71 , Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



but wherever man lives in the state of Wisconsin they will 

 have apples, apples very satisfactory for all purposes; and 

 so with the whole range of small fruits. That is the work 

 of this society. Again the work of the society is to en- 

 lighten the people so that when A, B and C, among the 

 farmers, seek light they will go to the Wisconsin Horti- 

 cultural Society for it. They will look to its recommenda- 

 tions and assurances. There is a work for the State Horti- 

 cultural Society to do and we should be careful that it is 

 well done and carefully tested. Further, I believe the peo- 

 ple of Wisconsin are looking to the Wisconsin Horticul- 

 tural Society for some relief against pirate treemen. This 

 is particularly what I want to speak on, and I should like to 

 speak on it about 30 minutes but time will not admit. This 

 question is one of particular importance. At least nine- 

 tenths or 90 per cent, of the trees planted in the state of Wis- 

 consin are grown outside of the state. I refer to 

 all classes of trees and all classes of planting. It is 

 safe to say that of that 90 per cent, brought in to 

 the state of Wisconsin at least one-half and perhaps 

 a larger proportion is totally unfitted for the climate 

 and soil of the state of Wisconsin, and these are sold 

 by foreign tree peddlers who have no interest in the state 

 except simply to draw all the money from it. It is 

 not necessary perhaps, that I should call names. I 

 will give you an example: Two years ago in just 20 days, 

 and I am ready to fortify every statement by witnesses, in 

 just 20 days in one town in Rock county, five men sold 

 $2,000 worth of trees. It was stated that these trees were to 

 come from Sparta, Wisconsin, but on inquiry a few months 

 later I made up my mind that the larger portion of the 

 $2,000 taken from the town of Clinton left no value received. 

 Now this is repeated in a hundred townships in the state of 

 Wisconsin, and perhaps in five hundred townships in the 

 state of Wisconsin. Almost every week there come letters 

 to me asking, cannot you do something to prevent this? A 

 letter came to me last week from a man who ought to be 

 hiere to testify on this question. He says: Is the agricultural 

 press of this state sold to the tree peddlers of Ohio? Again 



