The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-04-24
''TSke Getil Mkts
ELKTON, APRIL "a. 1875.
LOOK OUT FOR SHARPERS.


Since Spring has opened the generation
of sharpers has again started on the tramp.
Notably among those at this season are the
tree peddlers. All Agricultural Societies,
and particularly the New York Farmers
Club, warn farmers and horticulturalists
against the danger amounting to almost a
certainty, of being swindled by these trav-
cling agents, representing nursery men per-
haps five hundred miles away, whom the
farmers know nothing about.
A sneaking, foxy agent, with smooth
tongue and nasal twang, will mouse round
among the farmers and represent the trees
and vines of the firm he sells for as supe-
rior to all others, and wheedle the plain,
honest farmer out Of an order for stuff he
can know nothing about, the whole party
being utter strangers to him; while the
same order could be filled at half the price
near home where he knows the parties to
be honest he deals with.
As specimen of the sharp practice these
fellows resort 10 in driving their trade, we
copy from the printed form of Rochester,
N. " firm, who have foxy agent going
among our farmers the present Spring sollc-
iting order After specifying the class of
trees to be delivered, size, &C., the follow
ing clause is snaked in in small condensed
type, "In case you csnrot furnish all the
specified varieties, you can substitute Others
considered y,you equally desirable Any
one whose attention is called to this sharp
clause can see at a glance that fox grape
vines or wild crab-apple trees may by the
nursery men, be considered "desirable y
stock to send out to fill orders containing
this sharp clause. Across the face of the
blank contracts is printed, This order not
subject to countermand."
When this order is completed and all of
its cunning parts are put together, it binds
the uususpecting victim to take In lieu OF
the articles he has ordered, any thing else
they choose to send, and deprives him OF
the common right which every dealer holds
sacred, of countermanding the order. rms
is fair specimen of the sharp practice OF
these rascals who tramp over the country
among the farmers Fall and Spring. fleec-
ing them out Of their hard earnings
Waving the almost certainty OF being
svindled in the articles ordered through
these irresponsible and strange agents; fruit
trees, especially apple trees, accilmated III
the northern sections of the country, pro
duce altogeter different fruit when trans
ferred to our latitude. The Winter apple
of New York is poor Fall specimen ID
Maryland, and so throughout the list
The fruit that will succeed and be profita-
BILE here must be propagated from trees cul-
tiyated md acclimatcd in this latitude.
Those who intend planting orchards or
fruit of any kind, should. for two leading
reasons. patronize the nurseries of this State
or it's immediate vicinity. First, they will
have the advantage of dealing direct and
with responsible men, and will be furnished
with the varieties they select, and at much
less cost, than by swindling agents repre-
senting or pretending to represent foreign
firms. Secondly, the trees and vines will
have the no less important advantage over
foreign stock in being adapted to our eli
mate. Take the advice of every Agricul
tural Society and writer on this subject,
and give these swindling agents, who have
the faces of sneak thieves, wide birth
when they approach you with fancy draw
ings aud chromos of fabulous fruit with
bigh-sounding names. Their object is to
hv 70
will be far away when the fine trees and
vines bear sour grapes, and apples and
pears which the pigs will not thank you for
We know case in point which happened
years ago. which illustrates the cunning
devices Of the class of scamps we have been
warning the farmers against. fellow
7, came round in the Fall representing some
New York concern, and he had with him
crates of the most delicious grapes of vari-
GUS kinds, and samples of some of the
larges and finest pears and other fruits
that could be found any where. BY artful
representations and display of tempting
fruits, he managed to take large lot of
orders, at fabulous prices for this superior
fruit. In the course of three or four years
after when the fancy vines and trees began
to bear, the confiding farmers discovered
how egregiously they had been swindled,
and this high priced nursery stock was dug
up and thrown into the nearest gutter. 1t
was discovered afterward that the foxy
agent had purchased his fine grapes and
pears in the Philadelphia market, and had
them packed in saw dust aud shipped to
his canvassing ground, where he used them
rs bait to hook the unsuspecting farmers
and other victims.