Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-07-07
NURSERIES ON FARMS.

Patrons.
Chie.go TimeA
The nursery business in this country
does not appear TO be conducted to the
satisfaction of either proprietors or
patrons. The number OF persons who
have failed in conducting extensive
commercial nurseries is very large.
When the circumstances are considered
this does not appear to be surprising.
A large amount of capital is required
to start an extensive nursery and to
carry it on till a supply Of trees. vines.
shrubs, and small plants can be raised
to put on the market. 1t is necessary
TO locate a commercial nursery in or
near n large town that has good facili-
ties for transportation. Land in such
a town is expensive and the taxes on
it are high. Being In a place where it
will be constantly visited by many per-
sons, it Is necessary to ct it up in an
attractive style. OF course this fitting
up requires large amount of money
for which there is never any adequate
return. An extensive nursery must be
brought into notice. This will require
advertising in a large number of pa
pers. The publication of an annual or
semi-annual catalogue will also be
necessary. Fashion and the practice
of other nurserymen make it necessary
to publish SNOWY and finely illustrated
catalogues and to mail them to large
number Of persons free of expense.
The expense Of publishing and distrib-
uting the catalogues of nurserymen,
horists, and seedmen has recently been
very large The late Mr.. Wick, it is
said, spent $4,000 a year on catalogues
and circulOrs. Several nurserymen in
this country advertise every kind of
apple, pear, plum, cherry, ounce, grape,
and berry that by any possibility can
be raised in any part of the country.
They adopt a similar course in regard
to forest and ornamental trees, shrubs,
ornamental and lowering plants.
1t costs large sum to procure ST ocks
OF all these varieties, to propagate
them, and to raise them until they are
OF a sire TO sell. There is demand
for very few of them, as they are only
wanted by amateurs. The prOprieJors
of most large nurseries find it necessa-
ny to employ both local and travelling
agents. It costs considerable to pay
their salaries or commissions They
are also obliged to sell large quantities
of goods on credit, and are often heavy
losers by this method of doing business
The cost Of boxes. packing. and ship
ping Is also considerable. In case the
season Is unfavorable ana the roads are
bad the sales are small on account Of
the difficulties OF transportation. Many
farmers and others who own land do
not plant trees and vines bee Fpse the
cost OF transportation is so great. They
. dislike to patronize @'tree peddlers" for
fear they will be cheated in varieties,
in price, or in quality of the articles
bought. Experience shows that all
kinds of nursery stock are liable to be
injured by being out of the ground for
long time and exposed to the dangers
of transportation. 1t also shows that
trees. vines, and bushes do better when
grown near the place where they are
to be planted in permanent locations
If a nursery is located near the farm
where trees, vines, and bushes are
. wanted they can be removed 80 that
they will receive very little injury
There will he no necessity of their be-
ing out of the ground but few hours
at most, and can be removed with a
considerable amount Of earth about the
roots. They can be taken in farm
wagon without expense to the buyer
or seller. They can often be dug up
and set out on rainy days when they
will suffer no injury from the sun
They will require no packages or pack
ing.
Every township in the west should
contain a nursery capable of supplying
the local demand. 1t can be run i'm
connection with farm at very small
expense. The teams on the farm can
be employed for preparing the ground.
Very few extra tools will be required
for doing the work in the nursery.
One man can he employed to take care
OF the nursery and can do other farm
work when his time is not required
there. All the men and boys on the
place can learn to set CRAFTS, to prune
trees, and to do other work in the
nursery. No attempt should be made
to raise all the varieties found in large
commercial nurseries. Only the lead
ing varieties that do well in the
!, particular locality should he propsgated
The reports Of state. county, and local
horticultural societies should he con.
suited to ascertain what varieties are
best suited to the location. The
opinion Of successful fruit growers in
the neighborhood should also he cnn-
suited. Half a dozen varieties Of apple
and half that number OF pears, plums,
cherries. and the different kinds of
berries, will be all that is desirable TO
laise. As new varieties are brought
out they can be tested in an expert
mental way till their value or useless
ness Is assured. If theS do well and
are hardy they can be propagated. The
nursery need not be conhped to fruit
beering trees. vines and bushes. It
should contain forest. evergreen and
ornamental trees, The idea OF supply
wrf11fona w.ao~-ln 18Th $780, 81