1128






1






A GENERAL VIEW OF THE NETHERLANDS
NUMBER li NURSERIES



THE SERIES OF PAMPHLETS GIVING TOGETHER A GENERAL VIEW OP THE NETHERLANDS HAS BEEN PÜBLISHED FOR THE P. P. I. E. 1915 UNDER DIRECTION OP THE COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT OF THE NETHERLANDS MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE AT THE HAGUE
THIS SERIES CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS:
i. aqriculture and cattle
BREEDING.
ii. NURSEKIES.
m-vii. INDUSTRIES.' - p. doyer. me-
chanical engineer. viil trade. - pbof. dr. h. blink.
ix. FISHERIES. - DR. P. g. van
tienhoven.
x. corrency and banking. -
paul sabel.
xi. holland on the seas. -
J. h. cohen stuart. xh. ports and waterways. v. j. p. de blocq van kuffeleb. civil engineer.
xiii. what to see in the ne¬
therlands from an engineer's point op view. - r. p. j tutein nolthenius. civil engineer.
xiv. engineers and contrac-
tobs. - r. p. j. tutein nolthenius. civil engineer.
xv. education. - j. c. lïgtvoet.
xvi. science.
1 UNIVERSITtES. - db. p. c. mol-
HUYSEN.
2 THEOLOGICAL IN9TRÜCTION.
PROF. DR. L. KNAPPERT.
3 a REVLEW OF the law. - dr. j.
van küyk.
4 MEDICAL SCIENCE. - PROF. db.
e. c. van LEER8UM. 6 faculty of MATHEMATIC9 and natural science. - db. j. A. vollobaff.
6 MATHEMATIC9. - PBOF. DR. j.
CABDINAAL.
7 PHYSICS - DB. J. A. VOLLGRAFF.
8 ASTRONOMY. - PROF. DR. w. DE
BITTER.
9 MINERALOGY, GEOLOGY AND
RELATED BRANCHES OF SCIENCE. - PROF. J. VAN BAREN.
10 BOTANY. - DR. TH. VALETON.
11 ZOOLOGY. - DR. A. SCHIERBEEK.
12 CHEMISTRY.-DR.W.P. JORISSEN.
13 CLA8SICAL LITERATURE. - DR. P.
C. MOLHUYSEN.
14 ORIENTAL LITERATURE. • C. VAN
ARENDONK. 16 NETHERLANDS LITERATURE. -
DR. H. J. A. RUY8. 16 Hl STORY. • PROF. DR. P. J. BLOK.
XVII. MENTAL, RELIGIOUS AND
SOCIAL FORCES. - PROF. DR. H. BAVINCK.
XVIII. LITERATURE. - JOH. DE
MEESTER.
XIX. MUSIC. - S. VAN MILLIGEN.
XX. FINE ARTS. - C. VETH.
XXI. ARCHITECTURE. - A. w.
WEISSMAN. ARCHITECT.
XXII. PUBLIC HEALTH. - DR. M. w.
PIJNAPPEL.
XXIII. SPORT. - JONKHEER JAN
FEITH.
XXIV. THE WOMAN'S MOVEMENT. -
DR. MIA BOISSEVAIN.
XXV. THE PEACE MOVEMENT. -
JONKHEER DB. B. DE JONG VAN BEEK EN DONK.
l'.eiSt.ICTMHK



FAMOUS NETHERLANDS NURSERIES.
„™,, BRIEF SKETCH OE HOKHCULTCTKE IN THE NETHERLANDS.



Boskoop. Home of Kosters' Blue.Spruce.



FAMOÜS NETHERLANDS NURSERIES.
BRIEF SKETCH OF HORTICULTURE IN THE NETHERLANDS.
THE GARDEN OF PLENTY.
I^HE natural conditions prevailing in many parts of The Netherlands are very favorable to the development of intensive horticulture. The climate along the shores of the North Sea is mild and damp, the soil naturally fertile. Climate and soil are aided by a most ingenious system of regulating the water-supply. All surplus water is pumped away by huge steam-pumps, leaving only sufficiënt moisture forstrong and healthy root-action of the plants. The numberless waterways which intersect the country in all directions make the conveyance of man ure and other materials, not to speak of the transport of products,extraordinarily easy andcheap. Finally, the geographical position of the country, close to the greatest purchasing centres of Europe, ensures a constant market for her products.
Consequently it is not surprising that already in early times a flourishing gardeningtrade sprang up in The Netherlands, which country was famous for the excellence of itshorticultural produce as long ago as the 16th century. Another result was that certain special staple crops were grown in particular districts, which proved peculiarly well adapted to their production; and in consequence of this specialisation generations of gardeners grew up, who thoroughly understood their business and brought it to its present high Standard of perfection. A further contributory factor was the circumsta nee, that other local conditions, such as trade, markets, traffic and even technical education, all adapted themselves to the needs of these special branches of horticulture.
The importance of Netherlands horticultural industry
3



