346 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



raspberry and strawberry plants, heeling them in properly on your own place, in 

 some dry, sheltered location, as we nearly always have more time and more money in 

 the fall, the weather is better for handling stock, and the stock bears handling much 

 better — besides, we always have a better stock to select from then. When the hurry of 

 spring work is on we do not have to break off to get our stock, or be delayed for weeks 

 waiting for eastern stock only to hnd, when it arrives, that it is in a half ruined condi- 

 tion, and if set many never fully recover. Such tilings are very discouraging, but are 

 of yearly occurrence. If possible we should always inspect stock before purchasing, 

 especially in the tree fruits, and purchase of the grower only, and if possible of some 

 honest local nurseryman if you are fortunate enough to have one in the vicinity. 

 Always remember that if your nurseryman has any stock that he is not proud of, if he 

 sells it at all it is likely to be to some far away customer, or if possible will 

 clean up the trash in a lot to the tree peddler (the pleasant gentleman who calls 

 on you with the book of handsome colored plates and maybe sells you a bill at two 

 or three prices, claiming to represent some well-known nursery). If you can not 

 get what you want near home, the best plan is to get the catalogues of a 

 few of the most reliable large nurseries, and after selecting what you need, if a 

 large quantity, write them, giving your list and describing what you exi)ect, 

 asking for their best prices and positively forbidding substitution; but do 

 not expect any reputable man to sell you such stock for less than it is worth; bear in 

 mind there is danger ahead when you commence to hunt for the cheapest stock or the 

 cheapest man, and if you purchase on that plan and find in after years that you have 

 lost dollars for cents saved in the purchase, please remember that the blame is mainly 

 with you. If I w'ere about to purchase a large bill of trees of any eastern nursery, I 

 should purchase, say, half a dozen trees, with the understanding that they should be a 

 sample lot, and order from them. By following the above rules one should be able to 

 purchase stock that is nearly perfect, get it in good season, and at a fair price. As to 

 whom we shall purchase the stock of, that will depend on circumstances. In any case 

 buy of the man w'ho has the best stock, convenient to you, if he is an honest, reliable 

 man; if not, have nothing whatever to do with him at any price, no matter how good 

 his stock, as the temptation is too strong for such a man to fill your bill whether he 

 actually has the varieties you want or not. Our next choice would be to deal with 

 some of the large nurseries, which have a good reputation and enough good business 

 sense to maintain it, always forbidding substitution. 



"Our next topic, I believe, is the tree agent. And what can we say for him? What 

 shall we say against liim":' In the first place, there are several grades, ranging from the 

 reliable citizen who is taking orders for some reliable nursery, at living prices, down to 

 the highwayman who travels up and down seeking whom he may rob by selling worth- 

 less stock at large figures. He is the best supplied man in the business. He can 

 supply you with anything you want, and a great many things you don't want. He can 

 furnish the new beginners with green roses, tree strawberries, or peaches as large as a 

 sugar-bowl. This class of peddlers is getting to be very numerous and something 

 should be done to discourage them, for they injure all reputable nurserymen, as their 

 entire stock in trade consists of a quantity of unsalable trees and plants bought at 

 brush-heap prices, and the ignorance of farmers who never read the Rural New Yorker, 

 the Allegan Gazette, or any of that class of papers, nor attend horticultural meetings 

 like this — if they did, our peddlers' vocation would be gone. 



" It has been claimed that the tree agent is the pioneer of the fruit business, as he 

 has introduced fruit on a great many farms where, if he had not appeared, it would 

 never'have been set; and I presume this is true. But he is no longer needed in this 

 lake shore region, as we are not amateurs, but professional fruitgrowers. 



" In conclusion, the inquiry suggests itself as to whether the tree peddler learned his 

 tricks of the average fruitgrower, or the grower learned his of the peddler. One sells 

 fruit trees and plants that are a deception and a fraud, the other sells fruit that is not 

 what it appears to be, but the balance of trade seems to be in the peddler's favor, as he 

 gets the largest prices for his goods, while the average grower gets the lowest prices, 

 the difference being in the shrewdness of the purchasers. Therefore let no man throw 

 stones at the tree peddler if his house is built of glass." 



Mr. Morrill's paper was taken up for discussion, Alexander Hamilton 

 ,saying he would be glad to fully endorse Mr. Morrill's views. In selecting 

 trees, take neither the largest nor the smallest, even of the same age. Mr. 

 Reid asked what objection could be made to the largest and thriftiest trees 

 of two-year-old stock; if the larger size did not indicate a vigor of consti- 

 tution that was desirable. Mr. Hamilton replied that if such trees are 



