CIbe national IRurser^imait 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK 
The National Nurseryman Publishing Co., Incorporated. 
Vol. XXII. ROCHESTER, N. Y., NOVEMBER, 1913 No. ii 
THE HOLLAND NURSERYMEN DO THINGS, TOO 
A STORY OF ACCOMPLISHMENT 
On the main railway line running between Antwerp or With this brief picture of local surroundings, you will 
Paris and Rotterdam, Holland, stands the little town of agree that it is hardly the place to stage any story of modem 
Oudenbosch, its population is not more than 2 500 and it achievement, yet that is just what I am going to write about, 
has nothing to entitle it to even local fame except perhaps for progressive American nurserymen are interested in 
THE BARE FIELD SHOWS THE NATURAL LAND AS IT WAS BEFORE THE SEEDLINGS WERE PLANTED IN MAPLE FARM 
OF UNION NURSERIES, OUDENBOSCH, HOLLAND 
its cathedral—^which is in size and splendor out of all pro¬ 
portion to the size of the town—and its nurseries, so it is 
easily understood that Oudenbosch is perhaps better known 
in the United States than in Holland, for its export trade in 
nursery stock to America is large, as well as to England, Ger¬ 
many and other countries also. 
This little town has been a nursery center for the past 
80 years—there are now perhaps 30 nurseries around there, 
large and small; three or four of them being large modem 
firms specializing in the export business. The soil around 
Oudenbosch is a dark, sandy loam, peculiarly suitable for 
the growing of upright deciduous trees, such as maples, 
oaks, lindens, planes, etc. The soil produces a fine fibrous 
root system and the long mild summer produces a vigorous 
growth with straight, smooth stems. This is the reason why 
fully 80 per cent of the Norway Maples five feet and over 
imported into the United States come from around this 
little town. 
records kept of nursery achievement no matter in what part 
of the world it takes place. 
The most progressive firm in Oudenbosch and the one 
having the largest acreage, largest packing sheds and largest 
export trade is the Union Nurseries, of which Mr. Henry 
Van der Bom is director. He is remembered by many of 
our readers as a practical, ambitious nurser3nnan, as he has 
made several visits to the United States in recent years. 
Four years ago the Union Nurseries found it necessary to 
go afield for more acreage and at a more moderate price, it 
was impossible to buy enough land around Oudenbosch for 
this purpose, besides the price was too high' and the soil 
around there had been “treed” too much. They finally 
located and bought 300 acres adjoining a small railroad 
station called Seppe, five miles from Oudenbosch which can 
be reached in about 15 minutes from Oudenbosch by 
automobile—for the nurserymen there use automobiles 
too. 
