Page Four GIRARD BROTHERS’ NURSERY, GENEVA, OHIO 
THE HOME NURSERY 
It is always a wise gardener who will have a few rows of young trees and 
shrubs growing for future plantings. They know that this is the most reasonable 
method of keeping on hand some very fine specimens for later use. Do not wait until 
you need trees (large ones), save yourself from $2.00—$5.00 a tree by growing them 
yourself. You can also get the pleasure of watching these trees grow. 
It does not requ're much space to grow 100 or more’trees and shrubs. Look 
over your grounds. Most of you will find a 12 x 12 ft. space that can be used for 
this purpose. A home nursery is easily planned. 
If you are planning on building a home within the next few years—plant now. 
If your present planting is getting too large and straggly—plant now, for replace- 
ments later. 
GROW CHRISTMAS TREES FOR PROFIT 
In many sections, one of the most profitable ways to utilize unprofitable 
ground is to establish a plantation of cultivated Christmas trees. You can start by 
three methods: (1) growing trees from seed, (2) from seedlings, and (3) from trans- 
plants, The transplanted trees will advance your tree growths from 2 to 5 years. 
Cultivated trees command a better price than wild grown stock. There is a big de- 
mand in practically every city and town for nursery grown or cultivated Christmas 
trees. The trade is asking for them. Wild stock is brought in from such long dis- 
tances that the trees shed needles before they are set up. In the last few years there 
has been a great demand for live trees as these trees can serve two purposes: (1) for 
decorat ng during the holiday season and (2) later used for decorating lawns. Selling 
of Christmas trees can begin when trees are 12 to 15 inches in height. If trees are cul- 
tivated the first two years, returns begin within two or three years after the plantations 
are established. A spacing of 3 feet by 3 feet allows for 5600 trees per acre. A planting 
of 4 feet by 4 feet allows 2720 trees per acre. 
The land should be plowed and prepared the same as for a field crop. Almost 
any soil of good texture will grow Conifers. Trees most suitable for this purpose are: 
Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Black Hill Spruce, Colorado Blue Spruce, Scotch Pine, 
Austrian Pine, American Red Pine, Balsam Fir and Douglas Fir. 
SEEDLINGS are those propagated by the method of sowing the seed. This 
method is done at a reasonable cost. Therefore prices of seedlings are lower than 
others mentioned. Most Pines, Firs, Spruce and Deciduous trees are only propagated 
by sowing of seed. Seedlings can be bedded 4 by 4 inch and shaded the first year. 
They can be set out in field rows the following year. 
CUTTINGS are tips of branches cut from the mother tree. Tips are usually 
4-8 in. long, these are carefully placed in sand or a mixture of sand and peat. Cuttings 
are started either outdoors in hotbeds or in greenhouse, In greenhouse, benches con- 
tain about 4-5 in. depth loam sand, heated with pipes of steam or hot water. It may 
take as long as 10 months for these cuttings to root. 
Rooted cuttings may be planted in beds 4 by 4 inch and shaded for one year. 
(Do not allow rooted cuttings to dry out.) 
GRAFTING—This method is one of the most complicated and expensive prob- 
lems. Practically all grafting is done in the greenhouse. Grafting is done mostly in 
cases where it is impossible to sow the seed and hold true to its parent and not possible 
to root by cuttings. Potted grafts can be planted in permanent locations or field rows. 
LAYERING—This is a method used by many Nurserymen. Many of the low 
growing evergreens are easily rooted by this method. A branch is bent down, buried 
in the soil, leaving the tips of the branches out. In some cases it is necessary to take 
a small fork of a tree or a U bent wire to hold these branches in the ground. 
TRANSPLANTS are trees which have been taken from seed beds and replanted in 
field rows or other beds. These can be planted in permanent places. 
