CLUCAS BODDINGTON’S NURSERIES 
Extract from The Florists' Exchange , Issue of July 23 , 1004 
flOCATED at Palisades, near Sparkill, N. Y., about 25 
miles from the city of New York, the nucleus of what 
is to become in the future an important nursery for 
herbaceous and decorative stock, has been put into 
operation by the energetic foresight of R. W. Clucas. 
The property referred to is a handsome estate of 
thirty-five acres, upon which is a substantial dwelling, together 
\vtih all the necessary stables and other out-buildings seen in 
a well-equipped country estate. The soil is of the best and 
particularly well suited to the growing of all kinds or nursery 
and herbaceous stock. 
In the spacious dwelling house live Mr. and Mrs. Clucas 
and family, and all of them, from the prattling youngsters to 
the eldest, seem to enjoy thoroughly the delights of living in 
such a beautiful spot. Mr. Clucas was fortunate, indeed, in 
securing this ideal place, where he could at once combine his 
commercial and domestic interests under such comfortable, and 
at the same time favorable, conditions. 
We may mention here that it is but one year since the 
property was purchased, and in the establishment of such a 
nursery as this is to eventually be¬ 
come, a single year does not give time 
to accomplish a great deal. An able 
superintendent has been secured, how¬ 
ever, in the person of Herbert Green- 
smith, whose writings on herbaceous 
plants have appeared from time to 
time in the columns of The Florists’ 
Exchange and have been read with the 
greatest interest. He has accomplished 
wonders since he took hold of the 
place, early this Spring, and rapid 
progress is making along all lines. The 
coming season will find an almost end¬ 
less supply of herbaceous plants. 
We might also state that the retir¬ 
ing recently of one of the members 
from the corporation has made no 
change in the business; the concern 
is an incorporated stock company; it 
has built up a splendid business since 
its foundation, and will continue to 
serve its patrons with the best that is 
to be had, as heretofore. 
We were privileged recently to 
spend a few hours going over the vari¬ 
ous fields. After enjoying a beautiful 
drive from Sparkill station, one finds, 
on first entering the grounds, planta¬ 
tions of conifers, trained box trees, 
sciadopitys, kalmias, Golden privet, the 
silver-leaved dogwood, Japanese ma¬ 
ples, Catalpa Bungei, Hydrangea pani- 
culata and a fair-sized block of blue 
spruce. Some photographs were made 
of this part of the nursery, showing 
the plantings of the several subjects 
mentioned, reproductions of which ap¬ 
pear in this issue. 
Approaching the herbaceous 
grounds, we are met with long rows of 
that fine yellow favorite, Oenothera 
Youngii, a mass of yellow from end to 
end, and forming a golden barrier to 
the special sections of gladiolus and 
peonies that are planted beyond. Funkias in all the best 
varieties occupy quite a large area, and next to these we see 
an immense patch of seedling hollyhocks. Then comes the sec¬ 
tion of anemones, the three best varieties being represented 
in Queen Charlotte, pink; Honorine Joubert, double white, and 
the well-known Whirlwind. Pyrethrum uliginosum and aquile- 
gias are also represented in large quantities, while phlox is 
planted extensively, both of the decussata and the suffruticosa 
types. 
The spiraea family is well represented by a block of 
Anthony Waterer, adjoining which is a plantation of deutzias 
of the gracilis type, embracing the best varieties. From the 
extensive areas devoted to roses, it is evident that a special 
drive is being made on this line. The white and pink Maman 
Cochet, Kaiserin Augusta Victoria, Crimson Rambler, and own 
root stock of other well-known H. P. and H. T. roses occupy a 
number of acres of land. The soil suits the plants exactly; 
they are thriving and making luxuriant growth. 
A field of dahlias shows magnificent progress; the showery 
weather of late has proved ideal for these and the growth 
made is remarkable. We might say in passing that dahlias are 
a specialty here; the collection embraces all the types, such as 
cactus, pomnon. decorative, show, collarette, and the singles. 