is clearly shown by the fact, that over 3 per cent of the total area of cultivated land in The Netherlands is occupied by various branches of horticulture.
TRADE ORGANISATION.
A very important cause of the economical and social prosperity of the Netherlands horticulturists has been the quickness with which they have realized the value of trade-associations on co-operative lines. These organisations worked wonders for the benefit of their members, and in 1908 many local societies combined and formed a Federation called "The Netherlands Horticultural Federation". This body already comprises 124 of the most important associations and societies with a total inembership of over 27.000.
lts obj eet is to protect and promote the general interests of Netherlands Horticulture. It represents Netherlands Horticulture in 6 branches: Vegetable growing, Seed growing, Fruit growing,Arboriculture,Floriculture and Bulbgrowing.
The Council consists of 18 professionals, 3 for each branch. One of the activities of this Federation is to promote horticultural expositionsboth in The Netherlands and. abroad and the elaborate Horticultural Show at the Panama-Pacific ExposUion is the result of its endeavors. The famous exhibits at Dusseldorf, Mannheim, Berlin, Brussels, Buda-Pesth, London, Ghent and Petrograd (St. Petersburg) wereplanned and carried out by this Federation.
The plans for the Netherlands Horticultural Section at the Panama-Pacific Exposition were drawn up by the wellknown Netherlands landscape-architect, Mr. D. F. Tersteeg of Naarden.
NURSERIES AND NURSERY TRADE.
Amongst the important industries of The Netherlands the nursery trade contributes greatly to its welfare. Thousands of acres of fertile soil are covered with nursery-stock of infinite variety. The nurseries are located in various parts of the country, wherever the different kinds of soil, whether 4



Boskoop. Conifers in all varities.



Boskoop. Extensive Rhododendron fields.



moorland, alluvial clay or sandy grounds possess in the highest degree the excellent capacity for retaining moisture.
These conditions, assisted by the ideal sea-climate, make the variety of nursery-stock that can be grown in Thé Netherlands greater than in any other European country.
The entire area of nursery-land is in the hands of about 1,500 nurserymen. The bulk of their products is exported, their largest customers being the United States of America, the German Empire, The United Kingdom, Belgium and Scandinavia. The price of land is very high and skilied labor highly paid. In spite of this, the Netherlands nurserymen are able to compete with those of other countries, as a result of their greatly perfected system of tree-growing and their large and reliable crops.
This is the most important centre of Boskoop nm'seiy-badustry in The Nether¬
lands. It is situated in the centre of the province of South Holland, close to the largest cities and the important sea-ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam and only at a short distance from the residential city of The Hague.
As a nursery-town, Boskoop stands unique among other nursery-centres. The district is divided into about 800 large and small nurseries. The smaller places are run by working people who are employed by the larger concerns or help their neighbors part of the week and devote the rest of their time to their own business. They generally start with a very small patch of ground, worked at odd hours, mornings and evenings; later they get an occasional day off and finally possess their own independent business. The large employers encourage this idea. It tends to make the man industrious and intelligent and results in producing skilled labor.
There is another great advantage in these numerous small nurseries. The stock is grown under the personal care of the owner and? is not subject to the neglect of incapable and irresponsible employees.
Boskoop owes its world-wide reputation to the excellent quality of the stock it produces.
7



