MITCHINSON'S NURSERY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 113, 11 May 1903, Page 4

MITCHINSON'S NURSERY.

Taranaki has aptly been described the "Garden of New Zealand," and in a city of gardens Mrs Mitchinson's nursery may just; as aptly be described as the "Garden of New Plymouth." This nursery is a household word for excellence of quality and variety, not only in this province but throughout the colony. In fact, nurserymen in different towns obtain many of their supplies from Mitchinson's, for the reason that they can be much better grown here than elsewhere. As the planting [ is abcut to commence a repre[sentative of the News on Saturday paid a visit of inspection, and is in a position to report that the good reputation cf the establishment will not in any way suffer this season through inferior or ill-grown stock. This is specially applicable to the ferns, shelter trees, and hedge plants, of which an unusually lrge stock is on hand. These trees have been carefully tended and "billed," and are now ready to plant out, with every prospect of good growth from the start.' The importof this cannot be over - estimated. Amongst others could be noticed fine clumps of pious insignis, muricata, macrocarpa, pinus muaritima, cupressus lawsoniana, African boxthorn, berberry, taupata, laurels, elaegnus, and olearia traversii.

In fruit trees, too, a large trade is done. All the leading varieties of apples, pears, plums, peaches, currants, etc., being supplied. A feature of the nursery, no doubt, is the large collection of camellias and azaleas (English and Japanese). Our reporter was informed that there were growing upwards of 100 varieties of each of these popular flowers—a collection which it would be hard to rival anywhere. There is also a fine assortment of ornamental and flowering shrubs of all kinds, including hollies, red cedars, draexna, silver tree?, forcroya, rhododendrons, heaths (hardy and Cape), magnolias, roses (a very large collection), lilacs, flowering barberry, daphnes, poliutabawae, scarlet flowering gum, laburnums, eacallonias, and oleanders. There also some very choice seranatas.

Coming to the bulbs there is an almost endless variety, including a collection of over thirty kinds of Japanese iris. The nursery is also strong in dahlias and " mimie," and during the season the former are to bo augmented by about 100 new varieties. Leaving the nursery, after noticing a number of bsds of cabbage and cauliflower plants, which will be ready for sale shortly, our reporter was surprised at the large area under glass devoted to pot plants. Mrs Mitchinson his certainly a mßgnificont collection of rare plants ready to be sent out. Amongst the most noticeable might be* mentioned five lots of begonias, ferns (many of which are very rare), primulas, coleas, auranteas, and aspiragus, whilst a fern, which will make the I mouth of every horticulturist water, is a new fern, the cycade revoluta (a native of Japan). In addition to the greenhouse, which is a picture even at | this time ef the year, large frames are devoted to the growth of hardier plant?, including arbutleocs, passion fruit, tecomis, Oape heath?, mindevillas, palms, fuchsias, tree tomatoes, pelargoniums, e'c. With such a wealth of material it is an easy nutter for Mrs Mitchinson's staff to undertake all kinds of floral work, which is dona oa the shortest notice.

Befora leaving the grounds our reporter's attention was directed to some fine specimens of tree tomatoes in full bearing, and Japanese maples, both of which luxuriate in the open. Mr F. Goodacre is the town agent, at whose shop may be seen specimens of pot plants, whilst orders for nursery stock, cibbigp, cauliflower, tomato plants or annual seedlings may be obtained in Eeason,