The National Nurseryman. 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK. 
Copyright, 1896, by the National Nurseryman Publishing Co. 
Vol. IV. 
ALL UNDER COVER. 
The Immense New Packing House of 
The Chase Brothers Company, 
At Rochester, N. Y. 
It is pleasant to note the unmistakable evidences of success 
as the result of persistent endeavor to build up a business on 
sound principles. The firm of Chase Brothers Company, 
Rochester, N. Y., is known among the nurserymen and fruit 
growers of the United States and Canada, as one of the largest 
nursery firms in existence. It has attained an enviable repu¬ 
tation for strict integrity and sound dealing, the proprietors 
maintaining from the start that their inten sts and those of 
their customers are identical. When such a company, after 
an experience of thirty years, makes a radical change in its 
equipment, the subject is one of general interest. 
A short time ago a representative of The National Nurs¬ 
eryman learned that Chase Brothers Company were making 
extensive additions to their already well-equipped packing 
grounds at East Rochester, and upon visiting the grounds, was 
surprised by the magnitude of the undertaking. It was no 
less than the construction of a mammoth shed and cellar con¬ 
necting with the large buildings which have been in use some 
time, the whole covering more than an acre and a half of 
ground. The large field, where heretofore hundreds of men 
have made a busy scene at packing time, has been almost com¬ 
pletely covered with buildings, joined so as to form a great 
enclosure, the whole exceeding in area anything of the kind 
I in the country. 
Annoyed by the delay occasioned by inclement weather at 
I the most inopportune time, the members of this company de- 
| cided to build a packing shed which would enable them to do 
all their packing, spring and fall, if necessary, under cover, 
and also enable them to ship much earlier in the spring than 
before ; in fact, making it possible to ship as early as may be 
required, certainly an important point for their trade in the 
South and Southwest. With this end in view they visited the 
packing grounds of the other large nursery concerns in the 
country and obtained ideas, which, combined with their own 
extensive experience, enabled them to formulate plans for as 
nearly a model packing shed and cellar as could be con¬ 
structed. The result is the big building just completed, which 
is being used for the first time at this fall’s packing. 
The new packing shed is 100 x 256 feet in dimensions. It, 
is 17 feet in height, with roof of gradual pitch. It is well 
lighted by sky lights at frequent intervals. The entire space 
thus enclosed has been made available for use. At the east 
end a spur of the New York Central tracks enters the shed 
and great double doors open to admit freight cars, three of 
which may be lined up beside a huge platform 80 feet long 
No. 10. 
within doors, and 80 feet outside, the entire length of 160 feet 
of platform to be thrown together by the opening of the doors. 
Thus cars can be loaded entirely under cover. At the oppo¬ 
site end of the shed are big double doors which will admit the 
largest wagons loaded with trees. There are the usual racks 
for the division of stock. 
The great storage cellar adjoining this shed more nearly 
resembles a factory. It is brilliantly lighted by means of large 
windows upon all sides, double windows to exclude frost. As 
additional precaution, the walls are double, with two air spaces 
all around the sides and entire roof, and sheathed with heavy 
paper under the boarding, making three courses of lumber and 
three courses of paper around the entire building. Two huge 
stoves will raise the temperature within this building to any 
desired degree, although it is thought that stoves will be un¬ 
necessary except perhaps in the most severe weather. It has 
been found that an abundance of ventilation is necessary to 
prevent mildew of stock, and in this respect the building is 
well arranged A series of ventilators extend along the top 
and bottom of the walls, and these are adjustable so as to be 
closed in case of severe weather. Large double doors connect 
the new cellar and the new shed, and the shed in turn is con¬ 
nected directly with one of the old cellars. 
In the four old' cellars the company has an area of 25,000 
square feet. The new cellar has an area of 16,000 square feet, 
the shed 25,600 ; a total area under cover of 66,600 square 
feet. Other large firms may have as much or more cellar 
room, but it is doubtful that any other firm has so great an 
area under cover. 
Just outside the shed is a large power cutter, run by steam, 
such as is used on western ranches for cutting fodder. It is 
used by Chase Brothers Company for cutting moss, and it 
chews up material as rapidly as two men can pitch it in. A 
carrier transfers the chopped moss to any desired place. 
The business which has increased to such an extent as to 
demand so extensive a plant, was established in 1857 by Chase 
Brothers, and on July 1st, 1887, the business was reorganized 
and incorporated under the style of Chase Brothers Company 
and the directors now are Lewis Chase, president ; C. H. 
Perkins, vice-president; William Pitkin, secretary and treasurer 
and Henry J. Peck. Their nurseries at Brighton and Pitts- 
ford, N. Y., aggregate about 500 acres. The greatest care is 
taken in cultivation and year by year their planting has in¬ 
creased, until in the spring of 1896 it amounted to 400,000 
apples, 450,000 standard pears, 100,000 dwarf pears, 250,000 
cherries, 325,000 plums, 1,000,000 peaches, 150,000 currants, 
130,000 berries, 550,000 roses and 500,000 ornamental trees 
and shrubs. Exceptional care is taken in packing, and during 
the spring season they employ on their packing grounds from 
250 to 400 men, and are able to pack and ship from $25,000 
to $40,000 worth of retail orders each day. Their wholesale 
trade is large and constantly increasing, reaching from Maine 
to California, and from Canada to the Gulf, and if we may 
judge by some of the letters shown us, this department is 
ROCHESTER, N. Y., NOVEMBER. 1896. 