sa
The rich moorland is an ideal soil for Alpine plants and Conifers as well as for numerous other articles. The plants make an abundance of fibrous roots, which render transplanting safe. The soil is hygroscopic to a high degree, which is an important factor for shipping to distant countries, and it is a well-known fact that plants shipped from Boskoop can travel round the world without injury to their vitality.
It is impossible to catalogue in this short description all the varieties of plants cultivated at Boskoop and exported from there, but Boskoop may be truly called a complete department store of plants. The most important specialities are: Rhododendrons, both for outdoor planting and forcing, hardy Azaleas, Conifers in infinite variety; Boxwood in all shapes and forms; hardy climbers such as Clematis, Ampelopsis, Wistaria, Aristolochia, Japanese Maples, Magnolia; evergreens such as Hollies, Aucuba, Lauro-Cerasus; perennials such as Peonies, Phloxes, Dielytra; potgrown plants for forcing, amongst which the Lilacs are famous.
Especially in Roses Boskoop is very productive and exports several millions in both bush and Standard shape annually. The Roses are chiefly worked on the Rosa rugosa stocks. Roses worked on this stock have proved to be very adaptable to forcing and surpass those grown on canina and Manetti.
The Boskoop nursery trade is run on modern methods. Packing and shipping facilities are up to date and the proximity of the seaport of Rotterdam ensures frequent shipping opportunities.
This is another important centre of the Aalsmeer nursery trade. It is located in the prov-
ince of North Holland, close to Amsterdam, the capital of The Netherlands. It is, like Boskoop, situatecVon rich moorland and its nurseries are, consequently, closely related to them. In the last few years however the cultivation of cutflowers has developed to such an extent that the tree-nurseries no longer alone take the foremost place. The perfection to which the Aalsmeer nursery-men forceLilacs.Roses, Chrysanthemums, Lilies of the valley and other plants won for them a 8



Boskoop. Nursery Vieuw.



View in a Nnrsery of Clipped box and yew trees in Aalsmeer.



Maarden. Nursery View.,



Naaiden. Nursery View.



European reputation. The cutfiowers are carefully packed and reach in fresh condition places, situated as far distant as Petrograd (St. Petersburg) in Russia. A trial shipment to New York arrived in splendid condition last winter.
The nursery-men of Aalsmeer are noted for their skill in clipping Boxwood and Yews into all sorts of shapes. These clipped trees are very useful in formal gardens and present objects of real beauty and of enormous value. Years of patience and inherited skill are required to produce perfect shapes of dogs, fowls, swans, ships and spirals, sometimes placed on globes and cubes. Among the Netherlands nurserytowns Aalsmeer ranks as a most interesting place.
The large and up to date nurseries at
Naarden-Bussum. an<* around Naarden-Bussum are also well-known and enjoy a world-wide reputation. Shade and fruit-trees are grown here on a larger scale than at Boskoop and Aalsmeer. The soil is a sandy loam of splendid structure. In some parts the soil contains a certain admixture of moor which allows the cultivation of Alpine plants. In the last fifteen years Boskoop methods have been adopted in several nurseries with increasing success. They export large quantities of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Hollies, Conifers, of which there is a large assortment, Hydrangeas, Climbers, Japanese Maples, Spiraeas and Lilies of the valley.
The town is situated close to Amsterdam and has good and frequent shipping facilities to the seaports of that town and of Rotterdam.
An important export-place of nurseryOudenbosch stock is. the town of Oudenbosch in
North Brabant. Its nurseries are located on sandy soil. Enormous quantities of shade and ornamental trees are grown here to the acme of perfection.
The chief exports to the United States are composed of: Norway Maples, Schwedler's Maples, Lindens, Chestnutsand all other shade-trees, flowering shrubs of any description, hedge-shrubsplants, evergreens and climbing plants.
13



Nursery View at Oudeubosch.



