Page:The Tales of a Traveller.djvu/110

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The Tales of a Traveler

place was indeed a revelation to me. There I saw magnificent specimens of Ardisias, Begonias, Cyclamen, and many other commercial plants. Henry Bartsch, the exceedingly efficient manager of the place, has accomplished remarkable things in the way of growing since the entire responsibility of management fell upon his shoulders.

The fame of Thomas W . Roland, of Nahant, Mass., is as widespread as interest in horticulture itself. His collection of Acacias, said to be the finest in the United States, and the other plants he grows for commercial purposes, have established his reputation everywhere. Mr. Roland evinced the right spirit when he exhibited his famous Acacias both in Boston and Philadelphia. I was present at both national flower shows, and heard it said that it was worth taking a trip from ocean to ocean for the sake of seeing Mr. Roland's Acacias alone. He undoubtedly deserves a great deal of credit for having added so much to the success of the shows.


Lawrence Cotter, the Rose Grower

Among the excellent growers of New England, and particularly of Boston, the name of Lawrence Cotter is a prominent one. For a number of years, he was a conspicuous figure in Boston, belonging to the "old guard," of whom a few are still in existence. As a Rose grower, Mr. Cotter was second to no man. His product about twenty-five years ago found its way to Philadelphia, and as far west as Chicago. He was at one time connected with the late W. E. Doyle, of whom I spoke in a previous chapter. Years later, he grew Roses on his own account, which were among the best sent to the New England market and others.

Some years ago he transferred his interests to the State of Pennsylvania, taking up his residence for a time at Danville, Pa. When the Lakeview Rose Gardens found themselves in need of a manager, one capable of taking the responsibility of managing their enormous place at Jamestown, N. Y., Mr. Cotter was the man chosen for the position. It didn't take long to show the results of efficient management. About a year ago, Mr. Cotter's health began to fail, and although he cannot give the place the close attention that he was accustomed to bestow upon it, the Lakeview Greenhouses are not suffering. There is a good reason for it. Mr. Cotter's son, young Charles Cotter, has taken much of the burden from his father's shoulders; and not only in the actual growing line, but in the general business policy which he pursues, he proves himself a young man of unusual abilities. [Mr. Cotter died at Jamestown, March 24, 1917.]


Joseph Heacock

Among the conspicuous men in the trade, men who have accomplished things not only in their own interests but for the world of horticulture at large, the names of Joseph Heacock and Robert George of the Storrs & Harrison Company, stand out.

Mr. Joseph Heacock did much toward the uplift of the standard in horticulture. I have known him for the past twenty years intimately, and my business relations with the Joseph Heacock Company, of which he is president, have been very pleasant. When I first met Mr. Heacock, his greenhouse range was not as extensive as it is today. Palms, and particularly Areca lutescens, were his specialties. In the beginning of his business career, and for a number of years thereafter, he confined himself principally to the local market and to the trade in nearby vicinities. But Mr. Heacock saw the chance for expansion. He increased his place and began to grow Kentias on a larger scale; and soon his product found its way to various parts of the country. His reputation was established. Later still