Wkile our prices, 
upon comparison with 
those of other dealers, 
will he found much 
more favorable to the 
customer, we give 
every assurance that 
the Bulhs, Seeds and 
Plants herein offered 
will he found first- 
class m every particu¬ 
lar, and, under good 
treatment, can he relied 
upon giving the hest 
possible results. 
The best varieties are represented and at digging time there 
will be a yield of 25,000 tubers, at the lowest estimate. 
Iris is another staple of which a great many are being 
grown. We also noticed quite a large block of wistaria in one 
field. A field of young clematis was passed, after which we 
came to an extensive plantation of Incarvillea Delavayi, a 
plant that is becoming more of a favorite every year, and 
which was just beginning to flower profusely at the time of our 
visit. The platycodons were also just coming into bloom; there 
is a large block of these, and they rank among the best as a 
Midsummer flowering plant for the border. 
As yet there is only one greenhouse on the premises, but 
this Summer will see several new ones erected, to be used for 
propagating purposes. The greenhouse is at present supple¬ 
mented by an extensive area of cold frames, however, filled 
with hundreds of thousands of seedlings, among which are 
pentstemons of the best types, collections of papaver, gyp- 
sophila, Heuchera sanguinea, platycodons, agrostemma, lych¬ 
nis, of the chalcedonica and viscaria types; hollyhocks, dian- 
thus in variety, aquilegias, eryngium, coreopsis, veronicas in 
variety, Stokesia cyanea and Primula 
veris superba are also being grown in 
quantity. 
The peony collection is to be further 
augmented during the coming Fall by 
the importation of all the leading nov¬ 
elties from Europe. The collection of 
gladiolus includes the famous Augusta 
and May; also the very best seedlings 
of American origin. This crop is not 
grown here, but is being grown espe¬ 
cially for the firm on Long Island. 
Cannas also are not grown here; of 
these the Clucas & Boddington Com¬ 
pany grow twenty-five acres on their 
farm in North Carolina. Mr. Clucas 
has just returned from that point, 
where he went to inspect the cannas, 
and he reports that they are in first- 
rate condition. 
Besides the nurseries the firm has 
large offices, storehouse and packing- 
room at 812 and 814 Greenwich street, 
New York, where the handling and 
shipping and receiving of bulbs and 
seeds is carried on. 
The firm has correspondents in all 
parts of the world and so keeps in 
touch with novelties, prices and crops, 
and is able to procure at first hand 
practically everything that is grown in 
the way of bulbs, roots and seeds. Con¬ 
signments are coming constantly from 
all points of the compass—from the two 
hemispheres—France, Italy, Holland, 
Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Ber¬ 
muda, Asia and South America, besides 
stock from the bulb and root-producing 
States of North America. 
The exports of tuberoses, gladiolus 
and other American bulbs, seeds and 
plants are quite an item in the busi¬ 
ness of this concern. Their “Three- 
legged” brands of Harrisii and other bulbs are now famous, 
and are a household word among growers. And while talking 
of the “three-legs,” which is well known by the appearance 
of their trade-mark, we have gathered together a few facts 
with regard to the crest of the Isle of Man, of which Mr. Clucas 
is a native, and the reason for the adoption of this unique and 
striking composition. 
The “three legs” was probably originally a sign or symbol 
and may have come from Sicily, as the “sign” has been found 
on coins two thousand years old. It is supposed the ancient 
Vikings, who were great seafaring men and wanderers, carried 
this means of exchange from the Mediterranean island to the 
Isle of Man. 
The most interesting of the early representation of the 
“three legs” is on a beautiful pillar near the Manghold church¬ 
yard in the Isle of Man, which belongs to the latter part of the 
fourteenth century; the motto symbolical of the Manx history, 
which surrounded the three legs, “Quocunque jaceris stabit,” 
freely translated is “Whichever way you upset it it will stand,” 
which evidently refers to the tri-legged crest or symbol. 
