THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
15 
QUIZ COLUMN 
A BATCH OF BOOK INQUIRIES 
I have purchased and read with a great deal of pleasure 
a number of Bailey’s books on agricultural subjects. I am 
about to start an orchard, including small fruits and 
grapes, and an contemplating purchasing what I need from 
-. I know nothing of these gentlemen, and thinking 
that perhaps you had a wide acquaintance with nursery¬ 
men, you might be able to answer the question, with a 
single word, as to whether they are reliable or not. I know 
them to be financially responsible, but what I mean is this: 
Can I trust them to send me reliable plants, trees, etc., true 
to what they represent them to be ? 
Your answer would be much appreciated. 
Louisville, Ky. a. z. 
ANSWER 
This is not an unusual type of inquiry. It is most agree¬ 
able to ansVer it as follows: 
It affords us much pleasure to reply to your letter of 
recent date. The nursery firm you inquire about is one of 
the largest, and most progressive in the country. We have 
had the pleasure of knowing these gentlemen for a number 
of years, and regard them personally very highly. Junior 
members of this now noted house of nurserymen have been 
students in the best colleges of agriculture of the country. 
They are studying the business of tree growing and the 
scientific aspects of plant culture with a view of carrying on 
their business to the largest advantage to themselves and 
their patrons. 
All nurserymen are human and as such, liable to err. 
The nursery business is one of the most exacting in the 
whole range of occupations, and it is exceedingly difficult to 
maintain varieties grown in great numbers and in large 
quantities absolutely without mistake as to trueness to 
name. We feel sure that you can trust these men to 
conscientiously sell you given varieties to the best of their 
ability.— Editor. 
BOOKS FOR PLANT GROWERS 
Editor National Nurseryman: 
I. Sir:—Will you kindly give us a list of the best books 
on nursery stock culture ? 
Purcellville, Va. Virginia Nursery Co. 
ANSWER 
We are glad to reply to your question asking for a list of 
the best books on nursery management. As a matter of fact, 
however, there is no one book which covers in sufficient detail 
the operations of the nurseryman to be regarded as a hand¬ 
book or manual. A number of publications cover this field 
in part, or superficially, but at the present time, if a person 
desires complete directions or supposedly complete refer¬ 
ences on the whole subject, it will be necessary to buy more 
than one book. 
For general reference on the whole field of horticulture, 
there is nothing better than the “Cyclopedia of American 
Horticulture.’’ This is published in four volumes by the 
Macmillan Company of New York, edited by L. H. Bailey, 
price $20.00. See advertisement in the National Nur¬ 
seryman. 
For the use of specialists and designed for nurserymen’s 
use, the following three books are useful. 
1. “The Nursery Book,’’ author Bailey, published by 
the Macmillan Company, price $1.25. 
2. “Propagation of Plants,’’ Fuller, Orange Judd Co., 
price $1.00 or $1.25. 
3. “The Rule Book,’’ Bailey, Macmillan Company, 
price $.75. 
If the nurseryman is interested in forestry and floricul¬ 
ture, we would advise him to secure a book entitled “Fores¬ 
try,’’ Gifford; Appleton & Co., and if interested in floricul¬ 
ture, “Greenhouse Management,’’ by Taft, Orange Judd Co., 
will be found instructive and valuable. The latter two 
works cost about $1.25. All of these works may be ob¬ 
tained through this office at the usual retail rate.— Editor. 
GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION 
2. I write to you to see if you would put me on the 
right track to learn something about greenhouse work. I 
am interested in raising tomatoes under glass. I would be 
glad to know if there are any books for sale on the subject. 
New Jersey. 
ANSWER 
The number of books on greenhouse work is not very 
large, although one can usually find special references bear¬ 
ing upon the management of particular crops. Probably 
the best general work of reference is “Greenhouse Manage¬ 
ment,” by Taft. This is published by the Orange Judd Co., 
of New York, and can be obtained through them or any 
local book dealer, or this office. Another book which covers 
the subject of forcing vegetables more especially is “The 
Forcing Book,” by Bailey and published by the Macmillan 
Co. These works cost from seventy-five cents to one 
dollar, and are very useful indeed for the man who expects 
to engage in greenhouse work, either in the forcing of 
flowers or vegetables. Editor. 
BOOKS ON FRUIT GROWING 
3. Will you please send me a list of books and prices of 
same on Fruit Growing and what kinds would you advise 
for eastern Washington in the Rocky Mountains? 
Washington. 
ANSWER 
We would recommend the following books as 
being specially valuable for the fruit grower on the North 
Pacific Coast, especially in regions where irrigation is 
desirable or necessary: 
“Fruit Growing in Arid Regions,” Paddock, $2.00; 
“Nursery Book,” Bailey, $1.25; “The Soil,” either King or 
Hilgard, $1.00 and $2.50, respectively. 
[Continued on p. 27] 