Nurseries are situated at Roosendaal and Zundert near Oudenbosch. Those at Zundert chiefiy grow young stock for forestry. Millions of young plants are exported annually.^
Veendam is in the north of The Yeendam Netherlands. The principal articles
grown here are: Pear, Apple, Mahaleb, Mazzard, Myrobalan and Quince stocks, the quality of which is universally admired on account of its healthy constitution and well-developed root system. The nursery-centre of Veendam, though comparatively young, shows a phenomenal prosperity, due to the adaptibility of its soil, the favorable situation, the energy of the growers and the pains they take in growing and selecting their stock.
Besides the places already mentioned, Other nursery important nurseries are found in vari-
towns. ous other places in The Netherlands,
some of them of historical importance. Reputed Rose-nurseries are found at Haps, Steyl-Tegelen, Arnhem, Heerde and Assen. Fruit and ornamentaltree-nurseries at Joure, Leeuwarden, Bergum, de Bilt, Maartensdijk, Kapelle, Ede, Gemert, Haaren and Hoeven. Important nurseries of perennials are at Dedemsvaart, Leyden, Alphen on the Rhine and Hilversum.
BULB GROWING.
The sandy inland soil behind the dunes which guard the western sea-coast of The Netherlands is ideal for bulb growing, perhaps the most characteristic branch of Netherlands Horticulture.
It is a very old industry, dating back to the end of the 16th century, when the original Tulips and Hyacinths were brought over from the East. The Tulip' was the first bulb regularly taken into cultivation and even in the 17lh century it was eagerly sought for by collectors. This bulb indeed was the jobject of wild speculation, which finally culminated in
15



Tulip Eields.



Hyacinth fields In the background dunes



the great "Tulip rswindle" of 1637, by which many people were ruined. It was not, however, till somewhat later that a few growers in Haarlem began to produce regularly bulbs for export. The Hyacinth took the leading place in the 15"' century. Since 1750 the cultivation and export of bulbs has been carried on regularly in The Netherlands, though the industry did not attain its present gigantic proportions before the last decades of the 19th century.
The bulbgrowing industry was at first confinedto Haarlem and its environs, but has gradually extended, wherever a suitable piece of land was available. In order to grow bulbs, meadows have been transformed and sand dunes leveled.
The narrow strip of land between Alkmaar and Leyden and ateo to the north and south thereof possesses the qualities requisite for the bulb culture. The structure of the soil, the favorable climate, the well-regulated water-level, in short all the natural attributes and last but not least the skill of the population, who have been trained to this work for more than three centuries, have made bulb growing in The Netherlands an industry of unrivaled perfection.
Besides the scrupulous care the nurPersonal relations sery-men of The Netherlands take in with cnstomers. growing, selecting and packing their
stock, the fact that most of them are personally acquainted with their customers abroad contributes largely to their success. Their annual trips have three important objects, first the sale of their products, secondly the study of the needs and wishes of their customers and thirdly the study of the manner of transportation and shipping. And by taking care of every little detail in filling and shipping their orders the Netherlanders have established a reputation, which is the more deseryed as they have done their utmost to place it ön a sound basis.
SEEDS.
In the last 25 years the growing of seeds in The Netherlands has developed to an enormous extent, especially in the
18



provinces of Nortri Holland and Groningen. In North Holland alone there are 5,000 acres devoted to seed growing, of which the town of Enkhuizen is the centre. In the province of Groningen there are more than 3,000 acres under ■cultivation.
Vegetable seeds are the principal kinds cultivated, but also flower seeds are grown to an increasing extent. The smaller growers cultivate the seeds mainly for a few great jSrms, who command the entire seed trade and export large quantities abroad.
vTSGETABLES.
The natural conditions of The Netherlands are extra•ordinarily favorable for the successful development of market gardening. The Netherlands after supplying her own wants (which are almost exclusively met by the home pro■duction), exports enormous quantities of vegetables. These are chiefly grown in the provinces of North and South Holland, both of which are washed by the North Sea. The chief crops raised are Cabbage, Cauliflower, early Potatoes, Cu■cumbers, Tomatoes, Onions and Brussels Sprouts; Peas, Spinach, Carrots, Beans and Lettuces are also grown in large ■quantities.
FRUIT.
Of the different branches of Horticulture in The Netherlands the fruit culture occupies the largest area, andalthough the method of culture followed is often not so intensive as in other branches, the quantity of fruit produced is very consi-derable. Especially Apples, Pears, Cherries, Plums, Grapes .and different kinds of Currants and Berries are exported in large quantities.
Special mention should be made of the cultivation of hothouse-Grapes in the " Westland" district. The technical .-skiU displayed in producing this fruit has reached a perhans nnioue deeree of nerfection. Frankenthaler (Black
19



Frames for forcimj.



Orchard used for pastare.



