Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. NURSERIES in the Shadow of the BLACK MOUNTAIN Address: JOHN M. HOUCK Marion, N. C. Small Packages of Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Plants, Deciduous and Evergreen, sent by Parcel Post, packed and paid. Write your name and address plainly — very plainly Everything depends on it. Express Always Collect IF THE PAMPHLET DOES NOT INTEREST YOU, HAND IT TO ANOTHER EDWARDS & BROUGHTON PRINTING CO.. RALEIGH. N. C. FOREST TREES I have all kinds of Forest trees, and can furnish, at call, any kind my customers may want. I list, here, the ones that are most desirable. ACACIA : (Common Locust). Nice straight bushes. S~0 A magnificent shade tree. ACER: ST) (Maple). Three kinds — white, red and sugar maples. They make a dark shade and show rich colors in the autumn. AESCULUS: (American Buckeye). Earliest to put out leaves in the spring. Are green before / CTO anything appears. They make a very dense shade and love damp ground, but will grow anywhere. AELAATHUS: (Tree of Heaven). Is most beautiful, JO £ 'but of strong flavor. A well-known tree. ABIZZIA: (Mimosa tree, Silk tree). Has a purple bloom something like the lilac, in panicles. //TO Is of rather slow growth, with leaves more than once compound. An aristocratic tree. AMALAA CHEER: (Shad bush, Service, May cherry). Blooms when the shad runs. A slow growing tree, and a good berry to eat. AADROMEDA: (Sourwood variety). Blooms in pan- icles of white bell-shaped flowers in mid- jT summer. BE TULA LEATA: (Sweet Birch). The bark sap and twigs can be chewed, and have a lasting I aCTC) fragrance. Out of the bark of the oil Gual- theria is made. BETULA PAPARIFERA: (River Birch). Loves 7 ^ damp situations. Bark. peels like paper, six O U or seven thicknesses. A magnificent tree. I have other birches. CAPEAXJS : (Hornbeam). A tree that grows almost ST) anywhere, and roots near the surface. CASTAAEA: (Chestnut). Makes a dense shade, be- r—j* sides the excellent fruit, which is good to •3 V eat raw or cooked. A large mountain tree. PEAIELLA AMERICAAA: (Chinquapin). Attains to . tree size sometimes. A small round, edible 1% SO nut. Well known. CATALPA: (Bean or Pea tree). Has large heart- shaped leaves, is a good shade, very beauti- /, SO ful, and has a magnificent purple flower in panicles, followed by a pretty bean or pea in bunches. CEDRUS: (Cedar or Juniper trees). Grows from m the mountain top to the sandy beach where / 1 ‘ u the waves come to die. I offer any kind. CERCIS hffi : (Red Bud or Judas tree). Said to be the tree that Judas chose to hang himself on. I do not vouch for this story. It comes into flower before the leaves make their appear- ance. A small tree, but very beautiful. CORAUS: (Dogwood). A small tree that roots near - y. the surface. Has white, large flowers early O 0 in the spring. 1 DIOSPYRUS: (Persimmon). Has only one and mostly no seeds. A tree distinctly North I p Carolinian. Order any kind of persimmon ■ you want. FAGUS: (Beech). Roots near the surface. No one „ has yet seen a beech stricken with lightning, o ^ never. A dense shade, and looks cool. FRACINUS: (Ash). Only the white or mountain ash . is offered. They are rapid growers and make | « rO a dense shade. HALESIA: (Silver bell tree, Rattle-box). Is a most beautiful tree, covered in spring with exqui- \ bell-shaped white flowers about an inch 1 * in size. An excellent shade, but rather slow growth. HICKORIA: (Hickory). A well known tree. I have iV*\two sorts that 1 °ffer> the Mockernut and I « l '' the Scaly-bark varieties. JUGLANS: (The Walnut). A well known tree. Everyone knows its excellent fruit and its !. frC dense shade. LIQUID AMBER: (Sweet Gum, Star-leaf Gum). Grows easily anywhere. Makes a thick eK) shade, turning to deep crimson in the fall. Its bark forms three or four valves on the small limbs, an inch in diameter. It exudes a gum from small wounds that make$ a fragrant and permanent chewing gum. LYRIODENDRON : (Common Yellow Poplar or Tulip tree). Has a fragrant and strong bark () and root, will expel worms, and is otherwise medical. No sun ever shines beneath1 its boughs. It will grow anywhere, but loves moisture. MACLURA: (Osage Orange, Toxylon). Makes a good hedge; was much used in the West, r It makes a good shade. MAGNOLIA: (Cucumber tree). Has roundish heart- shaped leaves, a large flower six inches in | diameter to a foot, followed by a crimson ' “cucumber.” A thick shade. A rough divided bark. MAGNOLIA: (Cucumber