The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-05-01
The yultures that Prey Upon the Farmers.

During the inclement season of Winter
recently past, the country was filled with
class of poor devils whose improvident hab-
its, in a majority of cases, sent them beg
cling from door to door for the means which
kept lives, scarcely worth preserving, from
parting company with the wretched bodies
it required such painful exertions to sus-
tain. These poor creatures all passed un-
der the popular name of cramps" and
their misery, however excuseless it may
have been, always excited the compassion
of people enjoying more fortunate condi-
lions in life.
With the Indictment Winter weather and
the opening of SPRING another, and totally
different class of tramps has made its ap-
pearance on the stage, or rather, roads.
The shiftless vagabond, accompanied by
driving storms of snow and sleet, has given
place to the sleek, assuming rascal who IS
now met with on every road, and seen WIS.,
itinr every farm house. These are the pat
ent rights agents, and tree peddlers or nur-
sery agents. They do not come like their
cousins of the Winters day as suppliants
in rags; but make their appearance as well
dressed gentlemen, protesting to be bene-
factors of the farmer, and his very best
friend. The patent-rights men have valua-
bic inventions, which, if taken hold of and
properly pushed, are sure to make the for
tune of the lucky farmer whose lot they
fall to. Such labor-savng inventions will
not be dispensed with a single day after
their utility becomes known. No cash is
wanted, which always suits the horny
handed denizen of the farm; simply me-
gotiable note falling due months in the
future, the amount of which will be paid
many times before the note natures. Some
vend rights, while others sell very valuable
machines and implements, which no farmer
can afford to do without in this progress
e siye age. The farmer who dabbles in these
patent right machines is sure to come to
grief Every implement worth having on
the farm, can be readily obtained at one
of the agricultural establishments in the
county; either at Elkton, Port Deposit or
Colora, where responsible parties will be
found to deal with, and guarantee the arti-
Gle purchased. Our advice is to give all
strolling vendors of tools, machines and
other Jim cracks 4 wide berth.
The tree peddleis are still more dan
gerous class of tramps than the former.
Their arts in beguiling farmers to give Or
ders for trees, vines and plants, are most
insinuating, and the damage they do is far
greater than it at first seems. Forty years
ago and earlier, there were in Cecil county,
many of the most productive apple orchards
that could be met with any where. They
were sure bearers; the trees were hardy,
and many of the varieties were most excel
lent and their keeping qualities unsur-
passed. But where do we find such orchards
now9 They have almost wholly disap-
peared. The tree peddler came along So
Letting orders for some foreign nursery,
with lists of fruit with fancy names, and
unapproachable excellence, according to
catalogue description, and in a few years
after their appearance, the county was
filled with thriftless, sickly race of trees
whose scanty crop of fruit, was only equaled
by it's worthlessness, in the majority of
instances. The trade grew from apple trees
to pears-dwarf and standard, and grape
vines of hundred varieties-as far as
names were concerned at least. All kinds
of trash were frequently palmed off upon
the purchaser, who discovered years after,
how fearfully he had been cheated, not
alone out of the first cost, but the labor
and expense of years of attention, whose
only reward was a crop of wretched trash
These same tree and vine agents are still
industriously plying their nefarious trade
and the skill displayed in swindling the
farmers has been reduced almost to fine
art. These rascals carry with them printed
forms of contracts which they induce the
person, who has been beguiled into giving
them an order for the painted fruits they
so temptingly display in their catalogues,
to sign. We have two of these cunningly
devised forms of contract before us, both
purporting to be from New York firms,
whose agents are now securing the county
in all directions, seeking whom they can
entrap.
After stating the locality of the nursery,
the contract specifies the time and place of
delivery, and then proceeds to say the fruit
trees ETC., are to be grated or budded, to
be delivered in thrifty condition, of GER
tain nights and sizes, and then follows the
hidden snake: elf any of the varieties
ordered should be exhausted in the nur-
sery, you may supply Others ripening at or
near the same time"
The other contract is still more danger
Gus in it's wording. The crafty clause in
the latter reads thus: SIN case you cannot
furnish all the specified varieties, you can
substitute others considered by you equally
desirable
One Of these contracts bears the names
of "R. G. Chase & Co., Geneva, N. W
the other that of "Chase Brothers & Stone.
Rochester, n. "" and across the fsco OF
the latter is carelessy printed, as if for
establishment: This order not subject to
counternland.'' Was there ever more cum
ningly devised plans to place the unsus-
pecting farmers into the clutches of these
sharp Chases for they appear to be the
same parties, judging from the names
that they may be done for at their pleasure.
All entire strangers to our people, with
such sneaking contracts as these pushed at
every man an unknown slippery agent can
cajole into giving an order for trees OF
vines. Such contracts once signed, any
kind of tree or vines can be put upon you
at the option of the nursery men. And if,
by any means, they are caught forwarding
different article from what has been Or
dered, they can fall back upon the contract,
and escape. The latter is more audacious
in its designs than the former, and stipu.
lates that the order, under no conditions,
can bs countermanded. Will our farmers
still submit to be the victims of unknown
dealers, or purchase their trees and other
nursery stuff from nurseries near home ?
Mr. Baderston has a nursery at Colora