tlic senice they rciuler to fruit-culture is very great. "Wh.it we have said will be no 

 (lofrinicut to them, for they have characters to sustain them and inspire confidence. 



(^>uite as had as any of the frauds we have mentioned, is that of palming off intlitfer- 

 eiit aTid worthless varieties of fruits and llowers, as something new, extraordinary', and 

 \ahiable, at the most exhorbitant prices. Crafty fellows perambulate the country with 

 exaggerated colored drawings and bombastic descriptions, and thus deceive thousands 

 of peojile. The common Alpine Strawberry has been peddled for years Avith the word 

 Mammoth (very captivating) prefixed. The Charter Oak Grape — a great fox Grape, 

 utterly worthless, except, as Mr. Longwortii says, that it might serve for cannon balls 

 if lead were scarce — for two or three years has had a fine run in almost every part of 

 the country, at three to five dollars per plant. The '■^ Uxcclsiorj" and several others 

 putled and paraded about, are no better. 



Strange to say, very many of those who purchase such articles, could not be per- 

 suaded to purchase those of real merit. Nothing else will serve them but to be htim- 

 biif/(/ed, to use a vulgar but expressive term, 



Newspapers lend themselves, unwittingly, as a general thing, to these frauds, and do 

 a great deal of harm. The family newspaper is looked up to as authority ; and when 

 these speculators get their glowing descriptions published, their work of deception is 

 half accomplished. 



The only thing that can remedy this evil, is the dissemination of intelligence ; and 

 we call upon the friends of horticulture and of honest and honorable dealing, in all 

 parts of the country, to lend their aid in exposing and arresting this system of fraud. 

 It is a disgrace to the trade and to the morals of the country. A most unpleasant duty 

 it is for us to give such a subject this importance; but we can not shrink from it. Ours 

 is not the only country where such dishonesty is practised ; the same game is played 

 on a smaller or larger scale all over Europe, as the pages of their journals prove. 



If there be anything about which people should exercise extraordinary care and 

 caution in purchasing, it is that of trees, seeds, and plants. "What a loss of time and 

 money, and what a disappointment and mortification, to be deceived in these matters ! 

 It is not diflScult to avoid impostors, if we but determine on so doing. There are 

 honest tradesmen enough everywhere, from whom a supply can be obtained, — men 

 who have a character at stake, and who feel that their success depends upon their 

 good reputation. These harpies who go about the country deceiving, are here to-day 

 and there to-morrow ; they seek patronage but once. 



Our advice to all parties who desire to purchase trees, seeds, plants, or flowers — 

 anything pertaining to horticulture in which frauds are or can be committed — is to 

 place their orders in the liands of men whom they know to be trustworthy. Reliable 

 tradesmen are well known, and those of them who have traveling agents, provide them, 

 .or should provide them, with the requisite testimonials with which they may give the 

 fullest satisfaction to those whose patronage they solicit. On this head a rigid inquiiy 

 should be .wnde. No statement should be listened to that appears anywise suspicious. 



