64 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[February, 
same season the Galveston man writes to the 
New York seedsman ordering goods to the 
value of $300. These were sent, but the money 
this time was not, and inquiry developed the 
fact that the Galveston man was a well-known 
JAPAN GLOBE FLOWER — SINGLE FOUM. 
swindler who paid no one if he could help it, 
and that this mode of operating wa3 an old 
practice of his. 
Another shrewd mode of swindling came 
under my own observation. In the fall 1867, a 
private gardener whom I had known for several 
years started business in the town of Plainfield, 
N J. He came to me and asked credit until 
spring for some stock, amounting to about $100 ; 
in the following February he came and said his 
circumstances were such that it would be im- 
possible, he thought, to pay in spring. I told 
him it made no difference, and offered him more 
stock if he needed it, which he gratefully de- 
clined, leaving me with the impression that he 
was a well-meaning man. In a week or two I 
began to get several inquiries whether I con- 
sidered , of Plainfield, N. J., worthy of 
credit. My reply to the first few letters were 
favorable, but they began to increase rapidly, 
so that by May 1st, I sometimes received four 
letters by one mail asking the same question. 
The rascal must have written probably to a 
hundred men, shrewdly judging that there al- 
ways would be a number that would be care- 
less enough not to inquire ; and so it proved in 
this case, for he succeeded, it is said, in getting 
near]}' $5,000 worth of trees without its costing 
him a cent, except for freight. Most of the vic- 
tims were from Pennsylvania, where the swin- 
dler had formerly lived — two of them well 
known from advertising in the Agriculturist. 
If these gentlemen had known this man's name 
as a swindler, of course they would not have 
been duped. Another person hailing from Fort 
Lee, N. J., has "tried the same game" this 
year, referring to me. The fact is, I not on- 
ly never knew the man, 
but never heard of him un- 
til he was inquired about 
by those he attempted to 
dupe. Still another me- 
thod is practised by these 
rogues. A great deal of 
nursery stock is sent by ex- 
press, the bill to be collect- 
ed on deliveiy; after this 
stock is removed from 
its regular place in the 
nurserj' or greenhouse and 
packed, it is of no value 
whatever to the shipper; 
moreover, the goods are 
perishable, and, if refus- 
ed by the party ordering, 
the whole thing is a total 
loss to the nurseryman. 
Taking advantage of this 
fact, every now and then 
we find a scamp who re- 
fuses to pay the C.O.D., of- 
fering perhaps 25 per cent 
of the value of the bill, 
or as little as he thinks the 
shipper will accept rather 
than lose the whole and 
have to pay expressage be- 
sides. AVe are well aware 
that there are serious ob- 
jections to the formation of 
such a list, that it might be 
made the means of inj tiring 
the credit of some honest 
man. This point was dis- 
cussed fully at our meet- 
ing, and it was determin- 
ed that only transactions 
that had an aspect of 
trickery about them, should eutitle the rogue to 
be put upon the list, and that a simple failure 
to pay debts was not enough; that no man 
should be thus tabooed, unless at least *wo men 
of known respectability should vouch 'or the 
fact that his transactions with them v.ci'e of 
such a character as to show a design to defraud. 
The Japan Globe-Flower. (Kerria Japonica.) 
m 
The Japan Globe-flower was introduced from 
Japan as early as 1700, and at first was de- 
scribed as a Corchorus, but it is now known 
to belong to the Rose family. It was first cul- 
tivated as a stove plant, then as a greenhouse 
plant, and finally it was found to be hardy 
enough to stand our winters. This plant is one 
of our most showy flowering shrubs for the open 
air, if it is properly pruned and cared for every 
year. It has green stems, with thin leaves, like 
those shown in the engraving, and is of very 
rapid growth ; it produces globular heads of dou- 
ble yellow flowers in great abundance during 
the summer months; and if it is trained upon a 
fence or wall it makes a better appearance, as 
its branches are slender and liable to droop if 
they have no support. The ends of the branches 
are often winter-killed in the vicinity of New 
York, but not enough to prevent its flowering 
well. It throws up a great many suckers, 
forming a dense mass of wood ; enough of this 
must be cut out to admit the sunlight and air. 
Any good, rich garden soil is suited to its 
growth, but it grows better in a somewhat 
shady position. Tho double variety was first 
introduced, and it is only some thirty-five years 
ago that the true species, the single form, has 
JAPAN GLOBE-FLOWER— DOUBLE FORM. 
been known to cultivators — only since 1835. 
We give an engraving of the double form, now 
common, and of the single, which is still rare. 
Though so long in cultivation, it is much less 
frequently met with than many things of recent 
introduction. "While poorly treated, it is but a 
shabby plant; yet, under good management, it 
is valuable in making a brilliant show. It mul- 
tiplies itself with the greatest ease, by suckers 
from its underground runners. 
Protection to Half Hardy Shrubs, etc. 
— The high winds of winter are likely to tear 
off the straw or other protection placed about 
shrubs; and calves or other cattle allowed to 
run on the highways will often do injury. We 
have found red cedar boughs better than straw, 
because they are not eaten by animals. Sheep 
are very fond of hemlock, and young cattle will 
occasionally eat it, though it is much better than 
straw. Whatever has been used it should be 
looked to, patched up, or renewed, if necessaiv. 
It is much more important that the protection 
should be good at this season than earlier. The 
changes of weather are likely to be more severe 
and frequent. We may have days when it is so 
warm that the buds will swell, and the frost al- 
most all come out of the borders, followed by 
a temperature of zero, or below. This is what 
kills fruit-buds, destroys the promise for blos- 
soming of flowering shrubs, and brings for 
ward tender plants, only to suffer by the frost. 
