THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
339 
THE HORTICULTURAL ESTABLISHMENT OF 
HEMERAY-AUBERT, 51, ROUTE D’OLIVET 
ORLEANS, FRANCE 
Without in any way wishing to criticise the manner in which horti¬ 
culture is practised by other nations, one fact is,however,certain that the 
large nurseries of which our own countrymen and foreign horticulturists 
are all tributaries, are to be found principally in the valley of the Loire 
where the temperate climate is so admirably suited for the cultivation 
of fruit, forest and ornamental trees says a writer in the Revue Univer- 
selle. 
Is it not, effectively, in those marvellous provinces of Orleanais, 
Touraine and Anjou, which dispute in turn the title of “Garden of 
France,” that we find those model-establishments which give us the 
highest opinion of our national horticulture? 
At Orleans, where the climate is specially propitious, horticulture 
has always been held in great honor; it is there that are grown and 
multiplied, in an admirable position and in an appropriate soil, all the 
ornamental and useful vegetables and trees, of which millions are sent 
abroad each year to carry wide and far the renown of the French 
growers. 
In this district, privileged for cultivation, we can admire, for example 
the vast and superb nurseries owned for the last eighty years, and always 
handed over from father to son, by the firm of Hemeray-Aubert. 
There, lives a most interesting horticultural staff, admirably trained 
and experienced in the art of production and multiplication of fruit, 
forest, ornemantal trees, etc. 
The Hemeray-Aubert Establishment was founded in 1830 by Mr. 
Hemeray-Gauguin, continued by his son Hemeray-Aubert from 1879 
to 1908, and finally by his gradnson, Mr. Hemeray-Maurice, since that 
date. 
The latter, although he was brought up in the business, did not 
content himself with the knowledge gained under his father’s tutorship: 
he made several long stays abroad, devoted himself to special studies 
on agriculture and horticulture, and thus became a most competent 
chief in whose hands the firm cannot but increase in prosperity, if it be 
still possible. 
The establishment, which now owns over 68 hectares (about 168 
acres) of nurseries, makes a specialty of young fruit plants raised from 
seed, plants for all standard forest and fruit trees, all conifers in grafted 
plants for ornamentation and conifers for replanting forests; of all 
young ornamental plants, flower shrubs for massives, shrubs with 
foliage for forming hedges or all kinds of garden decorations, etc. 
The firm has also a superb collection, including over five hundred 
varieties, of rose trees carefully selected among the best and most 
beautiful. 
Over five hundred thousand standard rose trees, dwarf rose plants, 
etc., are sold annually by the firm. The plants are raised by grafting, 
from cuttings or from seed. 
We first of all had a look at the four hectares (10 acres) near the 
offices 51 Route d’Olivet, Orleans, taken up mostly with rose trees and 
sowings. There, as far as the eye can see, are rectangular beds planted 
with young rose trees. 
The bedding-out gardens also offer a most interesting sight. Here 
are effected the cuttings and the graftings of all kinds, by application, 
by simple or complicated English incrustation, by approchage for the 
conifers, etc. 
No. 17 Rue Guignenault and Route St-Mesmier there is situated a 
fine nursery of eight hectares (20 acres) devoted to fruit trees and 
bushes. Here are also grown wysteria, nut-trees, etc. 
At St-Pryve, 3 kilometres from Orleans, there are immense and 
magnificant nurseries over 50 hectares in area for forest trees and 
standard fruit trees. 
Finally, n very parts of the district the firm has several small 
nurseries, about six hectares (15 acres) altogether, for the cultivation of 
conifers, bush plants and evergreens, forming the complement of this 
vast enterprise. 
Over 200 people are employed in the Hemeray-Aubert Establish¬ 
ment ; the nurseries are admirably arranged and managed; the water¬ 
ing system is perfect. Numerous reservoirs, supplied with water from 
the town works, are placed at various points and are fitted with taps 
under pressure. The watering is done with hoses and with watering- 
cans. Well and spring water is never used as it is considered too cold. 
All cultivation is done by hand with the spade, this system being 
preferable in most cases. 
Besides the nurseries already mentioned, the firm has also large osicJ 
plantations the crops from which are used for tieing up the plants and 
for making the baskets for packing. 
A most complete collection of aratory implements is at the disposal 
of the workmen, as well as presses for closing the baskets, etc. 
In conclusion, and in order to give our readers a vague idea of the 
importance of this Establishment, we will quote a few figures. 
Over 25,000 kilos of moss are employed; 500,000 rose trees, i ,000,000 
black pines and over 5,000,000 fruit trees are sold annually. 
By the beauty of alt their plants and by the great care with which 
they are raised, the Hemeray-Aubert nurseries have acquired a high 
and universal reputation and they have a numerous and faithful 
clientele in France, in North America, Germany, England, .Switzerland, 
Italy, Spain, the British Colonies, the Argentine Republic, etc. 
Numerous awards. Gold Medals, Grands Prix, nomination as Mem¬ 
ber of the Jury, Hors Conocurs, obtained at the Exhibitions at Paris, 
Orleans, Versailles, etc., have confirmed the merits of this horticultural 
firm. 
We cannot close this visit without giving just a glance at the green¬ 
houses containing the delicate plants, the vast hall for the multiplication 
in summer, the packing-rooms, and we must not forget to remind those 
interested in the matter that a catalogue is always at their disposal. 
In short, an establishment like this not only renders great service 
to its own country, but also to all those to which it sends plants, and we 
are glad to cite it in our columns as one of the most important in the 
whole district. 
Catalogues Received 
William Street Nurseries, Rice Bros. Prop., Geneva, N. Y. Surplus 
List. 
Winfield Nursery Co., Winfield, Kans. Advance list for fall. 
E. Y. Teas & Son, Centreville, Ind. Wholesale price list of Peonies 
and Iris, for fall of 1911. 
Berrydale Experiment Gardens, Holland, Mich. Catalogue of New 
Standard Berries. 
Martin Musser, 38 Cottage Ave., Lancaster, Penn. Booklet con¬ 
taining names of Plants useful for Hedges and Wind breaks. 
Isaac Hicks & Son, Westbury, L. I., N. Y. Catalogue of Ever¬ 
greens for August and September. 
Sluis & Groot, Enkhuizen, Holland. Crop Repor t. 
A. Dessert, Chenonceaux, France. Novelties for 1911. 
Jewell Nursery Co., Lake City, Minn. Surplus List for Fall. 
Jackson & Perkins Company, of Newark, New York, are just 
completing an immense new frost-proof building for the storage of 
nursery stock. It is 160 feet long by 60 feet wide. The walls are built 
of cement blocks laid in three separate courses, thus giving two air 
spaces in- the wall and thoroughly insulating the building against both 
heat and cold. The structure is a model of its kind, and the additional 
room which it provides has been made absolutely necessary by the 
Company’s rapidly increasing business. 
National Nurseryman: 
By neglect we allowed our subscription to expire without renewal 
several months ago, and I tell you I Miss It. 
Texas Will B. Munson. 
National Nurseryman: 
Enclosed please find check for one dollar renewing our subscription 
to the National Nurseryman which is a very welcome visitor every 
month,—interesting and instructive. 
New York Thos. Marks & Co. 
