THE CLAUDELANDS NURSERY, HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2480, 2 June 1888, Page 3

THE CLAUDELANDS NURSERY, HAMILTON.

Accepting an invitation from Mr Mason, -we, ntr the early'fiart ! 6f tho present week,! paid a visit to the Claudelands nursery.' Although not the season of the .year when"a nursery''shows to the best 'advantage, there is much to interest a visitor, and to; thoso who intend planting tliere is no better! time than the present to select their.stock. .Coming first to tho ornamental department, thosß shrubs in bloom of course attract first, attention, and ;ths"two .foremost of these are Chinionantfius Fraprans and Berberis 1 Darwinii, th| former claiming notice from its sweet perfume, and the latter by the beauty' and pleasing contrast of its foliage and blooms." Yuccbb (of Which Mr Mas6ri has several varieties) and Schizostylis coccinea were also in bloomy both are handsome ehrubp, the latter a tuberous-rooted iplaht, wjth . ity' pretty scarlet blossoms, being: verj'Attractive. There is an. extensive and vane- assortment of those favourite shrubs, -'cam'ollias, rhododendrons, azaleas and roses, together with a large collection of white and yellow jasmine, English and Persian lilacs, , magnolias,■ lieatlv ''camphor 1 rind Japan laurels (Eurfriymtis), ' ligustr'ums, veronicas, barberries, pampas and zebra grasses, verbenas, etc., etc. Before quitting this department a plant ot the Boronia family deserves notice. Mr Mason introduced it into Wai-' kato two years ago, and finding it hardy l enough to stand the Waikato winters has propagated it, and will-hav&.'a few; plants for disposal this season, fin season it is< completely covered with a mass of red bloom. Amongst'the pines and conifers we noticed different varieties of thujas, s cryptomerias, retinosporas, -junipers, yews toid ables. : There is also a large number of deciduous trees, amongst which may be mentioned oaks, sycamores, poplars, and Spanish chestnuts. The latter tree Mr Mason has propagated on a pretty exten- ; sive scale, and, believes- it will be largely; planted, as apart ffom the nut being edible,. it is a good shelter'tree, arid the timber is: valuable. We believe ourselves it.is a mis-' take to shelter orchards with evergreen tree?, for during the winter these proveharbouring and breeding places for insects, and shelter the frnit'trees, when it would be more beneficial to th'ein were they exposed to the , full force of the winter weather. Were there is suffi- t cient room, therefore,-we would recommend the planting.of deciduous trees as shelter, j as by the time the fruit is likely to be damaged by wind, these \would prove quite as iifiicacious, and the bright green of the' foliage would be more pleasing to the eye. than that of the,sombre pipes. Of macrocaipa, there is an enormous quantity,. Mr; Mason having 50,000 for sale this Beason, and a like number of pinna insignis. Macrocarpa is coining into general favour as a hedge plant, owing' to its ' adaptability to trimming, standing any amount of cutting without the least injury to its vitality. In hedge plants, there'are large numbers of African box thorn, ha'lcea, <and the handsome elieagnus Japoriica. Coming to the fruit trees, \one is. at once struck by , their luxuriance, and the strong, healthy' appearance of the young stock. Nowhere have we seen better specimens. The apples comprise over 100 varieties, but Mr ' Mason does not intend to propagate largely more than 20 or 80 of the choicest sorts, giving preference to those that are good croppers and long keepers. He has worked a number of cider apples, including Hagloe crab, Foxley, Siberian Bitter Sweet, Garter, and others, believing cider-making wili ere long become general in the Waikato, His pears and plums include the best varieties, and from his peach trees this year he had a profitable crop, the trees being ; pictures of health and vigour, unaffected by blight or- disease of any kind. Mr Mason has a ,larga number of grape vines for sale, and recommends their cultivation, as he has proved them td.be profitable, even when grown in the open air in Waikato. He forwarded one consignment of grapes to Auckland about a fortnight ago, the return for which was highly remunerative, and has sent another lot off during the present week. The Black Hamburg is, he thinks, the variety best suited to the Waikato climate, although ha has a number of others, but the majority of these require glass to bring them to perfection.; The gooseberry bushes, of which there are 10,000 ready for. transplanting, include 15 or 2Q ;varikties,;amongst Hjom being Whitesmith, American Oval, Yellow Champagne and Roaring Lion. These are all excellent! berries, and heavy croppers, the latter being somewhat similar to that well-known variety Farmers': Glory,, but larger and more productive. The planting of goose-' berries will no doubt prove a profitable investment, and Mr Mason disposed of his somewhat large crop last, year without difficulty, and at a satisfactory figure. Currants (red, black, and white), strawberries, walnuts, filberts, etc., have also been propagated largely. Olive trees, which have been grown and fruited successfully in Auckland, look pictures of health in Mr Ma3on's nursery, and give every indication at present of proving a success up here. Herb plants, rhubarb roots, etc., complete'the list, and intending planters cannot do better than pay the; Claudelands .Nursery a visit preparatory; 1 to ordering, we*are confident they cannot ,be better! if as well, Suited elsewhere, and that they cannot possibly be supplied with ...better , grown or healthier stuff. We may* mention that Mr Mason has received a large number of orders already, and is supplying the trade in Auckland and elsewhere with large quantities of all descriptions of nursery stock.