Annual Meeting — Opening Address. 85 



action on this subject, and put itself on record against this imposi- 

 tion. The Iowa Horticultural Society had passed resolutions on 

 this subject, and he thought we ought to do the same, and do what 

 we can to prevent this worse than worthless stock being sold. 

 This is all the more necessary as some of these tree peddlers do 

 not hesitate to use the name and reputation of our home nursery- 

 men to help pass off their stock, representing that it is from this 

 or that nursery, as will be most likely to effect a sale. 



Mr. Phillips said it was interesting to see the skill and craft these 

 fellows use. He had been the past season in fields where they 

 had operated extensively, both in this state and Minnesota, and 

 found that it was a common practice with them to learn the religion 

 or politics of those on whom they were to call, and no matter what 

 the church or party, when they met, they belonged to the same. 

 Another practice was to find out what varieties had proved the best 

 with those on whom they were to call, and they would have the 

 same kinds, and probably from the same nursery. 



Mr. Pilgrim said that they had thoroughly canvassed Milwaukee 

 county the past season, and had sold a large quantity of stock, and 

 at high prices. It was difficult to withstand their persistence and 

 plausible stories. They represent " large and well known nursery- 

 men;" can show you long lists of customers who have bought of 

 them, whom you think ought to know what they are doing; " the nur- 

 serymen themselves recommend their stock, and would have it for 

 sale, if they could get it, but it is new, just out; and it will be a 

 long time before it will be in the market generally." 



Mr. Stickney thought that one agent had delivered over ten thou- 

 sand dollars worth of stock at Milwaukee, alone; at the time of 

 delivery there was a great rush of teams from the country all around 

 to get their orders; some of these trees were standing within twenty 

 tods of his own nursery; and he had no doubt but that two hun- 

 dred or more of his own customers had invested in them. People 

 generally want to try something wonderful; they are not satisfied 

 to take what has been already tried and is well known; they want 

 to test for themselves in hopes to obtain remarkable results. The 

 powers of persuasion and eloquence of these tree peddlers is very 

 remarkable, they even overcame Mr. Pilgrim, and he did not blame 

 him or pity him. He thought this would result in good. People 

 would learn prudence by their experience; the trouble is, experi- 



