Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1871-12-02
9ortitulture.
CRAB APPLE HUMBUGs.

We understand there are parties canvass
ing towns in this county taking orders for
trees of extraordinary varieties of crab mp
pies, representing that we shall be obliged to
go back to native varieties of apples and Rus
sian crabs, as the borers are determined to
destroy all the improved varieties of apple
trees, and the curculios and other insects
sting all the fruit they bear, and that these
extraordinary crab varieties are exempt from
the depredations of those insects.
Now we must acknowledge that any in
sects with refined tastes would hardly select
such unpromising looking trees as some we
have seen sold ut exhorbitant prices, but I'M
fortunately for fruit raisers these insects have
not refined tastes, and would just rs soon
convert crab apples. and the trees on which
they grow, to their use us food us any other
and these assertions to the contrary are all
moonshine. Again, the prices charged for
these trees are enormously out of proportion
to the size of tree furnished. Trees of all
the best varieties of crabs, of good size, say
from to feet, and well branchcd. can, and
will be furnished for 40 cents each, and in
large lots at less, and to sell second class
trees, from to 5 feet, from so cents to 81 is
simply II shave. Some of these canvassers
are selling Il number of common kinds of
apples rs crabs among others the Duchess
of Oldenburgh and Fameuse. We have be-
fore us an order signed by gentleman of
this county for II number of crab apples, at
IN average price OF 66 cents each, and the
contract says to be from to feet high, and
among the varieties named are four of COM
mon well known kinds, not crabs, but classed
us such, and charged accordingly. The en-
terprise of some of these dealers is remark
able, us they often have thousands of trees for
sale, of varieties that have not been i'm the
country long enough to have dozens propa-
gated large enough to transplant. 1t is II
pity that so much money should be thrown
away for worthless trash, that will neverprove
n source of pleasure OF profit to the purchasers,
while the same amount expended for good
trees ut reasonable prices, would soon be IL
source of both, if well followed up with good
care and attention.
We take the above from the Middebury
Register, because it seems to reflect, very
fairly, the public opinion in regard to the
conduct of certain nurserymen and their run
ners. The selling of crab apples as II valua-
able orchard fruit, the selling of Russian and
other apples us crabs, the charging eXhorbi-
tant prices for varieties that are abundant
and cheap, the bestowing of new names on
old varieties in order to deceive purchasers
with the impression that they are some
thing new, and the selling of common va
riety under the name and mt the price of II
new and rare sort, are all tricks that are be-
coming too common, even IN Vermont.
We wish the purchaser could be brought to
understand that it is he and not the nursery
man, who pays the travelling expenses and
profits of the peddlars and agents, and that
this is the principal reason for the high prices
charged by them. In order to get these high
prices, the purchaser must be made to be-
lieve that there is some special virtue and
value in the trees of particular grower.
And the man who is the best talker, and can
tell the biggest story with the smoothest face,
is the man who makes the most money rs u
tree-peddlar.
If farmers want good and reliable fruit
trees at reasonable prices, the best and safest
way is to purchase direct from competent
and reliable grower, the nearest one they can
find of that character to their own homes.
1t is better still if they can visit the nursery
and select the trees fol- themselves.