THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
143 
Quiz Column. 
KINDS OF STORAGE HOUSES. 
A correspondent asks for a discussion of surface store 
houses versus ordinary cellars for the storing nursery stock. 
The subject is important and timely. Mr. Smith of Ontario 
contributes an excellent opening letter and other good ones 
follow. 
CANADIAN EXPERIENCE. 
With regard to storage houses, I am afraid my opinion will be 
of little use to you, as I have had experience with only one kind 
of storage, and that is an above ground storage cellar. I have used 
this only in the following way, namely: 
Heeling the trees in closely together in the natural soil; I could 
never bring myself to think that it would be safe to pile trees up with 
the roots exposed all winter as is done in some of the large nurseries. 
My way is a more expensive one however, as I can only store in my 
cellars two hundred thousand fully grown trees, although it covers a 
space of 108 x 200 feet. Still I feel satisfied to continue the method. 
I use these cellars as running grounds. I have two of them, one on 
each side of my packing shed which is 80 x 108 feet—with doors open¬ 
ing on either side of it into six passages into each cellar, and up these 
passages the different varieties are alphabetically arranged in bins 
separated from each other by ropes. These are placed there in the 
fall, and need not be touched again until the trees are pulled out by 
the “runners” when ready to pack. 
Of course I realize that to store a million trees, this way would be 
somewhat expensive and it might be worth while to consider some 
system whereby a larger quantity could be stored in a smaller space. 
Winona, Ont., Can. E. D. Smith. 
WESTERN EXPERIENCE. 
We have probably had as much experience with surface storage 
houses as any firm in the country and greatly prefer them to any¬ 
thing in the line of a cellar. The under ground system was never 
satisfactory, usually more or less leakage, and always too much 
dampness, resulting in mouldy roots. We believe we were pioneers 
in the above ground system, and have to-day some fifteen acres un¬ 
der roof. In the past, our great need, as with all nurserymen, was 
more shed room, and we evolved a plain storage house of one inch 
lumber for walls, entirely surrounded by sheds from 16 to 36 feet 
wide. An inside false roof makes air space, the roofs and all walls 
being covered with tarred felt paper. The underground house was 
inconvenient; the house we now use is well lighted, convenient and 
keeps stock prefectly. With ample switches running inside our 
sheds, we never waste time “ cussing ” the weather. 
Louisiana, Mo. Stark Bro’s. Nurseries & Orchards Co. 
STORAGE CELLARS IN WESTERN N. Y. 
W. & T. Smith Co., Geneva, N. Y., are in favor of surface storage 
provided the roots of the trees are well covered with soil. 
I believe I was the first person in this part of the state that ever stored 
any trees for spring shipment in cellars. Our first cellars were under 
ground, but at present the storage is entirely above ground which I re¬ 
gard as better in every respect than the old system of underground 
cellars. 
Geneva, N. Y. S. D. Willard. 
SIDE HILL CELLARS. 
We have two cellars connected, one being partially built in the side 
of a hill. The other is entirely above ground. And we are pleased 
to say we are successfully carrying stock in both. 
If we were to build now we should investigate the plan of building con¬ 
crete walls 6 to 8 inches thick, constructed with I to 1 inch itir space. 
Furring in, lxl inch hemlock strips on the interior wall to enable us to 
add additional lumber sheathing, paper lined air spaces. 
The fact that we are successfully carrying trees in the two kinds 
prevents us making any preference. 
Newark, N. Y. C. W. Stuart & Co, 
HT’* 
POPULAR STREET AND SHADE TREES. 
I am thinking of starting a nursery for the propagation and 
sale of shade and ornamental trees. I am especially interested 
in street and park trees. What kinds are in greatest demand 
at the present time? 
Worcester, Mass. W. F. 
. THE MAPLES LEAD. 
Our sales the past spring lead us to believe that the Norway and 
Sugar Maples are being more extensively planted for lawn and street 
purposes than any other trees. Buttonwoods have been in demand for 
avenues and parks. Elms and Pin Oaks were popular shade trees on 
private places. Carolina Poplar was still wanted as a street tree and 
to give quick results. Sweet Gum, Linden and Weeping Willow were 
much sought after for lawn decoration. Indications for fall point to a 
continuance of the Norway Maples’ popularity. 
Morrisville, Pa. The Wm. H. Moon, Co. 
PLANT ENDURING KINDS. 
Planters want the most rapid growing trees, such as Poplars and Soft 
Maples. 
It is to be hoped that all who are in a position to do so will urge the 
planting of more sturdy trees. For one, I give Acer dasycarpum a 
wide berth, having seen so many of them ruined by wind at a time 
when the value of a better tree would have been almost incalculable. 
Tarrytown, N. Y. S. G. Harris. 
THE DISCERNING BUY PERMANENT KINDS. 
The present trend in regard to the varieties of shade trees planted in 
decorating grounds of those who take a pride in their estates is largely 
toward the native hard wood trees, such as Sugar Maple, America'n 
Chestnut, American Linden, Oaks of the various kinds and to a moderate 
extent Tulip trees. 
The orders that I receive for street and avenue planting are largely 
of the same character except in the case of real estate speculative vent¬ 
ures, where it is desirous to secure shade in the least possible time, in 
which case Carolina Poplar is used more than any other tree. Soft 
Maple being a close second. 
Elizabeth, N. J. H. T. Jones 
MAPLES AGAIN. 
We believe that among the first trees that are popular for shade 
trees are the Schwedler and Reitenbach maples for the simple rea¬ 
son that they grow very much like the Norway and are about the same 
.shape but the foliage is much more beautiful than the Norway. One 
half of the season they are a beautiful purplish color (almost as fine as 
the purple leaved Beech) changing later on in the season to a dull green, 
almost the same shade as the Norway. We would also recommend 
for a second choice the Norway and Sugar Maples, Ornamental Planes 
and Pin Oaks; and for the third, we would recommend the Silver 
Maple, Carolina and Lombardy Poplars and Catalpas. lor strictly 
ornamental trees we would suggest the following: Horse Chestnut, 
Cut-leaf Birch, Young’s Weeping Birch, Purple Beech, Weeping Pur¬ 
ple Beech, Dogwood, Magnolia (soulangeana and macrophylla ,) \\ eep- 
ing Mulberry, Schwedler and Reitenbach Maple. V e consider these 
the most desirable. 
Elizabeth, N. J. The Elizabeth Nursery Company. 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT TO TEST CLOVER 
AND GRASS SEEDS. 
It will interest nurserymen who handle seeds to read the 
following circular recently issued by the l nited States De¬ 
partment of Agriculture, taking effect July 1, 1904. 
“The Act of Congress making appropriations for the Department ot 
Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1905, contains the follow¬ 
ing: 
“The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby directed to obtain in the 
open market samples of seeds of grass, clover, or alfalla, test the same 
and if any such seeds are found to be adulterated or misbranded, or any 
seeds of Canada blue-grass (Poa compressa ) are obtained under any 
other name than Canada blue-grass or Poa compressa, to publish the re¬ 
sults of the tests, together with the names of the persons by whom the 
geqds are offered for sale.’ 
James Wilson, Secretary.” 
