THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
171 
given nurserymen, a notice of public hearing being duly 
issued January 23, 1915, and this hearing was held in 
Washington, February 2nd. Mr. Marlatt pointed out that 
only one nurseryman was present at that hearing, namely 
Mr. F. W. Kelsey, and that full consideration was given 
to Mr. Kelsey‘s recommendations and suggestions. Ib? 
further states that prior to issuing the quarantine, in view 
of the small attendance at the hearing on February sec¬ 
ond, another effort was made to reach all nurserymen 
interested for any constructive recommendations or sug¬ 
gestions, this being published in “The National Nursery¬ 
man” for March, 1915, page 100, and other trade jour¬ 
nals. Not a single response was received to this notice. 
The quarantine No. 20 was signed by D. F. Houston, the 
Secretary of Agriculture, the first day of March, 1915. 
If the nurserymen had all the time they needed then an 
apology is due the Federal Horticultural Board. We 
have to admit that considering the indifference of the 
nurserymen there was evidently all the time needed. 
Our criticism was based largely on the report of F. W. 
Kelsey, who said that no action would be taken without 
further and full opportunity to the nursery interests to 
be heard. It is for the nurserymen themselves to judge 
whether the time between February 5th and the day of 
the signing of the quarantine was sufficient for them to 
present their case. 
Mr. William Pitkin, Chairman of the Legislative Com¬ 
mittee wrote to “The National Nurseryman" urging nur¬ 
serymen having opinions on the subject to promptly com¬ 
municate with him. He would hardly have done this 
knowing it could not be published till March first if he 
had expected the bill to have been signed on that date. 
The most successful men are 
THE FUTURE those who make the best guess 
OF THE in relation to the future. 
NURSERY BUSINESS whether it be buying stocks or 
growing trees for sale. For a 
single venture on one item, one man’s guess is as likely 
to be as good as another’s, and both are likely to guess 
wrong. 
It is quite a different matter, however, to watch the 
trend of events, and lay plans or policy accordingly. Take 
for instance, the subject of imports of nursery stock. 
It is an obvious fact that the last few years, regardless 
of politics, there has been a gradual tightening of lines, 
a restriction here and a quarantine there, making it more 
difficult and expensive to import. This may work a hard¬ 
ship to the dealer, but it really ought to benefit the 
grower, if he rises to the occasion and plants and grows 
to meet the demand. 
Whatever opinion the nurseryman may have about I lie 
need of a quarantine, he is more likely to profit by if il 
he recognizes it as a fact, which is likely to increase 
rather than diminish. 
PRUNING OF THE EARLY FLOWERING SHRUBS 
One look at a Forsythia in full bloom ought lo be quite 
enough to tell any one interested, how it should lie 
pruned, yet how many (gardeners?) conscientiously take 
their shears, when they clip the privet hedge, go over the 
early flowering shrubs at the same time, and in about the 
same manner? 
It goes without saying, that when planting these shrubs 
it is in order to prune as severely as necessary, to give 
I lie plants a chance to make a good start, but after that 
all pruning should be done without changing the natural 
shape of the bush. 
The rules are very simple, and if in doubt don't prune. 
Keep in mind, the growth which the plants make this 
summer carry the bloom for next spring. 
After flowering, if the bushes are too thick and over¬ 
grown, cut out the old branches as near as you can get 
to the ground, leaving the young and vigorous growth. 
Let the aim be that after pruning, the bush retains its 
natural shape which may be idealized a little, if you 
know your plant. 
The later flowering shrubs such as the Althea, or 
Hibiscus syraicus, Hydrangea panic id ata grandiflora, 
etc., flower on the wood made the current year, so may 
be cut back at will before they start to grow in the 
spring, although it is not wise to cut back beyond the pre¬ 
vious year’s growth, if good flowers are desired. Even 
this group is better if pruned with due regard to their 
natural shape, rather than to show too much evidence of 
the knife. 
CHINESE MAGNOLIAS 
In those localities where the Chinese Magnolias thrive, 
there is nothing more showy. The large flowers coming 
before the leaves, at the same time as the daffodils and 
tulip, bring in the spring with a burst of glory. 
The one that stands out as perhaps the best is Mag¬ 
nolia Soulangicma; the flowers are white more or less 
purplish outside, but giving a general pink effect. Mag¬ 
nolia speciosa is supposed to be different, but is about 
the same in general appearance, and hardly worth carry¬ 
ing as a separate kind. 
Magnolia yulan (conspicua) comes into bloom, if any¬ 
thing, a few days earlier than the preceding, has a freer 
growth and attains larger proportions, the flowers are 
pure white but owing to the habit of the tree are not pro¬ 
duced in such great abundance, although even with this 
kind there is usually enough bloom to satisfy the most 
exacting. 
Magnolia Lennei has flowers deep crimson on the out¬ 
side and paler within. Magnolia Soulangiana nigra is a 
beautiful dark purple opening up lighter. 
The earliest of all to bloom is M. Stellata (halleana) 
and is rarely seen much above six feet in height, being a 
decided bush in comparison with the others, but it al¬ 
ways attracts attention and is well liked on account ot 
its white star shaped flowers coming so early. 
The best method of propagation is by layering, and this 
is somewhat of a slow process as they have to be lett 
down two years before they can be separated from the 
parent plant. 
The one best time for moving this group of plants is 
while they are in flower. The roots are thick and fleshy 
and if transplanted in the fall, they are very likely to de¬ 
cay where they have been cut or bruised. They are 
equally impatient of being moved after they come into 
leaf, but whatever time they are handled it is a safe rule 
to dig with ball and burlap. 
