New-York tribune., 1872-03-21
A FRENCH SPINDLE.

A TRAP FOR AMATEUR FLORISTS-ABSURDlTlE5
OF A FRENCH SYSTEM OF GARDENING.
There is at No. 74j Broadway store where
trees plants and bulbs of "entlrely varieties are
sold 1t called the american Branch Of the great firm
OF Lafayette & Co., Paris" The remarkable specimens
of fruit which exhibited in the front window Of this
store have not only attracted the attention of many
amateur florists OF this city and the vicinity but from
their enormous Size have also aroused the curiosity Of
many OF the most experienced hOrculturists in the
country, have been induced TO 20 in aud make them
selves ACQUAINTED with the French system OF gardening
and lrut-rasing. Among others whose curiosity has
been awakened z. 7. Quinn, b. X. Bliss, and
Jeremiah Hoops wellknOwn hOrtculturiss, who visited
the store OF Lafayette Co.. yesterday, and satisfied
themselves that IL the most absurd swinde that
ever planned for quilting unsophiscated enthusiasts
The specimens Of pears in the front window found
either have been raised in hothouse or made Of wax
Large numbers of peach trees shown these gentle
men, which the proprietor assured them would produce
peach twenty inches in circumference without stone
but on close examination the trees found to 10
dead colored plate Of gOoseberres of various cOors
all growing upon the bush, shown, the bushes
selling for s. each Then there trees four feet gh
which were said to produce strawberries exactly re-
sembiDg those raised on vines This the proprietor re-
garded complacentIy great convenience, as 1t ac-
tated the gathering Of the fruit For these trees
embryo he charges sO each
III the stories OF tDlS DE DcHtFeu,
the ladies are certainly greatly indebted TO him. for he
SAYS he has obtained that longsought-for and much
desired flower the blue rose, the bulbs for the
propa cation OF which he offers for the modest price OF
IS each The bulbs of new kind OF flower, called the
Arc de Tromphe also offered for sale at from $50 to
$40 and examination proved to be nothing but Gallo
mel roots He said that he had sold quantities OF them
to persons in this city Crimson grapes never seen
on paper were also exhibited and cuttings for produc
ing them offered for g each Several pictures Of
that closely resembed painted cabbages displayed
seeds sold to persons in the Of
these visitors for cents each and other things sim
liar rates. The asparagus seeds were warranted to pro-
duce asparagu At for in 90 days. whereas the time
ordinarily required is two years. The pear trees are
thrown together without being labeled. and when
toner orders certain varieties more less obscure they
are all taken from this pile and labeled TO suit the
order. <~..-r~--S- --'r.-
Thefe Is French botanst connected with the est9b-
shment who claims that he tell the different vare-
ties by looking the bark OF the trees, thing which Is
said by good authorities In such matters TO be simply
prepostercus One Of the proprietors informed TRlB-
USE reporter that during the past two or three months
the sas amounted 10 about $4,000 and that the
srock was insured for 10000 None Of the plants In the
store are valuable, nearly all OF them being common
varieties, with nothing but ambitious titles eaborafe
pictures TO attest their merits.