Hamburgh), Gross Cólman and Black Alicante are the varieties chiefly grown; large consignments are shipped toNew York nowadays.
FLOWERS.
The fiower industry flourishes particularly at Aalsmeer, about nine miles south-west of Amsterdam. It is a very old industry in Holland, dating as it does from the year 1695, but its great development only began in the latter half of the 19lh century, after the draining of the Haarlem Lake. Cut flowers, "greenery" and pot plants are produced on a large scale. Of late years, too, the business of forcing has been greatly developed, and it is now possible to supply fresh Dutch flowers all through the winter. The first consignment of cutflowers was shipped from Aalsmeer to New York last winter and arrived in splendid condition.
The very fertile soil' is extremely suitable for growing vigorous plants, with long sterns and large flowers and sprays, qualities for which the Aalsmeer cutflowers are famous.
A great feature of the industry is Lilac forcing, and about two million sprays are exported during the winter. The long sterns of the Dutch Lilac are greatly prized by florists. Large quantities of Roses, Lilies of the valley, early Chrysanthemums (ready for the market from the midle of August), Carnations and Tuberoses are also grown, and millions of Regonias, Cyclamens and Primulas are sold as potplants for house and garden decoration.
HORTICULTURAL TRAINING AND PHYTOPATHO-' LOGICAL SERVICE.
As might be expected from the practical results obtained, horticultural training in Holland has attained a very high Standard of excellence. It is divided into three grades—higher, secondary, and elementary.
Higher horticultural education is given in the Government "High School for Agriculture, Horticulture and
22



Inside of a house for forcing cutflowers in Aalsmeer.



Forestry" at Wageningen. The course lasts three years, and embraces the following subjects: —
(a) First Year: — Physies, meteorology, plant-physiology, mineralogy and soils, chemistry, national economy, drawing, gen er al plant culture, mathematics, surveying and levelhng, mechanics, botanical terminology and practical work.
(b) Second Year:— Botany, plant-pathology, free-hand drawing, garden-architecture) treatment and improvement of soil, surveying and levelling, agricultural chemistry, theory of manures, systematic classification of horticultural plants, arboriculture, fruit-culture, vegetable and flowerculture, national economy and business methods, civil law and practical work.
(c) Ihird Year: — Botany, pytropathology, free-hand drawing, garden architecture, theory of manures, systematic classification of garden-plants, arboriculture, fruit-culture, vegetable and flower culture, national economy and business methods, civil law and practical work.
At the end of the first year only those students are admitted to examination who have successfully attended a five years' course at a high school, or who can show that they are qualified to enter a University. To the examination at the end of the third year only those students are admitted who passed the previous year's examinations, and have been employed one year at practical work.
Those who have obtained the Horticultural Diploma may continue their studies in order to qualify for the "Secondary Teacher's Certificate" which is essential to those wishing to become Government horticultural teachers.
Attached to the College at Wageningen is an experimental garden for practical work, and in this garden the Phytopathological Institute is situated. This institution gives information to farmers, gardeners and foresters with regard to plant-diseases and pests, and the best means of dealing with them. It is further devoted to scientific investigations with regard to plant-diseases.
The Director of the Institute is, at the same time, Head of the Phytopathological Service, and in that capacity
24



Phytopathological Institute at Wageningen.



supervises, as far as possible, all nurseries, orchards, and bulb fields, and in particular those belonging to exporters. Gardens pronounced to be free of dangerous diseases and pests receive a certificate to that effect from the Director, and are allo wed to «nclose this certificate with the produce exported by them.
The Government agricultural and horticultural instructors are directed to report to the head of the Phytopathological Service the occurrence of any plant-disease within their districts.
Secondary training in Horticulture is given in five Government Horticultural Winter Colleges (Aalsmeer, Boskoop, Lisse, Naaldwijk, Hoorn) and at the "G. A. van .Swieten Horticultural College" at Frederiksoord, which receives a grant from the State. The object of these winter-classes is to give, at moderate cost, to young gardeners the theoretical knowledge necessary for their work. The schools are divided into two classes, and the period of instruction covers two winter-semesters. Students must be at least 16 years of age, and have to pass a preliminary entrance examination. The instruction is varied, as far as possible, to suit local conditions.
The "van Swieten School" provides both theoretical and practical training and the course extends over six periods of 6 months. At this school more especially head-gardeners are trained.
Attached to these colleges are more or less extensive gardens, where students receive practical instruction and experiments are carried on.
Elementary horticultural training is given in the wintercourses which the State supports with money grants. Each course extends over two winter-semesters. Students enter every two years, and must be at least 15 years of age. The teaching is done by National School teachers who possess the necessary qualification. Qualified practical gardeners are also employed to teach in many places. The course comprises:—
(a) The elements of natural science, including plantdiseases and pests.
26



Garden, attached to the government horticultural winterschool at Boskoop.



