7 i8 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
View in the herbaceous section of Goldsworth Nurseries. 
NOTES ON EUROPEAN NURSERIES 
[The following interesting communication on European nursery 
conditions was prepared for the National Nurseryman at our 
request but was inadvertently laid aside and overlooked. We have 
persuaded Mr. J. Me Hutchison to allow us to publish it though 
badly belated.—Editor] 
Here are a few notes which I promised to send you 
regarding my recent trip to Europe. I go there every year, 
but as your news columns have covered about every prin¬ 
cipal European source of supply for nursery stock in past 
issues, I will briefly note changes only as they affect the 
present situation. , 
England, —Our nurserymen principally import from 
there Manetti, Gooseberries and more or less general nursery 
stock. Manetti will be scarce. All other stock will be in 
good supply. Andromeda floribunda is again being grown 
extensively. The English nurseries are now selling some 
varieties of Rhododendrons to the Hollanders instead of 
vice-versa as a few years ago. 
Holland,— In Boskoop, where there are about 800 nur¬ 
serymen, 40 of which export to this country I noticed a 
marked change. The demand for stock‘during the past few 
years has been so great (partly owing to Germany’s reduced 
tariff), that much stock is sold before it has had a chance to 
reach proper selling size. One American purchased last 
year 36,000 Koster Blue Spruce in all sizes from one to five 
feet. This popular variety, Boxwood, all sizes and shapes, 
Tree Roses and Azalea Mollis will be scarce and high-priced 
Clematis, Rhododendrons and miscellaneous stock will be 
plentiful and cheap. Our increased tariff has not caused 
the Hollanders to bud less Roses, but we must remember 
that America is only one of their customers. They export 
to every European country, also to South Africa, Australia 
and^South America. The largest nursery in Boskoop is 
perhaps only five or six acres in extent, but with their 
system of intense cultivation, that small acreage produces 
more perhaps than 25 acres under our less economical 
system. There are no plows or horses in Boskoop. Stock 
is moved from place to place in boats along the canals and 
every inch of the ground is dug and kept clean by hand 
labor.'V 
At Oudenbosch where our’’semi-grown trees such as 
Norway and Schwedler Maples, Lindens, etc., are grown 
quite'different systems prevail. 'I The canals are missing, the 
soil is friable and sandy and the long, moist summer pro- 
AmtStiv . ek' 
Beautiful conifers of many varieties in the Goldsworth Nurseries 
duces this class of trees with smooth straight stems. There 
are perhaps 20 nursery firms there, four of which are 
exporters. During packing season, they dig the stock 
during the day and pack at night, the men working in shifts 
the whole 24 hours. This is the principal source of supply 
for semi-grown Norway Maples. Out of every 100,000 
Norways grown, only 40,000 perhaps, are straight enough to 
ship, the remainder are either cut back for budding Schwed- 
lers on or are staked until they become straight. This is a 
lesson for our American growers. 
While in Holland I went from Boskoop to Haarlem 
(about 60 miles) on a motor cycle to see the large Horticul¬ 
tural show there. Our route took us through the bulb 
fields, hundred of acres of Hyacinths, Tulips, etc., in full 
bloom. The most attractive displays at the Exhibition 
were the large groups of forced new varieties of Rhododen¬ 
drons, Pink Pear and White Pearl, clipped Box in many 
shapes from Aalsmeer and Boskoop. Large specimens of ji 
Azalea Indica in many varieties, also forced Azalea Mollis. 1 
It would take more space than you could spare to merely 
mention the striking exhibits. 
Germany exports very little nursery stock to this coun- 1 
try. They buy largely at the same sources as we do. 
America’s principal imports from there are Lily of the Valley 
Pips for Florists forcing. Germany furnishes the worlds i 
supply and America imports perhaps fifty million pips or ! 
aboiyt one-sixth of the total exports. This trade is fast 1 
increasing owing to our reduced tariff on them. 
Belgium also furnishes us with very little nursery stock, : 
but is the worlds supply in Azalea Indica for forcing—also j 
Bay Trees, Palms and other Greenhouse stock. Around ! 
one city (Ghent) there are about 700 Greenhouse establish- I 
ments. They export these plants^all over the world of 
which America uses perhaps 20%. Bay Trees are grown in 
many formal shapes and the American nurserymen are now 
waking up to their usefulness. 
France —All Fruit and Ornamental stock is scarce and 
high-priced this season. Prices for future crops of fruit 
stocks were 40% higher in May than in January. There 
will not be sufficient Pears, Mazzards, Mahalebs and Myro- i 
bolands to go round. While the French exporters are 
getting better prices for their products than three or four 1 
years ago, the prospects are not yet sufficiently attractive to 
make the supply meet the demand. Owing to the agitation 