or Umbrella tree). Bark different from the foregoing, having a smooth | Ar bark, but the bloom and cucumbers are the * *' same. It is also a good shade tree. There are different kinds, but only an expert can tell them apart. MELIA: 53 MORUS Crt : (China tree). A well known tree as shade. The berries will expel worms if one can stand the taste. : (Common Mulberry). It is a well known tree, bearing fruit resembling a blackberry. Makes a very good shade. POPULUS: (Lombardy poplar). A tall straight I growing tree, peculiar in growing right up I I C ^ all the time. Has small leaves, heart-shaped at the base. Lends distinction to any land- scape. (Dilatata.) POPULUA CANDICANS: (Balm of Gilead). Splen- ^ . did shade, with medical buds, containing a f.rt mucilage which is sticky and said to be n perfect cure for burns. QUEECFS: (The Oak Family). I can furnish any ^ kind of oak known to the profession. SAL IX: (Willow). I can sell any kind, but only offer two varieties — Alba or white willow, and S. Babylonica or Weeping Willow. SASSAFBAS: (Sassafras). A small tree with three-lohed leaves, and very fragrant bark, . ^ leaves, roots and berries. It makes a good / ' ' ^ tea which purifies the blood. TFLLIA: (Linden or Whitewood). Makes a shade through which the sun never shines in the summer. Has leaves about eight inches in If rt diameter and heart-shaped. Loves damp ■ situations, and is a most excellent shade tree. ELJEES: (Elm). The Slippery Elm is all that I offer at present. It is an excellent shade i t frft tree, and has a bark that contains a muci- laginous liquid that will sustain life for a long time. By putting the bark into water, you can have a most healthful drink; for- merly much used in medicine. f EYER-GREEN TREES ABIE9 FBAZEI: (Black Mountain Balsam). A ' • conifer of the most exquisite beauty. CEDBES: (Cedar or Juniper). I offer, at present, r-, - only the tall cedar or juniper known in this / County. A native, grows straight up. ILEX: (Holly). This is a broad-leaved evergreen tree. Has spines on the leaves and red ber- ries which persist all winter. Is difficult to make live, rooting near the surface. A splendid Christmas tree. PICE A: (Spruce or Balsam). There are several j kinds. I offer only two kinds — the Black /, GD Spruce of the Black Mountains, and the Blue Spruce. FIXES: (Strobus, White Pine). This variety in- /. . eludes several, but I only offer the White r 0 Pine. It has long silvery bristles, five to the mesh, and is a very sightly tree. THETA: (Arbor Vitae). I offer two kinds. The American, which grows to be a considerable j tree, with flat appressed branches, and the / * 1 Chinese Golden, which grows in a thick, cone-shaped, excluding the sight. TSEGA: (Hemlock, Spruce Pine). It is the most beautiful tree that grows, holds its good looks always; always looks fresh and new, maintains its good looks through the winter. A mountain tree, but grows anywhere. There are two kinds, but it takes an expert to tell the difference. There are the Canadensis and the Carolinensis. The latter is more stiff and upright in its growth, but not a whit more handsome. 3IAGX0LIA GBAXHIFLOEA: (Magnolia). A beau- tiful tree with large leaves like the Rhodo- ! _ dendrons, but grows upright, with only a single stem. It is one of the most magnifi- cent trees that grows, and is a native of the eastern coast, particularly of North Carolina. 3 DECIDUOUS SHRUBS ALNUS; (Alder). A shrub with anents or catkins in £ — “the spring. The first harbingers. ANIYONIA: (Custard Apple). Is a greenish bush with small fruit on it, that is edible. A bush fit | to look at. ARUYDARIA; (River Cane). Is a very tall cane, fit for fishing rods, or small stakes for weak shrubs or flowers. ASIMA; (Pawpaw). Is a kind of custard apple, but L. crCs a great deal better. Loves moist land. ZALEA; (Nudiflora). Is white and shows 'flowers cr - Q before the leaves appear. AZALEA; (Common red). A well known bush, very jp ^"beautiful. AZALEA LUTE A; (Flame Azalea). This is the aza- lea that every one likes. It is. the one that I ^ ^ especially desire to sell. BAMBUSA; (Tame Cane). Will grow almost any- where and stand any kind of neglect. It is .. grown from root cuttings, and will soon O Q spread into a clump. It never grows wild, : or by waters. CAL^CANTHUS; (Sweet Shrub). It has a peculiar / flower, having many petals that never open r~-y\ wide, with a fragrance far-reaching and O ^ very agreeable. The fragrance pertains to the wood and roots also. CORYLUS; (Hazel