(b) -Manures, soils, treatment and improvement of the ground.
(c) Fruit-culture, vegetable and flower-culture, arboriculture and horticultural drawing.
As far as possible, the instruction is adapted to meet the requirements of the kind of gardening practised in the locality. In 1913/14 the number of the winter-courses was 132.
Besides these courses for young people there are special courses for adults. In the 1913/14 season there were 72 of these courses, all receiving grants from the State. The Government also assists horticultural societies which organise lectures and courses.
The State has further appointed 12 horticultural teachers in different partsof the Kingdom, whose duty itis to advise officials and professional gardeners, deliver lectures, lay out experimental plots, conduct experiments, and in general further the interests of Horticulture. They also supervise the horticultural courses held in their districts and coach the National School teachers who desire to qualify for the diploma mentioned above. In this they are assisted by different teachers in secondary schools, gymnasia, etc. Five of them are at the same time Directors of the Government Horticultural Winter Colleges above mentioned.
The courses of Horticulture folio wed by National School teachers last three years. Instruction is generally given for three hours on Saturday evenings. The examinations for the teachers' certificate are held every year at Wageningen.
CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING.
Any account of gardening in The Netherlands would be incomplete without a word on the co-operative marketing of garden produce, which is probably more highly organised here than in any other country. In this country the individual grower does not market his own produce; this is done for him by the association to which he belongs. To this end the various associations established sale depóts, known as "Veilingen" or auction places. Sometimes the "Veiling" is
28



Canoes with vegetables at the auction place at Loosdninen.



situated in the public market place, with a small space roofed in, where the sales take place. In other places the sale is held in a spacious market-hall provided by the association. The produce, brought to the "Veiling" by the members, is there sold by the officers of the association. The order of procedure is strictly fixed by rules, to which both members and buyers have to conform.
The method adopted is that of the so-called "Dutch auction", which also obtains in the fish, butter, egg and other trades.
Briefly it may be described as follows: The auctioneer "puts up" a lot at a certain figure, somewhat higherthanthe expected price. He now reels off in a monotonous tone of voice a string of steadily decreasing prices, which are closely followed by the buyers, who by a sign (most often the monosyllable "mine") signify their willingness to pay the price last named. The auctioneer's decision is absolutely final, in case of dispute as to which was really the first of two or even three would-be buyers, whose shouts would seem to have been uttered simultaneously to any uninitiated spectator.
In some larger sale depóts the auctioneer is replaced by an automatic electric apparatus, consisting of a large clock-face, marked with figures, which is fixed to the wall. A long hand or pointer tra veis round indicating the prices on the disc from high to low, whilst on a board beside the apparatus, numbers spring out to indicate the various buyers. The buyers sit on benches facing the apparatus. Eachhashis finger on an electric button. When anyone presseshis button the indicating hand stops at the price then reachéd, and the buyer's number appears onthe board. The sale is carried on in this way without any noise or dispute. In places where the produce is brought in Jboats, these pass along a small canal between the buyers and the electric machine.
The goods are not sold on a mutual basis, but each gardener receives exactly the amount realised by his produce. On the other hand, abuses which prevailed formerly, such as depression of prices by buyers, under-weight, and bad quality and bad grading of goods on the part of gardeners, no longer occur. The expenses of building, repairs, salaries to servants
30



Loosduinen Buyers at the auction sales.



and the like are borne by the members in proportion to the value of the goods sold by each at the "Veiling".
The majority of these sale depóts are of recent date. The first were established in 1887 at Broek op Langendijk. In 1897 their number was only 15, but after that year they increased rapidly, and at the present time they number more than 80. The total value of the vegetables and fruit sold at the "Veilingen" is more than $ 10.000.000 a year.



Loosduinen. Electrica) auctioneering apparatus.