THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
37 
jforeign Botes. 
OUTLOOK IN KANSAS. 
The collection of orchids at Kew, England is equalled in Europe only 
by the collection at Glasneven, Ireland. 
A census of the plants found wild or growing spontaneously in the 
streets of Paris shows that the number of such plants is not fewer than 
209. In the courtyard of the Louvre, Place du Carrousel, forty-five 
species may be found. The banks of the river and the canals furnish 
the greater number. 
A tree of Wellingtonia gigantea planted by Queen Victoria at Floors 
Castle, the seat of the Duke of Roxburgh, in August, 1867, has now 
attained a height of sixty feet. The tree was five feet high when 
planted. The specimens of Picea pinsapo and Araucaria imbricata in 
the grounds of Floors Castle are also remarkably fine. 
Arbor Day in Japan is to be made even more of an occasion than in 
the United States. All the scholastic authorities in Japan have taken 
to the idea, and it is proposed, through its adoption, to interest all the 
boys and girls of Japan in the study of botany—the state working out 
a profit in the establishment of forests wherever the growth of timber 
is now required. 
Oranges from the Jerusalem citrus belt which is mainly the region 
round about Joppa, the sea port of Jerusalem, are now found in several 
markets of the world, including the L nited States. This revival of the 
orange industry in the holy land is said to be due to the colonization of 
a number of Jewish families who had been driven out of Russia by the 
well known Jew-baiting tactics of the Russian authorities. 
The Royal Late Cooking apple is attracting attention in England. 
The skin is light yellowish green, and the flesh brisk, jufey and pleas¬ 
antly flavored. The growth is vigorous, and somewhat resembles that 
of Blenheim Pippin, and the tree is a heavy and regular cropper. This 
variety was raised by Owen Thomas, chief of the Royal Gardens at 
Windsor, and when exhibited before the Royal Horticultural Society 
on January 14th last, the fruit committee conferred an award of merit 
upon it. 
The Douglas Spruce spar which forms the great flag staff at Kew 
is believed to be the finest spar in Europe. It was presented to the 
royal gardens in 1861 by Edward Stamp, and was cut in the forests of 
British Columbia. Its total height is 159 feet, of which 12 feet are 
sunk in a ventilated bricked pit. The age of the tree was about 250 
years, and its total height 180 feet. A section cut from the base of the 
spar before its erection in 1861 is contained in the museum, and shows 
the closeness of the grain of the wood, having eleven annual rings to 
the inch. 
Robert Thomson, writing to the British foreign office on the agricul¬ 
tural products of Tolima, Colombia, says that vast pastoral regions 
. are converted into comparatively barren wastes in the season of drought; 
but there is one exception to this subversive power of the fires. The 
Chaparro tree, Rhopala obovata—“a humble tree with contorted and 
rugged trunks and branches and scabrous leaves, a tree presenting the 
most weird aspect conceivable”—not only resists the effects of the 
flames, but, like the salamander, actually flourishes in the region of 
fire, which is so destructive to the ordinary members of the vegetable 
kingdom. Indigenous to South American countries, the Chaparro at¬ 
tains a height of from fifteen to twenty feet, and its distorted trunks 
measure from nine to twelve inches in diameter. 
Fruit growing in India, especially in the north-west Himalayas, ap¬ 
pears to be a business capable of considerable development, and likely 
to be very profitable. The cultivation of English varieties of apples, 
peaches, plums, cherries, &c., in and around Kumaon and Chaubattra 
has already been successful on a small scale It is thought that 
growers would readily find a market for their produce in Calcutta and 
in the towns, villages, and stations where Europeans are to be found. 
For many years the British Government has had fruit-tree nurseries at 
various points, and young trees, cuttings and grafts of tried varieties 
of fruits have been freely distributed with a view to encourage and 
develop in this direction the food supply of the empire. Many native 
agriculturists have already orchards in bearing, and are doing well. 
The Ribston Pippin succeeds at Kumaon; peaches are a success, and 
apricots flourish and bear abundantly; cherries, pears, and raspberries 
have adapted themselves to the district. 
Editor of The National Nurseryman ; 
Having recently corresponded with forty of the leading 
horticulturists of the state regarding soil moisture and 
present condition of fruit buds and prospects for fruit, 
we have the following summary: There is a fair amount 
of soil moisture all over the state, fruit buds are yet dor¬ 
mant, with the exception of some apricots and a few of 
the Japanese plums which were sensitive to the mild 
weather of February, the warmest February known in 
many years. The present outlook for all kinds of tree 
fruits is considered unusually good. 
Nursery trade will be rather light compared with pre¬ 
vious years owing to low prices and short crops in portions 
of the state for the last two years. Recent snows cover¬ 
ing most of the state have improved the soil moisture 
and will somewhat encourage the disposition to plant. 
Crete, Neb. E. F. Stephens. 
AS PROMISED 
In our last number, we now give the names of more varieties which 
have been added to the list of plates, which heretofore could only be 
procured hand painted, but are now lithographed by that progressive 
firm the Stecher Lithographic Co., of Rochester, N. Y. Early 
Rivers, Old Mixon Free, Old Mixon Cling, Piequet’s Late and Susque¬ 
hanna Peaches; Jessica and Ulster Prolific Grapes ; Collins’ Prolific, 
Long Bunch Holland, and Moore’s Ruby Currants. 
Do not forget their list of ready made books, when in need of a plate 
book in a hurry. They have something to suit you, no matter where 
located. 
Send for catalogue giving list contained in each, and price. 
NEW VARIETIES 
of FRUIT and FLOWERS are continually 
being plated by 
Here is a list of LITHOGRAPHED PLATES just added to our 
stock. All new designs drawn from nature and 
handsomely colored. 
These are the best plates ever offered to Nurserymen. 
Bismarck Apple. 
Walter Pease Apple. 
Wickson Plum. 
Monarch Plum. 
Abundance Plum, 
Burbank Plum. 
Satsuma Plum. 
Bed June Plum. 
Giant Prune. 
Tennant Prune. 
Gault Raspberry. 
Columbian Raspberry. 
Lincoln Coreless Pear. 
Koonce Pear. 
Collectioi? PUtes 
Parker Earle Strawberry. 
Greensboro Peach. 
Clematis—Paniculata. 
“ Kermissina. 
“ Madam Ed. Andre. 
Double Flowering: Crab. 
Tree Hydrangea. 
Eleagnus Longipes. 
Maple, Ash-Leaf. 
Crimson Rambler Rose. 
Empress of China Rose. 
Paul Neyron Rose. 
Caprice Rose 
A New Feature. 
Several Varieties on One Plate. 
3 Apples. 3 Grapes. 4 Raspberries. 4 Currants. 
3 Climbing Roses—Baltimore Belle and Queen of Prairie. 
3 Shade Trees—Mountain Ash, Ash-Leaved Maple and Silver-Leaved Maple. 
Mahonia and Tamarix. 
SEND FOR CATALOGUE. 
Rochester Lithographing Co 
ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
