THE NATTONATi NURSERYMAN 
151 
of for llie last 25 years.” “I will id you send llicin 
to me.” 
Another experienee was at a fine residenee on about an 
a(*re of ground, all nieely graded and praetieally no 
planting. It looked as if it ought lo be good for a -$500 
oi’der at tbe least. Upon getting an interview I broaehed 
the subjeet and found anything but a reeeptive mood, and 
\\ as favored with an opinion of landseape gardeners and 
nurserymen that would not be used as a testimonial in 
the eatalogues, the main grievance being that they always 
jdanted loo much. The house must have cost twenty or 
thirty thousand dollars, and was a fine piece of archi¬ 
tecture. 
The only planting done was two Norway Maples 
planted on each side of the entrance, just where they 
would do the most harm. Finding I could not make a 
sale, I could not resist a parting shot, and said, “You have 
a beautiful bouse and I really cannot understand wby 
you wish to hide and spoil tbe looks of it.” 
“Wbat do you mean?” “Why those Norway Maples. 
They are a dense round headed tree and in ten years they 
will hide the front of the house, kill the grass under¬ 
neath and create an unlovely condition just where it 
ought to look the prettiest. If you had selected Pin Oak, 
Ciird^gos, or some other tree that would have harmonized 
belter with the lines of the house and located them off 
the corners, they would have supplemented the architect’s 
art, instead of spoiling it.” Although I did not reap any 
benefit, I am fairly sure the hint was effective and the 
next nurseiy salesman got a more kindly reception. 
(To be Continued) 
TIIF P. J. PERCKMANS COMPANY 
In our last issue we made note of the dissolution of the 
W(‘ll-known firm of P. J. Berckmaiis Company, Incor¬ 
porated, Augusta, Ga. This firm has played such an im- 
poi'lant part in the develot)mcnt of horticulture in the 
United 'States that its dissolution deserves more than 
l)assing mention, as its works and influence upon horti- 
(‘ullure in the United States have been very great. 
The original Fruitland Nurseries were founded in 
1856 by P. J. Berckmans, who conceived tbe idea of es¬ 
tablishing a nursery in the middle south, a section of the 
country which at that time had made little progress in 
scicMice of horticulture. It took a man w ith a vision, love 
of the business and enthusiasm to overcome the trials and 
obstacles that the pioneer was bound to meet. Mr. 
Herckmans lived to see bis vision come true and his bus¬ 
iness win a reputation for reliability which extended 
practically all over the States and might be said to have 
been known over all the world. 
The original Fruitland Nurseries were located west of 
Hie city of Augusta enjoining the city limits and con¬ 
sisted of about twenty acres. As time went on they ex- 
panded until more than four hundred acres were covered 
with ornamental trees, shrubs, roses,iand various kinds 
of fruits. As the luisiness developed Mr. Berckmans 
look his three sons. L. A.. B. C. and P. J. A. Berckmans 
into the business with him and who have carried it on 
under the policy laid down by tbe founder. 
The location of the nurseries was extremely favorable 
as it might be descrilicd as a meeting place of the flora 
of the temperate and suh-lroiiical zones, enabling them to 
grow a great variety. 
The enterprise of the firm will readily lie recognized 
by the great number of plants they tested and dissemin¬ 
ated from all parts of the world. Besides being the orig¬ 
inators of many valuable fruits and ornamental plants, 
the following being a list of some of the best known; 
APPLES 
Hargrove, Ileywood, Mrs, Bryan, Wallace Howard. 
NECTARINES 
Coosa. 
PEACHES 
Tliurbcr, Picquets, Berenice, Dr. Berckmans, Pallas, 
Robert, Carson, Hancock, Kent, Mealing, Oriole, Juno, 
Peento, and Chrysanthemum (double flowering). 
Citrus trifoliata {Poncirus trifoliata). 
BROAD LEAVED EVERGREENS 
Otliera Japonica, Elaeagnus Fruitlandii. 
CLIMBERS 
Gelsemium sempervirens [lore plena (double yellow 
Jasmine), Climbing Clothilde Soupert rose. 
CONIFEROUS EVERGREENS 
Juniperus communis cornpacta and Juniperus coui- 
munis glauca, two improved forms of the common Euro¬ 
pean Juniper. These were originated and disseminated 
by them and are far superior to the Irish Juniper; 
Thuya Orientalis aurea conspicua {Biota aiirea con- 
spicua), Thuya aurea nana {Biota aurea nana). Berck¬ 
mans Golden Arbor Vitae, the most popular thuya grown; 
Thuya pyramidalis Orientalis {Biota pyramidalis). 
The dissolution of this firm is a distinct loss to horti¬ 
culture especially to that section of the States in which it 
was located. It is, however, gratifying to know that the 
name of Berckmans will not disappear entirely from the 
horticultural world, as L. A. Berckmans and P. J. A. 
Berckmans, Jr., will continue to do expert horticultural 
work, the large commercial orchards of Berckmans Bros., 
Mayfield, Georgia, are owned jointly by tbe Berckmans 
Brothers and will continue to receive personal attention 
from them. 
Among the list of names just announced by the War 
Department, of men who have qualified at the Third 
Series of Officers’ Training Camps at Camp Uplon, N. Y., 
to be listed as eligible for appointment as Second Lieu¬ 
tenants, is Albert F. Meehan, Thomas Meehan & Sons, 
Dresher, Pa. These men will be carried on the list of 
eligible officers and commissioned at such times as suit¬ 
able vacancies occur. 
Lieut. Meehan lias just licen transferred to Camp Gor¬ 
don, Atlanta, Ga. 
F. W. Kelsey, of the Kelsey Nursery Company, 150 
Broadwway, New York, writes to the New York Sun, 
suggesting the Government take over the control of fer¬ 
tilizers and heipoints out this business is one of the essen¬ 
tials in food production and would be a war measure of 
vital importance. 
