Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-23
! WORD TO AMATEUR GAR.
DENERS
From One Who Has BOUGHT Ex-
perience.


At dinner. the other evening. de-
lightful woman was talking Of her
garden: it is still new enough 10 he
of absorbing interest. Her house is
in one of the most beautiful parts OF
Erookline. but the soil under it is all
made land" and consequently her
garden soil had 10 be brought from
afar. and put in an excavated area
The cost was manv hundreds of dol
lars. Naturally, it was a matter of
interest to the owner under these cir
eumstances. that things planted in
this expensive bed should grow But
many things didn't Notably. a box
hedge. costing 5000, died the first win
ter.
The lady laughed. when she told
this, though a Bit ruefuny. Fancy"
she said, 4 was 50 stupid that could
not imagine why il died. bought
more at the same place, and they died!
Then sent to another nursery for
another hedge. and it lived and
thriVed Now. OF Course. know what
the trouble was"
Some of the guests We're not gar
deners. They exclaimed. But what
was the trouble"
Why, the first two hedges were
imported plants. of course The ones
that lived We're grown in the nursery
where | bought them"
This was a great surprise to the
outsiders. but To several of us it was
sad old story. We had gained wis
dom in the same expensive school. |
had tale of roses. the first roses of
my first country spring: ! had as
sumed that the house that catalogued
and sold them, had grown them. Alas,
no; those unhappy plants had Travelled
Der the stormy main and had lain
desolate in a storage cellar. before
they reached me. OF course they died
How could the poor things do other
wise?
My next neighbor had an experience
to add of young eVergreenS. bought
year after year from nearby nursery
for certain unsightly spot, and year
after year going bad" 1t had never
occurred to him what the matter was
but a friend who was landscape
achiteet finally set him right, and told
him Of genuine grower
This is word Of warning from
lover Of plants to other beginners who
may not know the conditions of the
present nursery trade. BE sure the
little trees, the roses and the shrub>
YOU buy are raised in this country.
There is one very large firm that
grows every root they sell; there are
about four who grow Il part OF what
they sell, and who will honestly am
swer your questions; the rest sell
mostly European plants and have not
been distinguished for frank answers
in the past
| do not feel at liberty to share my
hard-won wisdom on this point. re-
SardinS names. for il might lead to an
unpleasant state of mind. in spots.
But it is safe to advise the planter TO
study the catalogs sent him carefully
for their statements on this point. If
guarantee ON this point is lacking
seek another firm. When it is pos
sible, visit the nursery and see what
you are buying.
But, alas. even the elect are de-
eeived. 1t is a common custom among
commercial nurserymen to import or
namental evergreens in the fall or
winter. and in early spring to set them
in neat rows in the ground. where, to
an amateur they appear to have been
growing quietly for years. They are
sold without description. and the buy
er takes the risk
This matter of the hardness of inn
ported trees and plants is an impor
tant and little understood one. Pests
without number are added to the lack
of vigor in imported stock, and it is
most unfair that the general trade
should take advantage of the custom
er by tacit deception.
watch out" this spring and get
home grown plants for your hedge.
your new forest or Your garden
Writer in Springfield Republican.
The collapsible water towers which
are used by the fire department Of
Berlin measure only five feet IN
length when closed. but when extend
49, ~ e,E,. n..,R.