THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
165 
lielp. Americans are past masters in production wheie 
methods may he standardized so as to use unskilled or 
easily organized labor. 
The florists of this countly have proven this in the 
})i()duction of carnations and ros(‘s. and the nui’scryim'n 
in the ])roduction of fruit lr(‘es nnd the development of 
orchards, hut it look years to perfect the methods. 
There is little reason to doubt that if the nurserymen 
of this country set themselves the task of growing the 
flowering plants and choice evergreens that are now al¬ 
most exclusively imported, they will succeed, but it can¬ 
not be accomplished as quickly or in the same way that 
one would start manufacturing by machinery. It 
would take one or more generations to organize and 
develop the business to work up a stock and train the 
necessary help. 
One has only to visit a nursery center like Hoskooj), 
Holland, or Ghent, Jielgiurn, to realize the care and skill 
required. 
The plants we noW' import are largely those that can 
not be produced by the rough and ready methods and 
unskilled labor of the American nurseries, but recjuire 
time, constant care and skill. 
They are those plants that are least adaptable to (juan- 
tity production by routine methods. 
There is, however, not the least doubt l)ut that the Bay 
Trees and Azaleas of Ghent and the Evergreens of Hol¬ 
land can be produced in the United States, and w^hat is 
more should the American nurseryman set himself the 
task, like the florist in the production of roses, he would 
not follow^ old country models, but would set himself 
new' ideals. We should have Azalea Indica in real 
bushes, instead of flat-headed dusters, evergreens that 
would show' their own habits instead of looking as if they 
were all made in a mould. A wider and more intimate 
know ledge of plants w ould be the result and there w ould 
be less tendency to use plants as temporary decorations 
instead of beautiful living things. 
NUUSEBYMEN’S CONVENTION, PHILADELPHIA, 
JUNE 27, 28, and 29. 
I’ll get on the job early you bet, 
To land the first order that’s loose 
The clmp that comes late is a poor kind of skate, 
And misses the worm with the juice. 
ZOOK 
The New York State college of Agriculture of Cornell 
University, Ithaca, New York, A. B. Mann, Acting Di¬ 
rector of Extension Service, has published two Bulletins 
on the Gladiolus. Bulletin No. 0, by Alvin C. Beal, gives 
the botany, history and evolution of the Gladiolus. Bul¬ 
letin No. 10 by Alfred (]. Hottes, the culture and hybrid¬ 
ization. 
They are tborough and comj)rehensive studies of the 
Gladiolus from every phase of the subject and should be 
of extreme value to specialists and lovers of this popular 
flow^er. 
GABDEN GUIDE 
Although there have been a great number of garden 
books published, the Garden Guide or The Amateur Gar¬ 
dener’s Handbook should just fill a present need. 
In the present stress of high cost of living, far more 
attention than ever l)efore is being paid to the garden— 
in fact, 1917, it is claimed, is going to be a Garden Year 
beyond compare; at no y)ievious time has the importance 
of the home vegetable garden been forced upon the atten¬ 
tion of the people as is being done now. 
Throughout its pages expert veteran gardeners tell the 
amateur in remarkably simple, easily understood lan¬ 
guage, how to plan, plant and maintain the home 
grounds, suburban garden, or city lot; how' to grow^ 
good vegetables and fruit; how' to raise beautiful flow¬ 
ers; how' to take care of lawns, porch plants, window 
boxes, etc. The book gives the How', the When, and 
the Where—from the purchase of the proper tools to 
reaping the hanest. and 1001 other points. It is of in¬ 
terest to ever\' man or w'oman interested in gardening, 
regardless of the amount of land at their disposal. 
Garde>- Guide consists of 2o6 pages, and numerous 
illustrations, these selected not for picturesqueness, but 
as teaching examples, there being a reason for each and 
ever\' picture presented. A charming cover in four 
colors depicts a flower garden and lawn view' any gar¬ 
den lover w'ould be proud of. 
Published by A. T. De La Mare Co.. Inc., 448 West 
37th St., New' York. Paper 50c.; cloth cover 7oc; post¬ 
paid. 
THE AMEBIGAN ROSE ANNUAL 
The American Rose Society has issued its year book 
for 1917. J. Horaee McFarland, the editor and pub¬ 
lisher, has certainly accomplished a good work. It 
brings information on the rose right up to the minute, 
not so much from the commercial rose grow'er s point of 
view, hut rather that of the rose-loving amateur. 
The aim of the articles and illustrations is to stimulate 
rose-grow'ing in America. The former are written by 
such well-know'n rose-men as George C. Thomas. Jr.. W. 
C. Egan. Dr. Robert Huey, C. D. Beagle, Theodore Wirth 
and others. 
This year is started an accurate catalogue of roses of 
