39 8 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
EVERGREEN CONIFERS (continued form page 393 )j 
THE PINES 
In Veitch’s Coniferae there are fifty-one pines described 
as distinct species, besides a score or more of varietal 
forms with a range of native habitat from the tropical 
island of Sumatra to the Arctic circle. Probably very few 
of the present company have ever seen more than one half 
of this number and how many of us can identify one dozen 
species suitable for ornamental planting in our home 
neighborhood. I confess that I cannot. 
I do not know how to add another variety to the old 
standbys, Austriaca, palustris excelsa, strobusand sylvestris 
for large growing species and Cembra and Mughus for 
smaller forms. Ponderosa is I believe inferior to Austriaca 
which it resembles and the Eastern species, densiflora and 
Thunbergii which the Japanese use so extensively and con¬ 
tort into all sorts of fanciful and grotesque shapes and which 
are sometimes recommended here are of doubtful hardiness 
in the eastern states and likely to be disappointing. 
ARBOR VITAE AND RETINOSPORA 
The variableness of Arborvitaes; the ease with which 
they are transplanted and their rapidity of development 
and withal, their cheapness, render them very useful plants 
in a great variety of work—and the same applies with 
equal force to the nearly allied group which we know as 
Retinospora pisifera and its varieties, including the several 
plumosas and squarrosas. For hedges large or small, for 
massing, for fillers and temporary plants in new planta¬ 
tions, few plants can be more useful than these and with 
proper attention by occasional shearing, handsome lawn 
specimens can be developed and maintained, but without 
occasional shearing the Retinosporas are apt to become 
open and ragged after ten or fifteen years. Although 
Retinospora obtusa does not transplant quite as easily as 
the pisiferas it is an excellent tree and obtusa nana is one 
of the choicest small conifers in cultivation. Both of these 
should be seen much more frequently than they are. 
For yellow foliage in creating color effects, Geo. Peobody 
arborvitae, Retinospora pisifera aurea, plumosa aurea, 
plumosa sulfurea, obtusa nana and filifera aurea are un¬ 
surpassed in brilliancy and constancy of color,—and if we add 
Juniperus communis aurea and Taxus baccata aurea we 
have the cream of the hardy golden conifers. 
No list of choice conifers would be complete without 
mention of that rare relic of the remote past “the sole 
survivor of a phase of vegetation long since extinct’’ 
Sciadopitys verticillata, the Umbrella pine of Japan,— 
some where spoken of as “the most beautiful of pines.” 
With every tree virtue to its credit and with no demerits, 
it should occupy a prominent position in every lawn and 
garden good enough to be worthy of its society. Scarcity is 
the only drawback to its more general planting. 
If these remarks suggest to any mind a desire for further 
development of the house comfortable and the country 
beautiful by increased planting of evergreen conifers,—they 
will have accomplished their purpose. 
Book Uable 
Biology and Its Makers by William A. Locy. 8^4x0^, 467 pp., 
illustrated. Published by Henry Holt & Co., New York, 1908 . 
Price $ 2 . 50 . 
This interesting book gives in a plain, matter-of-fact, direct 
manner the rise of the science of biology and sketches the begininng 
and progress of evolutionary thought. Not the least valuable part 
of the book is that which outlines the life history of the early 
scientists who are responsible for the orderly development of 
zoology, botany, and related sciences. 
The book is divided into two sections. In the first part the 
sources of the ideas that dominate biology are considered. In the 
second part the main feature is a discussion of the doctrine of organic 
evolution. The various life stories of the men who have been con¬ 
cerned in this field are presented without personal color or bias. 
It is essentially a record and as such is of great value to the student 
of natural history. 
The work is dedicated to the graduate students of the author, 
who is a professor of biology in North Western University. 
Obituary 
GEORGE M. KELLOGG 
A leading florist and prominent citizen of Pleasant Hill, Mo., 
passed away on November 15 th, in the person of George M. Kellogg. 
He was a New Englander by birth, and moved west a number of 
years ago. He was a leader in progressive floriculture, and a 
regular attendant at the meetings of the National Society. 
Note and Comment 
CO-OPERATIVE APPLE SELLING ASSOCIATIONS IN 
CANADA 
One of the striking developments in the handling of fruit in 
Canada in recent years has been the organization of co-operative 
associations for the grading and selling of apples. There are be¬ 
tween fifty and sixty of these in operation in the Dominion of 
Canada. In the Province of Ontario they are federated and held 
together by a central association, which keeps the subordinate 
organizations informed regarding prices, aids them in the purchase 
of supplies, and acts as a general directive body. The co-operative 
associations gather the fruit into packing houses, where the grading 
is done under the supervision of competent men who have no interest 
in the sale of any part of the fruit. 
It is significant that shipments of fruit from these co-operative 
associations have always passed the inspection of the officers of the 
government working under the provisions of the Fruit Marks Act. 
In other words, it shows that the grade of fruit is uniform and 
satisfactory. These co-operative associations are already in opera¬ 
tion in the western part of the United States. Hood River and other 
associations in Idaho represent the possibilities of the system. It is 
a question which our eastern growers should carefully consider, 
especially in regions where the individual orchards are compara¬ 
tively small. In localities where orcharding is not a leading and 
dominating feature, the apple crop frequently fails to bring the 
owner its value. Now, if a number of these small growers could 
combine, there is no doubt that much larger returns can be obtained. 
THE WAY IT STRIKES THEM. 
“We can’t get along without The National Nurseryman.” 
WAXAHACHIE NURSERY CO., 
Waxahachie, Texas 
9 • 
