71 YEARS and A FAMILY 
DEVOTED TO 
SERVICE FOR 3 
GENERATIONS 
&& i£M„ 
Every organization which has pro¬ 
gressed through the years can measure 
its success in terms of service to its cus¬ 
tomers. This year the West’s oldest and 
largest nursery completes its 71st con¬ 
tinuous year of operation. In the his¬ 
tory of that long period is revealed the 
policy upon which the California Nur¬ 
sery Company has been built: “To grow 
the finest plants and trees which can be 
grown; to progress as research opens 
avenues of improvement; to introduce 
only varieties which have been tested 
and proved worthy; to serve with coun¬ 
sel born of experience; and withal, to 
sell at a fair price consistent with value, 
the fountain head of true economy.” 
John Rock founded the California 
Nursery Company in 1865. Originally 
located northeast of San Jose, it was re¬ 
moved to the present property near 
Niles in 1884. Mr. Rock actively man¬ 
aged operations until his death in 1904, 
after which ownership passed to Mr. 
and Mrs. W. S. Landers and manage¬ 
ment to Mr. W. V. Eberly. During his 
lifetime John Rock imported thousands 
LOADING CAR WITH NURSERY STOCK, FANCHER CREEK 
NURSERIES (FRESNO) 1905 
Trainload of Phoenix Canariensis 
palms, which were planted on 
"Palm Avenue” at the Panama 
Pacific International Exposition, 
San Francisco, 1915. Photograph 
made at California Nursery Com¬ 
pany, Niles, Calif., May 25, 1914. 
ENTRANCE TO JOHN ROCK’S NURSERIES 
of fruit varieties from Europe, and 
tested practically all fruits of Ameri¬ 
can origin. This work, as well as similar 
developments carried on by Mr. George 
C. Roeding in his test orchards at 
Fresno proved a real contribution to 
commercial fruit production in Cali¬ 
fornia. 
In 1883, at Fresno, Mr. Frederick C 
Roeding established the Fancher Creek 
Nurseries. Three years later his son 
Mr. Geoi'ge C. Roeding, became man¬ 
ager. Extensive plantings of new fruit 
varieties were made. New and better 
methods of growing, processing, and 
packing fruits were developed and dem¬ 
onstrated. Investigations started in 1886 
and continued until 1899 resulted in the 
introduction of the fig wasp from 
Smyrna, and marks the beginning of 
California’s Smyrna fig industry. 
In 1916 Mr. Roeding acquired the 
Fresno Nursery Company, and the fol¬ 
lowing year purchased the California 
Nursery Company at Niles. Armistice 
year, 1918, extensive fruit tree growing 
grounds were purchased near Loomis, 
in Placer County, and added to the Val¬ 
ley tree nurseries. Production of orna¬ 
mentals, shade trees, roses, and garden 
plants was increased, principally in the 
fields on the Niles property. In 1923 a 
Yard and Sales Office was opened at 
Modesto. 
In 1924 Mr. George C. Roeding, Jr., 
became associated with the Company, 
and in 1926 became manager. In 1932 a 
fully-equipped branch was opened in 
Sacramento; the same year a wide selec¬ 
tion of imported Spring-flowering bulbs 
was added to the Company’s line. Show 
Cardens at Niles have been established; 
“Old Adobe,” more than a century old, 
has been landscaped and thrown open 
to the public. 
The two Fresno organizations have 
been brought directly into the California 
Nursery Company operation, 
and improvements completed 
on all of the Company’s prop¬ 
erties. New, favorably-situ¬ 
ated fruit tree growing 
grounds have been acquired 
in the San Joaquin Valley. 
Outstanding varieties have 
been introduced, including 
“Frostfighter” Walnut, and 
the sensational new “Nec¬ 
tar” Peach, which has been 
patented. New roses have 
been introduced to western 
gardens. 
Today tradition is pre¬ 
served in a nursery service 
—“created for the public 
welfare, prospering because 
of public approval.” 
