136 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



■was the worst that I have ever known anywhere; but, I 

 Ti.uy truly say this much, that although I received no hig h 

 prices for anything we grew, still the balance for the year 

 is upon the right side of the ledger, and it is a fair one, even 

 if not as large as we supposed during the early part of the 

 season that it would be. 



So well am I convinced of the correctness of this theory, 

 that I propose to continue in the same course, and improve 

 upon it, as best I can, and if I should be the means of per- 

 suading others to pursue the same course, it would seem to 

 me that my life had not been quite in vain. 



Last month while attending the convention of the Minne- 

 sota State Society, the question of 'fraudulent sales of fruit 

 trees, plants, shrubs and ornamental plants came up, and 

 was pretty thoroughly discussed. Among the firms that 

 were named was that of L. L. May & Co., whose agents 

 claim that they are selling stock grown in or about St. Paul 

 and other points in the northwest, and that their stock was 

 perfectly reliable throughout the northwest. Mr. May him- 

 self came before the convention and claimed a hearing. It 

 was granted him; but when the members of the society 

 were done with him, he was much worse off than if he had 

 remained away. He admitted that he had no nursery in 

 the west, or northwest, but claimed to have an interest in one 

 somewhere in the east, but finally admitted that he pur- 

 chased the most of his stock of different parties in the east- 

 ern states. 



He also admitted that he was selling many varieties of 

 fruit trees, as hardy, that the Minnesota State Society have 

 long since condemned as utterly worthless in their soil and 

 climate. Among his fruits so called, is the tree strawberry 

 which he admitted to be nothing more nor less than the 

 common burning bush of our forests. His prices in man}'- 

 respects are but little if any short of robbery. I do not 

 know that May & Co., are either better or worse than 

 others that are of the same class, and mention him because 

 he was there to defend himself , and along with many others 

 I listened to him and asked him questions; and when he left 

 the hall, I could not see wherein his business differs mater- 



