IBS'?.] Character of Nurserymen. 123 



other seller has offered trees decidedly lower — induces him to make 

 sales below regular rates; and, finally, when their bills are rendered, 

 flatly refuse to pay for the packing, one single cent. Now, all this 

 is most deplorably wrong, and calls for amendment; for, every hun- 

 dred packed by the nurseryman, of usual size, costs in actual cash an 

 outlay of fifty cents to one dollar, for packing material. And, if not 

 paid for direct, must be made up in additional price for the trees. 

 That man who refuses to pay for packing, deserves no pity, if his 

 trees are lost in consequence of a deficiency in this respect. A spirit 

 of magnanimous generosity is absolutely due on the part of pur- 

 chasers, or else, as this world now jogs, their complaints fall to the 

 ground. If the purchaser has done his duty in the premises, the 

 responsibility falls upon the. other party, for any failure that may 

 occur. 



There is another class of reckless purchasers, that are always to 

 be dreaded. We have known some who have sent out ignorant men 

 into the field with their bundle of trees, to be planted without prop- 

 er supervision. The bundles are opened, and the roots, perhaps, 

 exposed to a warm sun during the day, and something of a severe 

 frost at night. Holes are dug, and they are stiich in as you would 

 put in a locust post. The growing season comes on, but the trees — 

 four out of five — refuse to grow, when the nurseryman is pitched 

 into, as if he were made of plastic putty. He is told that the trees 

 were of ' no account ' — were 'winter killed ' — 'dried up ' — ' roots cut 

 too short ' — ' badly packed ' — or some other abominable casualty, 

 which demands indemnification. The winter of 1855-6, was excess- 

 ively severe, and debilitated the vital energies of trees, to a greater 

 extent, perhaps, than for many previous years. The succeeding 

 summer was unusually hot and dry ; hence, both together com- 

 bined to render complaints more prolific against nurserymen, than 

 usual. Hundreds, in consequence of these unforseen casualties, 

 came back for reclamations, who did not deserve them. 



Buyers should always bear in mind that sellers are not insurers — 

 and that when trees are well packed, shipped in good order and 

 ' well conditioned,' the nurseryman has no more right to be called 

 upon for indemnity, than the merchant has for a cargo of merchand- 

 ise, which may have been lost by the sinking of a steamboat. 



When nurserymisn shall issue catalogues containing more of truth 

 than falsehood ; attend diligently to the commands of correspond- 

 ents, always charge for packing, avoid clap-trap and humbug — and, 