nut, Filbert). There are two kinds. One with a flattish nut and one with I t (T6 a roundish nut. Both are good and have a similar taste. CHIONANTHUS; (Fringe Tree). It has leaves very like the ash, but they are not com- I CTO Pound. Has a long white fringe that is * eight to ten inches long. Blooms from May 15th to last. DYOSPYRUS; (Persimmon). I have a kind that has no seed, or very rarely one seed, that I I Cr6 1 wish to sell. I have also a kind that has fruit when it is only knee high. EYOMMUS; (Burning Bush). A green bush, with £—7* scarlet pods and berries. An ornament ^ to any yard. FORSYTHS A ; (Golden Bell). Two kinds — one $ standing straight up like a bush, and the other procumbent. The former is from japan. HAMAMELIS; (Witch Hazel). A bush that blooms at the beginning of winter, with a yellow ca r — fringe and has a double nut at the late autumn, like a filbert, but smaller. HIBISCUS; (Althes, Hedge Bush). There are sev- — eral varieties: White, with crimson centre; ' ' purple, also single, with deeper centre; pink or light purple with crimson centre; very double like a double rose, wheel shaped ^ with crimson centre; single; white with any petals; single with crimson centre. Any kind. May to September. 4 LEDUM: (Labator Tea, Red Root). A shrub about two feet high, which the Continental troops ^ at Valley Forge made tea of. Rather orna- PL D mental. LONICERA: (Honeysuckle, Fragrantissima). Is worthy of a place in everyone’s lawn. It has leaves an inch or two in diameter, and Ov* a beautiful pink flower, which appears in May and flowers till late fall. PALIURUS: (Christ’s Thorn). This thorn can be handled only with gloves. It has green . thorns and a green stem, and handsome I I flowers and leaves. A becoming bush, but stay away from it. PHYSOCARPUS: (Ashe Pipe Stem). A shrub gibout two feet high. Bark appears to be JP rS always peeling. No joints. A nice bush. LONDERA: (Spice Bush, Fever Bush). A very fragrant bush, growing about eight feet ) . Crt high. Is fragrant all through, and has a ' * pepper-like fruit. A splendid bush. ROBINIA: (Rose Acacia). A hairy shrub, with a A very rich purple flower that comes in at O the first of April and persists till June. ROSA CAROLINA: (Wild Swamp Rose). Very fra- JL.*' grant. Single, but worth while. ROSA BLAND A : (Wild White Rose). Single, but 6* fragrant, and worth while. ROSA BLAND A : (Tame). A climber. Most beau- ts' tiful. ROSA MULTIFLORA: (Crimson Climber). Large y 5 bunches of crimson flowers. RUBUS BLANDA: (White Blackberry). It requires stakes to support the abundance ^of fruit; 5^ is transparent and the stem is green. Has very fine flavor and is worthy. RUBUS OD ORALIS: (Wild Raspberry). Fruit edible, but not very good. Has a rich purple 5* bloom or flower which persists almost the year, from May. RUBUS TRIFLORUS: (Raspberry). Has no stick- jr— £ ers. Yellow raspberry, requiring stakes to ° support the fruit, grows straight up. Im- ported from Switzerland. A splendid fruit. SYRINGA: (Lilac). A well known bush. I have the I Cr& tw0 white and purple. Take your ' ' choice. SERISSA FETIDA: Imported small shrub (Japan), S O with small white flowers. VIBURNUM: (Snow-ball). Japan. Everybody knows Snow-ball, but this is better. ZANTHAXELUM : (Prickly Ash, Hercules Club). A bush about eight feet high. Has a panicle of cream colored flowers. SHRUBS THAT ARE EVER-GREEN ABRONIA: (Sand Myrtle). Is not more than a foot high. Trails on the ground. Has^a /. (T6 white flower, with leaves that are bright green. A rare plant. BUXOS: (Box, Tree). A small tree with leaves less than an inch long. Makes a stylish r~A hedge and will get twenty feet high in a ^ 1 hundred years. EVOXIMUS: (Called Japonicus). Is a shrub intro- duced from Japan. Has leaves two inches long and oblong, bright green, and is hardy SD here. Needs a little protection when the thermometer is 12 °F. KALMIA LATIFOLIA: (Ivy, Mountain Laurel). This shrub is in flower in May. Has umbel- i /T-7* like bunches of pink flowers, in mass. A I * ° u sightly bush. LUCOTHOE CATESBEI: (Dog Hobble). Is a low shrub that grows along branches and in >r~7j low ground. Takes root at the tips easily, w and has a flower at the terminals, in pan- icles that are strong flavored. LEBUSTRUM: (Privet). Everyone knows this shrub, f ' / It makes a fine hedge if the right kind is / (TO ordered. RHODODEXBROX: (Laurel). The Maximum has a whitish mass of flowers that cover the bush. In flower when the mullets play — 15th to ^ last