152 STATE IIORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



duties — specific or advalorem, as the case may be — to the amount of a certain 

 percentage of the vahie." In discussing the principles rehiting to tiio tariff 

 question, the rate of duty is not tlie sole question yet it is of course the most 

 important one, and to decide the point at which the duties levied, suSiciently 

 protects American industry and after that is an unnecessary burden, requires 

 close discriininalion and sound judgment. 



Those who are engaged in horticulture are usually intelligent, wide-awake 

 people, and are perhaps better posted in public affairs than is the average 

 farmer; and the very general discussion of the tariff question has of late been 

 so full and complete that nearly every one has his position clearly defined in 

 his own mind. And yet except in one or two specialties has the farmer or 

 horliculturaiist any intimate knowledge concerning the duties which certain 

 products in which he is interested pay, and does not really know whether they 

 be to him a burden or a protection. lie has been content to adopt as the cor- 

 rect system " a tariff for revenue," " a tariff for protection," or "free trade," 

 as the case may be, on general principles, and has paid but little attention to 

 the rate, periiaps does not know what it is on any of these products. 



I do not i)ropose to enter into any extended discussion of the principles 

 underlying the policy of the government relating to the tariff. It is, however, 

 generally conceded that the present laws need revising to suit existing condi- 

 tions of trade and commerce, and the tariff commission which has been for 

 some months engaged in this work will, without doubt, present a plan for a 

 better adjustment, by wliich burdens may be removed or equalized. 



I propose now to give you some facts relating to the present tariff, such as 

 rates of duty on horticultural and agricultural products, and articles directly 

 connected with agriculture and horticulture; also the amount and value of 

 the present importations of the principal horticultural and some other pro- 

 ducts, and tlie amount and value of the main articles of export. I have also 

 communications from two of the largest dealers and seedsmen in the country, 

 with a short statement of their views on this question, and possibly from this 

 may draw some conclusions as to the position which it is for the interest of the 

 horticulturist to maintain on this question; and I may state here that what I 

 say on this point will be in favor of protection, true and impartial I hope, but 

 trust also correct. 



RATES. 



The rate on all fruits of the varieties grown in Michigan, green, ripe, or 

 dried, is 10 percent ad volorem, including also the value of the packages con- 

 taining tliem. The same class of fruits preserved in tlieir own juice, or her- 

 metically sealed in cans, jart^, or bottles, })ay 2o percent. -Fruits of all kinds, 

 preserved in sugar, 35 per cent. Oranges and lemons, 20 per cent. Other 

 tropical fruits, 10 per cent. Dried plums or prunes of commerce, 2| cents per 

 pound. Fruit oils, or essences of all kinds, ^"^.50 per pound. Oil of pepper- 

 mint, 50 ])cr cent. All jjlants, trees, or cions pay 20 per cent, except tropical, 

 and semi-tropical for propagation, which arc free. Bulbs and bulbous, roots, 

 30 per cent, bceds of all kinds, giuden, field, and flower, pay 20 per cent. 

 Forest tree seeds, free. Sugar-cane, sorghum, and sugar-beet seed, free. 

 Nearly all crude vegetables lO per cent. All dessicated 35 j)er cent. Pota- 

 toes, 15 cents per bushel. The above includes nearly all the horticultural 

 products imi)orted, and in which we are interested. In a few instances the 

 rate varies from that above given, but only in a fesv cases, and they are of no 



