2$ Pomological Gossip. 



If our readers need illustrations of this system of victim- 

 izing cultivators, let them refer to the Blue roses, Blue camel- 

 lias, Blue and Yellow carnations, &c., sold in our city by 

 " Messieurs Freres " and others, from Paris, — the Josling's St. 

 Albans grape, by our English neighbors, — and Newland's 

 Alpine strawberry by one of our American dealers. A 

 small amount, paid yearly, for information exposing these 

 humbugs, — not to use the stronger word impositions — would 

 prevent the loss of hundreds of dollars, wasted in time and 

 money in trying such miserable productions. 



We agree with the writer, that Horticultural Societies may 

 do much to prevent this — though sometimes they are liable 

 to err, — but these cases will be exceptions to the rule. And 

 we hold it to be good evidence that a fruit is unworthy of 

 cultivation after it has been two or three times reported un- 

 favorably upon, or has not been successful in taking prizes. 



" The love of novelty and the love of money are truly pre- 

 vailing characteristics of the age we live in, and the increase 

 of these passions in a proportionate ratio is every day appar- 

 ent in high-sounding puffs of advertisements, which are con- 

 stantly victimizing the public, — not only those who are mere 

 amateurs, but even those who are thoroughly initiated in the 

 art and mysteries of gardening. There are few who follow 

 out this pursuit with spirit but have been taken in more than 

 once, twice, or thrice, by giving long prices for articles inferior 

 to those they were previously in possession of. I speak feel- 

 ingly, and I am quite sure that my case is not a solitary one. 

 I think that the establishment of the Floricultural Society 

 is, in its sphere, a great boon to the public. Henceforward, 

 flowers, which will not bear the ordeal of that association's 

 censorship, will not be purchased. Well would it be if 

 an association could be formed of respectable nurserymen 

 and gardeners, to decide upon the merits of new fruits ; each 

 kind to be sent for their inspection at least twice in the course 

 of each of two successive seasons ; they would probably ex- 

 hibit them under favorable and unfavorable circumstances, 

 and the verdict of such a body would be invaluable to the 



