Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-03-17
French Tribes and Plants.

EDIroRs LEDGER: Some time last
spring was attracted into store on
Main street-west side, south Of Union
by seeing . large collection Of trees,
flowers, etc, displayed for sale. Upon
inquiry, ascertained from Frenchman
that the stock was just from France, and
by long odds superior to anything this
side Of Parisl Notwithstanding suhdry
missivings. concluded to try one dwarf
pear, the Empress Josephine, which ]
was assured would be nearly as large as
a pumpkin, aud present fine golden
appearance much similar to that huge
vegetable / brought my tree home and
planted II with great care, watered and
mulched it, nursed and watched it, yet
for several weeks il gave no signs of life;
at length, however, sickly, feeble
bud burst and threw out leaves,
and imagine my surprise when
/ discovered that it was no pear at all,
but an apple tree ] had given 81 80
for dying apple tree worth no more
than an oak stake.
Irelate this little piece Of history, Mr..
Editor, not because the circumstance OF
itself is of any particular interest to the
public, but / perceive in your advertising
columns that another splendid and
superior (2) stock has just arrived, and !
merely sound this note of warning
To the uninitiated / may as we'll say
that these peddlers can have no tree or
flower superior to those to be found in
our own nurseries. The large CONNER
cial nurseries in the United States keep
standing order IN both France and
Belgium to furnish them at once with
every desirable and superior novelty,
regardless of cost
The large nurseries proceed to test the
plants and trees received, and if found Of
value, they are at once propagated and
disseminated throughout the length and
breadth of the land. Hundreds of new
varieties of pears are received annually,
the greater part to be reported as not su-
perior to sorts already growing. Now
it is not to be presumed that men who
have grown old, rich and shrewd in this
business are so obtuse as to select agents
in Europe inferior in horticultural knowl-
edge to the stroling peddler, who seeks to
cram his pockets with greenbacks through
Haunting pictures of big pears and
spread. eagle flowers. By no means. The
simple fact that these irresponsible peo-
ple can sell trees evidences two things
growing interest in horticultural mat
ters and an intense, lack of proper knowl-
edge on the subject. Il have already
plead guilty.) This interest should by
all means be encouraged. No man
having an acre. of land should be
without fine trees, fine berries, fine
vines and fine flowers. Two pear trees
in the garden Of Mrs. A. 0. Harris, near
the city, yielded $50 worth of fruit the
mast season. They were Duchesse d An
oou1eme. A single fig bush also yielded
$50 worth of fruit near the same place;
and I will not tell the number of dollars
taken from thirteen or fourteen Concord
grape vines by Mr.. Cummings Johnston,
nor the quantities of strawberries sold
by him from very small area. From
what have said above, it will be seen
that very few trees or vines may be-
come a source of much profit and COM
fort, provided always they are uarteties
suited TO the particular locality. 1t is
the business of our local nurserymen to
ascertain the best; and it is the office OF
the agricultural press to make such facts
known, hence 1 would urge all persons
who feel disposed to plant to inform
themselves thoroughly before beginning;
take an agricultural paper, read the ad-
vertisements, procure catalogues, and
study upon the subject before investing.
We have several local nurseries. Some
do not advertise and some do, but in
meagre, parsimonious manner. Not one
man in ten is aware that we have
nursery in Shelby county; which is all
wrong. No business requires advertising
as much as the nursery business, and
none will nav a better return for money
80 spent. dEo' W. Ulfr'