The Republican journal., 1875-11-04
Farm, Garden and Household.
Tree Pedlers,

We are often surprised at the readiness
with which some people are sgulled" or
imposed upon by itinerant tree pedlers,
and we have in mind several instances
where considerable sums of money have
been paid for trees and shrubs,a consider
able portion OF which failed to live as
might have been expected, and others
turned out quite different kinds from what
they had been represented to be and from
what they We're wanted by The purchasers.
1t is never safe to buy OF such tramps. Go
to the regular nurseryman and buy the
best cost what they will
The Geneva n Y. Horticultural Society.
in warning farmers against patronizinp
such pedlers says:
For several years past various gangs of
men have canvassed different portions of
the country with samples of fruit in glass
lars, and large numbers of people have
become victims OF their fraudulent prac-
llces. These men do not grow the stock
themselves, bat it is packed in different
parts Of the country wherever they can
buy the cheapest trees. One OF the gangs
That have been operating during the past
season III Central New ork and New
tngland Is NOW engaged in packing in
this place. The fruit shown by them in
their glass Jars is seldom of the variety
represented by them but consists of the
largest specimens they can obtains
named arbitrarily to suit the purpose even
when it Is real, but it is often OF wax, and
being in liquid the deception is not per-
cciYcd hy the purchaser, Again, the stock
lS packed N Il way we'll calculated to
screen il from observation, being baled
the entire length in rye straw, and is
shipped hundreds OF miles without being
boxed to protect it and without moss sui
icent to keep the roots moist. Three
days ot such treatment cannot fail to in
jurc the hardest tree, While this stock is
often necessarily on the road Tor weeks
j hat this fraud may be entirely successful
customers are warned by these imposters
not 70 open their trees, as exposure would
iujure them. And the victim is thus usu-
ALLY home before he discovers the fraud.
ln this manner the most worthless stock
r. packed, and often, by method known
;t~ 'shinglng," the bales are made to ap-
pear several feet longer than the trees
really are They pay no attention ia
packing t0 have the varieties labeled cor
rectly, but mix different fruits and differ
ent varieties Of the same fruit promiscu-
''AA0h tAlIt llbtl llOlil IlllS lllIALuIt W suit
the orders regardless of the selection Of
the customers The prices obtained by
these parties are simply fabulous, and
often are for plants that do not exist. For
instance they sell q strawberry plant
which they call ''thc Alpine tree straw
berry "a thing unknown to nursery
meGl al an CnOmous price, and deliver
plant of some common variety. Every
al1iHce Of the practical sWindier is en-
pi0Ned bY these men. They readily coin
uew names and new varieties, and can on
Very short notice fill any order for any
thing if 4 little opportunity for conceal
Iuent be given them. Before you receive
the stock obiige the delivering agent to
open the straw package (don't do ii your
self J, SO that You can inspect the stock
and see ii their famous tree strawberry'
has not every appearance OF being a com
mon variety and if their high priced
piums and cherries are not the poorest
apologies for trees, while the whole are
dry and worthless Their apples and
pears are frequently of decent quality, but
with the varieties so mixed as to be
worthless to the planter even if in fair
condition. While the buyer may not pc
able to detect mixed stock as readily as
uurseryman, he can easily see the differ
ence between Baldwin and red Astra-
chan apples or u Bartlett and q Clapp
pear, and if both look alike he may be
sure there is something wrong. Per
sons who have bought nursury stock an
~wering the description above given will
be justified in refusing to accept it, and
they need fear 10 attempt to collect pay
ment by law. Ample evidence Of the
truth Of this statement viii be cheertully
furnished by the society. The reader is
also referred 10 any reputable nursery
man, dealer, on horticulturst in Geneva,
Rochester OF elsewhere.