Gbe National IRurseryman. 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK 
The National Nurseryman Publishing Co., Incorporated. 
Vol. XVIII ROCHESTER, N. Y., NOVEMBER, 1910 No. u 
THE UNION NURSERIES, OUDENBOSCH, HOLLAND 
Specialists in the Growing of High Grade Stock and Ornamental Trees 
Nursery Grounds Examined by a Representative of the National Nurseryman 
.In the vicinity of Oudenbosch, a small Holland town of 
some 3,000 or 5,000 inhabitants, between Antwerp and 
Rotterdam, is located a very important nursery industry. 
The business in this region 
differs considerably from 
that at Ghent or at Bos- 
koop. Here the great 
specialty is ornamental 
trees and mostly of the 
deciduous type. Like 
other regions in Holland 
and Belgium there are rela¬ 
tively few nurserymen who 
grow for export, but there 
are a large number who 
are in the business of pro¬ 
ducing trees and depend 
upon nearby European 
trade or exporters to 
absorb their stock. The 
Union Nurseries, however, 
are established with the 
object of catering principally to the American trade. They 
have the largest packing sheds and shipping equipment in 
Holland and grow principally such stock as Norway and 
Schwedler Maples, Tilias, Chestnuts, etc., required by the 
American trade. During his several visits to America, Mr. 
H. W. Van der Bom, the Manager, has learned the class of 
stock required and the proper manner in which to pack and 
ship it. 
HOW THE NURSERY IS MANAGED 
Like other European nurseries which we have written up 
from time to time the United States is one of the great 
markets, although shipments are made all over Europe and 
other countries. The soil in the vicinity of Oudenbosch is a 
black, friable sandy loam. It may be worked at any time 
without consideration of conditions of dryness or of moist¬ 
ure. This, of course, is a great advantage to the nurseryman 
for he may cultivate or dig whenever he pleases. There are 
no labor difficulties in this region. Reliable labor is abund¬ 
ant and efficient. Experienced men are in the employ of 
the Union Nurseries and are retained without difficulty. 
During the packing season the men work in shifts so that the 
work continues without let-up for the whole 24 hours. 
During the day, the stock is selected and dug—at night it is 
packed in the extensive and well lighted sheds. 
TREE SPECIALTIESJ 
The specialties of this 
nursery are ornamental 
trees, of which Norway 
Maple and its many vari¬ 
eties, as Schwedler and 
allied forms are promi¬ 
nent representatives. The 
Horse Chestnut grows 
beautifully in this section, 
while Plane (Sycamore), 
Linden (Basswood), Birch, 
Beech, Elms, Thoms and a 
large line of conifers are 
extensively cultivated. A 
careful system of tree rota¬ 
tion is practiced, conifers 
following deciduous trees 
or vice versa, with consistent regularity. 
THE FINE ART OF GROWING GOOD'TREES 
The propagating frames and seed beds where millions of 
young plants are grown are found advantageously situated 
and well cared for. As the stock increases in size it is 
transplanted annually or biennially as circumstances 
demand. This is in order to give space to develop both root 
and top symmetrically and vigorously. Nowhere have we 
seen finer blocks of the^deciduous shade trees in the varieties 
mentioned with their variations than in these nurseries. 
The uniformity is due to the systematic methods of handling, 
transplanting and pruning the stock, coupled with the 
advantageous and favorable character of the climate and 
the trained men' of long experience. Here we find ideal 
conditions for the growing of young conifers and there are 
to be seen great beds of seedlings in all stages of develop¬ 
ment. Selection of the best colored and propagation by 
grafting of the select forms is practiced consistently. 
Our visit was somewhat ahead of the shipping season. 
It was in fact during the vacation period of the nurserymen. 
Union Nurseries—Night work. Working force divided into two gangs, night and 
day, during packing time. 
