Xhe National Nurseryman. 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK. 
Copyright, 1893 , by The National Nurseryman Publishing Co. 
VOL. 11 . ROCHESTER, N. Y., JUNE, 1894. NO. 5. 
SOME RESULTS OF SUBSTITUTION. 
Jacob Moore, of Attica, formerly of Brighton, N. Y., 
the well-known originator of the Brighton grape, some 
time ago gave his views on the methods which have 
been adopted to secure the dissemination of the “pro¬ 
ducts of nature.” Many are familiar with those views. 
For the benefit of those who are not, the opinion of Mr. 
Moore is reproduced herewith : 
“ It has occurred to me to recount some of the noto¬ 
rious swindles in horticulture caused by the lack of exclu¬ 
sive rights to new productions. After’the Isabella grape 
had been generally disseminated, it was named Payne’s 
Early and sold as a new variety earlier than Isabella. 
Being ‘ a product of nature,’ there being no law against 
so doing, why should not the grower put money in his 
pocket by such means ? Eureka was another name 
given to it at Attica, N. Y That the Isabella has been 
frequently introduced under new names is shown by the 
fact that horticultural authorities mention as many as 
sixteen synonyms. Catawba has also been renamed 
many times for the purpose of introducing it as a new 
variety. After the advent of the Concord, the Maine 
grape and Chapman’s Seedling were heralded in the 
state of Maine as seedlings earlier and better. Thou¬ 
sands of vines were sold at high prices by this means, 
but in the course of a few years they were generally 
recognized as old Concord. Being ‘ a product of nature’ 
and the dissemination thereof free, there being no law 
to prevent renaming it, why should not the propagators 
put money in their pockets in that way ? When the 
Worden grape was introduced certain well-known horti¬ 
culturists proclaimed it to be Concord. Doubtless pre¬ 
vious deceptions had put them on the alert for frauds. 
They were mistaken this time, however, as the Worden, 
although of the same color and a seedling of the Con¬ 
cord, proved to be a distinct variety, earlier and larger. 
The announcement, however, that it was identical had the 
effect to lessen the demand for the vines and thus injured 
the originator, who is reported to have received no com¬ 
pensation for it. When it was proved to be distinct and 
valuable much of the demand for it was supplied, as at 
first by substituting Concord, labeled Worden. Being 
‘ a product of nature,’ and the dissemination thereof free, 
the nurserymen had a right to publish the name and de¬ 
scription in their catalogues, whether they had a stock 
of the plants or not. As a consequence, agents and 
dealers took orders for them. The nurserymen had 
plenty of the Concord, and as the two varieties are 
much alike, ‘ what harm to substitute that labeled 
Worden ?’ This was accordingly done by unscrupulous 
nurserymen and dealers to an extent that only the judg¬ 
ment day will reveal. The same game was played with 
the Brighton on an equally extensive scale. This grape 
was produced by an enthusiast named Moore, while a 
resident of Brighton, N. Y. It was the result of two 
crosses, the first being from seed of the Diana fertilized 
with Black Hamburgh, in the year i860. The best re¬ 
sult of the cross was named Diana Hamburgh, which 
was a magnificent failure. Magnificent because so large, 
handsome, and good ; a failure, because the foliage was 
liable to mildew and the vine was not sufficiently hardy. 
The originator was disappointed, but persevered. He 
recrossed the Diana Hamburgh with the Concord, and 
the Brighton grape was the result. He sold the variety 
to the introducer for less than it cost him, as he had not 
the means to introduce it himself. The introducer, al¬ 
though fully aware that many parties were swindling the 
public by means of false labels, was powerless to pre¬ 
vent them, because the variety was ‘ merely a product 
of nature, the sale of which must be free and unre¬ 
stricted.’ 
“When the Cherry currant first appeared its sale 
throughout the United States was a swindle of such 
magnitude that it may properly be termed national. It 
was first imported from France. The nurserymen with 
few exceptions, published the name and description in 
their catalogues in hot haste when there was but a small 
stock of plants in the country. Immediately the de¬ 
mand for the plants was far greater than the supply and 
the usual artifice of false labels was resorted to by many 
parties. What tree agent has not heard the story of the 
Cherry currant swindle, enough times to make him feel 
sick at his stomach } It is about as follows : ‘ A tree 
agent came around here some years ago with a picture 
book. The picture of the Cherry currant he showed 
me was so large and handsome, I thought the sort must 
be worth having, and ordered some plants. I took good 
care of them and they grew well, but the fruit proved to 
be nothing but the common little red currant, which I 
already had. He gave my neighbors the same treat¬ 
ment. I believe I won’t buy anything in your line to¬ 
day.’ 
“The introduction of the Clapp’s Favorite pear af¬ 
forded another opportunity to fleece the public, which 
was not lost by unscrupulous parties in the trade Many 
