Why We Can Help You 
(First, why is our office in New York instead of out 
on our nursery? Because no one nursery in United 
States grows or could grow even half of the great 
variety we here offer. Too many different soils and 
climates are needed. We ship all over the country: 
It is helpful to have several shipping points—saves 
expressage to ship from as near our customer's location 
as we can. New York is a convenient office center.) 
The biggest thrill in gardening is the unusual—strik- 
ing, better kinds, colors and perfumes rather than 
common humdrum varieties. Only in such. a catalog 
as this can you hope to find them. Even this book is 
too small to list all we can furnish—write for any size 
or kind you want but don't see. 
How do you know what quality we will send? It is 
nice to wander in your local nursery and see the 
plants you are buying—but it does not tell their 
quality. Quality is in the roots—how frequently they 
have been transplanted—and in the soil—how healthy 
and well-nourished. For this vital information, you 
have to trust your nurseryman—you can't see it. We 
feel our 70-year-old reputation justifies your trust. 
(While they do not actually prove this, the letters on 
page 47 support this view). 
Why can’t you see quality? Be- 
cause how a tree or shrub looks 
this year is not the most important 
thing. Question should be: How 
will it look next year, five years, | 
ten years from now? Garden plants 
are permanent— years of beauty 
from one _ planting. 
You would not feel 
you could afford to 
plant shrubs _ that 
would only give a 
show for one year! 
When you buy nurs- 
ery stock you are 
really buying future hopes—that’s why a nurseryman's 
reputation is more important to you than present 
appearances. 





Our plants cost less. Our growers are NOT located 
on expensive land alongside highways. Goed farm 
land varies from $100 to $1000 an acre according to 
location. Most of our crops are produced in quantity, 
too, saving costs further. For nearly all the sizes offered 
in this catalog, even after allowing for expressage 
and postage, the total cost is less than most local 
nurseries ask for the same thing—(when they have 
the same thing). 
Particularly in small sizes, price and low expressage 
(see page 47) compare favorably in price. Few people 
realize how little time is lost by using small instead 
of large planting stock. One case reported is 12 to 18 
in. XX Pines that were planted the same year a 
neighbor put in 6 ft. B&B Pines. Ten years later the 
small ones were bigger than the specimens. Of course 
the cost is absurdly less—nursery stock doubles in 
value every two years in qa nursery. But more than 
cost, in these days of scarce labor, is the vast ease of 
setting out small plants, compared to the complex and 
onerous planting of large specimens. Plant as small 
as you dare; keep ‘em growing vigorously and you'll 
(1) save money (2) have more fun and (3) lose little 
or no time, anyway. 
We want your order: We can help you. Even if you 
live near a really fine local nursery we can still help: 
We can furnish those few rarities no local nursery 
carries. (And sometimes local prices on common sorts 
are so very high that even heavy specimens with earth 
balls can be expressed to you, cheaper). Don't hesi- 
tate to order because all but afew things have been 
jurchased locally—that’s one of the things we are 
ere for! 
How To Order Safely 
The greatest danger is choosing a poor variety. Be 
“fussy’’ about your selections, and you won't be dis- 
appointed a few years later. Read catalog descrip- 
tions carefully—we try to be frank. Catalog is con- 
veniently arranged in 8 parts (also Index on page 47): 
I Special Purpose Plants. 6 
II Evergreens (Conifers) — 2) =e 
Ill Decidlous Trees ..... eee 18 
IV.) Vines) 23. ee 24 
V Deciduous Shrubs 00 ee 25 
VI Evergreen Shrubs 2 
Vilsebruits;e Nuts eee re 36 
VIII Perennials 0... eee 4] 
Orler NOW, we ship at proper time later. Exact dates 
vary year by year, but generally these are safe. 
Allsevergreens2 i a ee Mid-April to mid-May. 
Deciduous trees and shrubs... Late March to early May 
Perennial’ plants eee Late April to late May. 
Contact your express agent—he’s human, will co- 
operate in letting you know promptly when trees or 
plants arrive. Don't let a shipment lie in the express. 
Plant as soon as you can—but if you must wait a 
few days, don't worry. They are well enough packed 
to stand it if yol: Soak the bundle well, keep it from 
(1) heat or frost, (2) drying wind. Better yet, have 
a small shady garden area of loose, light soil where 
you can heel in bundles—cover roots and parts of tops 
with earth, well watered down. This can be done in 
minutes, and such plants can wait weeks for final 
planting in right places. 
We guarantee the arrival of healthy, satisfactory 
plants. If you have losses even with these, we insure 
you against half the lost value, without charge. (See 
terms, page 47). 
Kelsey Nursery Service 
BOOKS (PRICES POSTPAID) 
@ GARDEN FLOWERS IN COl- 
oR (Foley)—Here is the 
only book to show the im- 
portant garden flowers in 
accurately colored photo- 
graphs—350 of them. Also 
Drichecul tute tere $2.95 
@ MANUAL OF CULTURED 
TREES AND SHRUBS (Reh- 
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need for complete refer- 
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adapted from this author. 
New edition ..... 10.50 
® GARDEN BULBS IN COLOR $ 
(McFarland, Hatton, and 
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form an invaluable aid to 
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~@ THE BooK OF TREES 
(Hottes)—Fine introduc- 
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except on conifers. . $3.50 
Wt 
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(Hottes)—Grand compan- 
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plete, except Azaleas, etc. 
® Hortus SECOND—GARDEN $3.50 
DICTIONARY (Bailey) — 
Perhaps the best dictionary 
for America. Covers every- 
thing from Forest trees to 
vegetables and house 
plants. 778 pages. .$6.00 
@ CLIMBERS AND GROUND 
Covers (Hottes) — Com- 
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(1948) and the only work 
covering these types we 
know °‘s. 0 eee . . $3.00 
@ THE CULTIVATED CONI- 
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photos. 404 pages. .$7.50 
© THE BooK OF PEREN- 
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complete on new varieties, 
but the best non-technical 
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© STANDARD CYCLOPEDIA OF 
HorTICULTURE (Bailey)— © AZALEAS (Hume) — New 
Again, in our opinion, the 1948, 184 pages. New 
best non-technical complete kinds, growing practices, 
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© DWARF FRUIT TREES @ THE PRUNING MANUAL 
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New. 1946......... $3.00 MIE Wee $4.00 
Page 2 
