The Portland daily press., 1867-09-16


plums. We do not mean to deny that respon-
sible nurserymen do sometimes send out trust
worthy agents to contract with country
people for young trees but such agents
are always provided with clear and reliable
evidence that they are the bona yide attaches of
the establishment they represent, One may,
probably, purchase OF these men without in
curing much risk, but even under these cir
cumstances, the preferable method is to pro
cure a supply directly from some well known
nursery as near home as possible, for in this
case YOU are surer Of being well used, and the
probability is that you that you will obtain
healthier and more satisfactory trees. % 81
Instances have sometimes, though not rarely
occurred i'm which many establishments of
good reputation have ventured to send out
trees differing essentially from the names by
which they were labeled But deceptions of
this kind are sooner or later disclosed; oand
snch practice never fails to operate to the
disadvantage of the business of the deceiver
although plausible pretexts may subsequently
be assigned for what is called simple mistake
or error. We have. in former years, been de-
ceived in this way-both by the Kenrick and
Winship nurseries OF Massachusetts, There is
no branch of business which offers such in
ducements TO deception as the tree trade, for
the reason that farmers GENERALLY are unsus-
pieious,and there is no possibility of being de-
tected for years to come. biiw Oh % a3Hm
Sometimes people imagine that they have
purchased spurious trees because the crops OF
the first or second season do not perfectly an
swer to the description as given in the books
while at the same time, the trees may be gen
uine.. The causes Of this difference are various.
Sometimes the stock affects the scion and
greatly changes the character Of the fruit The
main reason however, Is that young trees are
incapable of giving correct expression to their
offspring until advanced age brings il about
through developments ofthe organs of fructifi-
cation. In other cases imperieetion may be
attributed to climatic peculiarities. IA greater
maturity of the tree will have the effect to
ameliorate these extraneous Influences. The
want of requisite nourishmeht in the soil will
also account in some measure for freaks that
may, on superficial investigation condemn
the nurserymen. Thus it is apparent that I'M
less purchases are made from parties in whom
we have positive confidence, suspense
must be endured for greater or less period ac-
cording to the amount of attention bestowed
in cultivation But few tree planters are will
ling to accord sufficientinterest to this state
ment. Their confidence once gained. they are
credulous until conviction is forced upon them
by ocular proof, and then the whole list of
nurserymen is condemned in toto. This is
gross Injustice to the honest tree grower; for
if the purchaser is governed by his usual dis
erection in the matter of barter, he need not
bestow his labor and money on worthless
trash; again we repeat, buy your trees of re-
sponsible and respectable dealers. We can
mention several such in our own State; partic-
ularly Mr.. Goodale of Saco and Mr. Adams of
Westbrook.l We have had dealings with both
of those gentlemen, and have never been disap-
pointed or i'll used by either of them. Besides
their trees have the advantage of being raised
amongst us, in our own northern and eastern
climate. They are better on this account-that
is, they are better for us in Maine.
The Questionable habit of naming trees of
foreign origin with some very learned or out
landsh title, is another false notion much to be
deprecated. Peasmay succeed well in France, ,
that are utter failures in our Soils The reason
for which is, our air and soil are different.
some OF the best apples of England lose their.
peculiar quality when grown in the United
States. Trees, therefore, native to our soil will
afford the best satisfaction without any extra
ordinary care or culture, though high cultiva-
ton Will produce superior fruit. Amateurs
who plant promiscously every thing that is be-
gilt with new title, in both the old and new
world, have much to answer for as relates to
the present confused state of nomenclature of
fruits, as in their eagerness and zeal to culti-
yate new variety, they give scores to all who
will accept them; though it proves eventually
to be one of the fine old sorts, the amateur
neglects toacquaint his frierd of the discovery
and thus the name is perpetuated and received
by the coming generation, in whose mind it
becomes part of their education as fixed
fact, like all early pfejudices. In this manner
much unintentional deception is practised, ORR
ginating, however, in benevolent motive.
Hence the necessity OF the highest intelligence
in those who grow trees for the market. gEdu-
cation, peculiar to this profession, is as neces-
sary to a nurseryman as for the LAWYER or
physician. He requires an exact discrimina-
ton in order that he may be able to nam,
almost any variety of fruit tree from it's pecu
liar characteristics. He should possess discre-
ton in order that he may properly estimate
new fruit before propagating thousands,
which he is obliged to sell or lose money upon
them. He should be skillful mechanic by
nature, so as to fashion tree after BECOMING
model. Lastly, he should be an honest NAH.
the most essential ingredient of ALL Ii he pos
sess this qualification. he will never dispose of
tree that has even suspicion of ungenuine-
ness lurking in its countenance
The reader will naturally, perhaps, infer that
nurserymen are not generally blest with all of
these enumerated traits, which is certainly the
case; but we think the day of regeneration is
at hand. Gentlemen of rare ability, actuated
by the charms of the occupation and the golden
harvest that will fall to their gardening opera
tons, are engaging in the .tree-growing busi-
ness with all the zeal of the amateur and the
skill of the professional man. We hail this
state of things with high hopes, for the GOOD it
will effect throughout our land, blessed as it
IS with genial suns, refreshing rains and
hourisnlng SOILS ora $500 10 o.qos4 sHE