed by 
us page 98 last number, $2,227,000 for the improve¬ 
ment in quality, and we have an annual gain of 
$5,527,000 to the country from this source alone, 
which, according to our estimate, is more than 
doubling the value of the whole crop of wool now 
produced in the United States, we having set it 
down at present at $5,197,500. Adopt an improv¬ 
ed breed of sheep generally, and the value of the 
wool crop would then be $10,724,500. And this 
is but one among the many benefits proposed to 
the farmers by adopting an improved stock, and 
an improved system of husbandry. When will 
the agricultural community of this land become 
awake to the importance of a steady, systematic, 
and enlightened practical course in these matters ? 
COMMERCIAL NURSERY AND GARDEN OF 
MESSRS. PARSONS & Co. 
This extensive nursery and garden is situated 
within a short distance of the steamboat landing, 
in the town of Flushing, Long Island, and is a de¬ 
lightful two hours’ sail from this city, up the East 
river, amid some of the most varied and picturesque 
scenery that can be found in the world. It was 
commenced in the year 1837, and now covers an 
area of more than 30 acres, the soil of which is 
well adapted for the general objects of a nursery 
and garden. It occupies part of an estate of 
250 acres, inherited in a direct line from a mater¬ 
nal ancestor, Mr. John Bowne, one of the first set¬ 
tlers on Long Island, and who, in the year 1661, 
built the venerable mansion in which one of the 
proprietors now resides. In a country where so 
few antiquities exist as in ours, it is a great satis¬ 
faction to look at a fine old house, in excellent re¬ 
pair, with a date so antique upon it, and our pleas¬ 
ure was greatly enhanced by finding immediately 
in front of it, on the opposite side of the road, in a 
high state of preservation, a large, venerable oak, 
one of the two, mider the grateful shade of which, 
the celebrated George Fox, the founder of the so¬ 
ciety of Friends, first preached when he paid a 
visit to this country. This oak is several hundred 
years old, and the stump of its mate which broke 
down from decay a short time since, still remains 
by its side. 
And while upon this subject, we have a pleasing 
anecdote to recount of the preservation of these 
oaks. Some years since, the land where they 
stood belonged to a veritable Goth, we mean by 
this a “ tree extirpator,” a genus homo , we regret 
to say, which abounds rather too plentifully in this 
country. Well, his taste was to cut down these 
superb old oaks, and sell them for timber. Upon 
hearing this, the late Mr. Bowne, ancestor of the 
Messrs. P., to insure their preservation as long as 
time would allow it, purchased them of him, and 
the whole property around has now fallen into the 
hands of these young men, and the public may be 
assured that the remaining tree, will hereafter be 
guarded with all the care due to its venerable ap' 
pearance and historical associations. 
The main road on the north side of the island, 
passes directly through the nursery and garden, 
giving the passer-by a full view of its great ex¬ 
tent and variety of tree, and shrub, and flower. 
On entering the grounds, the first thing which 
struck our attention, was the abundant room left 
for everything planted out, which we think is 
greatly in favor of the establishment; as by this 
I arrangement, the trees, especially those of the or¬ 
namental kind, can throw out thicker and more 
bushy tops, and the growth of all is more symmet¬ 
rical and even, and from our own experience we 
know them to be much hardier and healthier than 
under a closer cultivation. The great fault of nur¬ 
series usually is, that they lack space; and the 
plantings are consequently so thick, that the trees 
become spindling, crooked, mossy, and stunted in 
their growth ; injuries which can never be wholly 
repaired, however well their cultivation may be 
attended to after transplanting. Trees, to attain 
perfection, must, like animals, grow steadily and 
evenly along; and it is by selecting the best varie¬ 
ties, giving them plenty of room, and paying all 
proper attention to their stock, that the Messrs. 
Parsons have in so short a time, gained a high rep¬ 
utation for the culture of choice, thrifty, and hand¬ 
some trees. 
Another great improvement struck us in the 
management of this nursery, and that is, a regular 
map is made of the grounds, and a register is kept 
of all the planting; the varieties of which gener¬ 
ally occupy distinct heads or rows, and thus the 
danger in filling orders, of substituting one kind 
of fruit or flower for another, which has heretofore 
given so much dissatisfaction, is well guarded 
against. Our nurserymen can not be too careful in 
these matters; for it is a great disappointment, to 
say the least, after obtaining trees at a considera¬ 
ble expense, and waiting patiently a long time for 
their growth, to at length find the fruit just the 
reverse of what was wanted. 
On entering the gate on the south side of these 
ample grounds, we were first attracted by a square 
of evergreens, containing many varieties of pine* 