of April. RHOBOBEXBROX: (Catawbiense). A mass of flowers in April and May, of a rich crimson j to blue, making this a most desirable bush. f ^ L A rare shrub. RHOBOBEXBROX PUXCTATUM: (Pink). A small - er shrub than either of the foregoing, but f ,0 "0 beautiful. RHOBOBEXBROX PUXCTATUM: (White). A > shrub similar to the last, but, if possible, / ( / i more beautiful. DECIDUOUS PLANTS These are too many to list; but I give a few of the most choice specimens. ALTHEA: (Hollyhock). Single and double. Any kind. AXASTICA: (Resurrection Plant). Rose of Jeri- , .cho. A low plant, with a green flower, which persists. Very rare. ARTIMESIA: (Indian turnip). A refreshing plant. BAFFOBIL: (White Jonquil). Chinese sacred lily, -Vt? early and rare. HELIAXTHUS TUBEROUS: (Jerusalem Artichoke). This is a well known plant. LEPIDIUM SATIVUM: Well known for greens. OALAXTHUS: (Snowdrop). A small early flower- f ing plant. PASSIFLORA i (Passion Flower). ^ S A G A T T ARIFS: (Arrow Head). ^5-SEMPERVIREXS: (House Leak). ™ ^-ZEBRIXA: (Wandering Jew). 6 EVER-GREEN PLANTS PHLLAWEYTOSA, YUCCA: (Adam’s needle, Span- ish Bayonette). A plant that grows any- where, and has a bell-shaped flower, a mass * \ of cream colored flowers about two feet high and a foot broad, which comes in May. POLYPODIOX: (Scotch! Bracken). A fern that , , — loves the shade of trees. Stays green all winter outdoors. ELF CARPET: (A moss). Flat and covers damp rocks like shingles, and stays green all ' ^winter. GALAX: (Common). A beautiful border plant that j^grows about a foot high. GALAX: (Shortia). A rare and little known plant, that^is not at all like the last mentioned. DECIDUOUS VINES LEBRUSCA: (Grape). I advertise only one. It has no rival. It is not offered by any nursery- man. It has been in the Houck family for 50 years and has been well tried. It origi- nated in Caldwell County, N. C. On entering McDowell I found the same grape in culti- vation. I do not know how it came here. Probably a vine from Caldwell. It will stand any kind of season, any kind of neg- lect and bear a fair crop; but does better in good cultivation. It has a medium sized bunch of pink colored, large berries, that are not very showy, but once eaten, no othen grape can take their place as long as they last.- Try one and you will want f p 1 I have other Lebruseas and Yulpinas, but only advertise one. AWPELOPSIS : (Virginia Creeper). A very desir- S~~0 able and well known vine. AQULLEGIA: (Columbine). A trumpet-shaped flow- „ er about four inches long, crimson on the outside and yellow within. A rapid climber. CLE3IATIS: (Virgin’s Bower). A handsome climber, with beautiful white flowers in mass. HOIULUS: (Hop Vine). A commonly cultivated j vine; turns in the opposite direction from most of vines, and suggests introduction from south of the equator. It is easily grown, and will bear any amount of neglect. It is good to make “Home Brew.” HDIAYLA: (Blackberry). Has as many as sixty to the bunch, do not all get ripe at once, ’ but last a long time. Will run forty feet but should not be let run so far. Have a trellis. Finest flavor. ROSAYTULTIFLORA: (Seven Sisters). A rose that T ' climbs. PUERARIUS: (Kudzu, Dolichos). The best forage vine extant. Can be pastured, mowed or any way. It makes an excellent porch vine. A legume. VIRGINIA CATRELATA: (Cross-vine). Looks good. WISTERIA: (Wisteria). A well known vine, but splendid. EVER GREEN VINES AXTHEMIS: (Chammomile). A garden plant. A K good tonic. EPIGAEA: (Trailing Arbutus). A vine that has flowers first of all. Lies flat on the ground, ,has leaves about two inches long and bell-shaped flowers. Very sweet. ARKTOSTAPHILOS ; (Uvi Ursi, Partridge Berry). Is a small vine, with small round leaves --and red berries. A pretty little vine; loves rocks and shade. HEDERA HELIX; (English Ivy). An evergreen .vine th^t covers any kind of a wall or X, J fence and adheres. Bright green leaves. JASMIXUM; (Jasmine). A plant that has oblong green leaves about an inch long; takes 5 root easily at the tips. Easy to grow. LENXAEA: (Japanese Honeysuckle). A persistent vine that makes a splendid pasture, winter and summer. Good for gullies, banks and galled places. Also a nice porch vine. SIXTCA: (Sempervirene). A white rose that will -___jclimb, or lie flat on the ground. Has bright . j shining green leaves that persist. I sell seeds of all kinds. Correspond with me freely, and you will be politely answered. If this Catalogue does not interest you, please hand to another. 8