226 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
examine the qualities of individual ornamental plants, and 
note their adaptation to the climate and soil of that region. 
We cannot close the sketch without drawing special at¬ 
tention to the herbaceous planting exhibited in one section 
of the grounds. Flanking a central drive-way and ar¬ 
ranged in large beds are masses of the leading perennials. 
Here one will find at certain times a mass of Aquilegia, a 
group of Dicentra and allied plants; in another place, beds 
Grounds in front of the Office of Brown Bros. Co. 
in which the lilies are collected; while there are still other 
beds in which the composites are grouped, and all with 
reference to their blooming period. So one may study 
asters and goldenrods comparatively with great ease. 
These beds form an irregular border to this central drive, 
from which vistas lead the eye into the central open 
space where larger trees and shrubs are planted. 
OFFICE EQUIPMENT. 
On entering the business headquarters the visitor is 
at once struck with the systematic air that is apparent 
everywhere. Lack of system is perhaps one of the most 
frequent defects noted in the management of nursery 
offices. No criticism of this kind can be made on the office 
management of this firm. The interior arrangement of 
the building is quite unique. The partitions do not 
run up to the ceiling, and there is no upstairs, although 
the building has two-story walls. This arrangement gives 
excellent ventilation and very satisfactory lighting. 
Convenient waiting rooms for agents and customers are 
provided, and visitors are guided to the various offices by 
active office boys. The head of the firm finds time to 
meet and personally interview all visitors who express an 
interest in any feature of this many sided business. 
PACKING HOUSES. 
Convenient to the office is a commodious and substantial 
stone packing house. The hard lines of this building 
are artistically masked by the use of climbing vines and ad¬ 
vantage is taken of a specially favorable aspect for growing 
a fine bank of rhododendrons and other shade-loving shrubs. 
This mass presents a handsome appearance at blooming 
time. The propagating pits and houses for shrubs, conifers, 
and herbaceous stock are located convenient to the packing 
house and the central establishment. 
THE HOME NURSERY GROUNDS. 
The area devoted to nursery and ornamental stock on 
the grounds connected with the office comprise three acres. 
This is made up of gently rolling land of the Miami sandy 
loam type, a soil that is admirably adapted to the growth 
of trees and shrubs and to the development of fine root-sys¬ 
tems. Among the staple crops we noted were large crops 
of ornamentals; hydrangeas in great quantity, the best 
varieties of barberries from the seed bed stage to the ready- 
to-be-planted shrub; spiraeas, lilacs, in great variety, 
climbers in quantity, large beds of herbaceous plants; and 
then huge blocks of carefully trained park trees, such as 
Norway maples, Oriental and American plane, oaks in 
variety, flowering trees, including crabs, cherries, and plums 
these all in addition to the stock of fruit trees which are of 
course only partly represented on the home grounds, it being 
the policy of this firm, as well as that of many other firms in 
Rochester, to grow these staple lines on the most favorable 
situations that are available in the vicinity of Rochester and 
outside the city limits. 
SPECIALTIES. 
As intimated above, this firm has for a number of years 
taken a deep interest in the propagation and dissemination 
of the Rambler Rose. The Baby Rambler is a somewhat 
recent development of a unique dwarf form of the Crimson 
Rambler. Brown Brothers Company early secured control 
of this valuable novelty, and have propagated it most 
extensively. Special arrangements have been made for 
the propagation and culture of this plant in the most 
rapid manner possible. To this end, an overhead irriga¬ 
tion plant has been introduced and operated successfully. 
Our photographs show some acres of Baby Ramblers under 
field culture. The demand for this floriferous and beautiful 
dwarf rose has caused the company to strain every point 
View of the Residence of Charles J. Brown and Lily Pond between 
Office and House. 
to propagate the rose in great quantity in order to supply 
the needs of the public. 
A nursery agent named B. C. Clark has been arrested at 
Bath, N. Y., charged with collecting commissions from a 
Newark, N. Y., nursery by means of the old, old scheme of 
orders signed by fictitious names. 
