THE NATIONAUJNURSERYMAN 
823 
froHpfr JultitH A. Srerktuatia 
One of the most commanding figures in the field of 
practical and scientific horticulture has been removed 
Prosper Julius A. Berckmans of Augusta, Ga., died on 
November seventh. Less than a month ago, the editor of 
this journal corresponded with this veteran pomologist in 
making arrangements for the forthcoming meeting of the 
Berckmans, has resided during his long and active career. 
Dr. Berckmans, the elder, in addition to his love and 
knowledge of horticulture, was a plant artist of note. His 
water-colored fruit plates are today models of accuracy, 
expressing high artistic quality. It is not surprising then, 
that, with this training, the love for fruit growing possessed 
Prosper Julius A. Berckmans in his office at Fruitlands. 
(Photograph by National Nurseryman.) 
American Pomological Society at Tampa, Florida, and the 
co-incident meeting of the Georgia Horticultural Society, 
of which Mr. Berckmans has been president for many years, 
at Thomasville, Georgia. At that time, he was full of 
plans and warmly enthusiastic over the outlook for the 
forthcoming meetings. This was characteristic of his life 
work. Whenever horticultural matters were at stake, 
he devoted himself unselfishly and vigorously to their 
promotion. 
Mr. Berckmans was a descendant of a noted Belgian 
family of horticulturists. His father, Dr. Louis Berckmans, 
was associated with the famous Belgian scientist, Van 
Mons, noted the world over for his monumental work in 
improving the pear. The father of the subject of this 
sketch came to this country about the middle of the last 
century, and after considering a home in the North and 
South, living first in Plainfield, N. J., he settled near 
Augusta, Georgia, in 1857, where his son, Prosper J. A. 
by the recently deceased should have become a second 
nature in early manhood. 
P. J. A. Berckmans, the well known head of the Fruit- 
land Nurseries, which were established on the outskirts of 
Augusta in 1857, died at his home on the estate, which he 
loved so well, on November 8, 1910, and was buried on 
November 9th. Early in life, he became associated with 
the horticultural development in all parts of the country. 
His work became very much diversified, and his importa¬ 
tions laid tribute upon the entire field of ornamental plants, 
both herbaceous and ligneous, in addition to the large groups 
of fruits adapted to tropical and sub-tropical conditions. 
Among the plant and fruit introductions with which his 
name should be connected, are Thurber and Picketts late 
peach; golden arborvitae, Biota aurea nana, and the 
pyramidal form of this type. He was also instrumental in 
disseminating Citrus trifoliata, which has now taken such 
an important part in the spread of orange culture. The 
