92 



Now I don't know how it would operate with others but it was 

 an inducement to me in the first place to get that new apple to ex- 

 periment with, and the next year it was an inducement to get the 

 twelve new raspberry bushes which are claimed to be the best rasp- 

 berries grown. 



The objection raised by Mr. Bixby seems to be, however, quite 

 a valid one. The organization has put itself on record as opposed 

 to seedling nut trees and it is a question whether we ought to 

 encourage the distribution of seedlings. But in some way or other 

 I'm in favor of the premium plan to attract new memberships. 



The President : Is it not better to plant seedlings than none at 

 all? It is possible that some of the seedlings might be really worth 

 while. Those that are not really worth while can be top worked. 



Mr. Jones : Mr. President, my idea about the Chinese walnuts 

 and the Stabler walnuts was that if we want to get new varieties 

 we have to get them from seedlings. My plan was to grow these and 

 send them out as extras to people who had sent in orders for other 

 trees. I thought that in that way we could introduce them to those 

 who would take an interest in them. It would take a good deal of 

 land and a good deal of money and a good deal of attention to care 

 for several hundred or several thousand such trees, but you could 

 send them out in that way one at a time and possibly get new varie- 

 ties superior to anything we have. That was my idea in disposing of 

 these trees. I thought that if the association felt that that would 

 be an inducement for new members we could send them out in 

 that way as premiums. The only difference in the cost to me 

 would be the packing. 



Mr. Smith : Would it be possible for the association to take 

 out from this first year's dues sufficient to compensate Mr. Jones 

 for the difference between the value of a seedling and some of the 

 best nut trees, so we could say to a proposed member, "We are 

 giving you something that years of experience have proved to be 

 the very best thing up to date, and we want you to plant this and 

 care for it"? I think he would be more interested if he knew he 

 were getting a tested tree than if he were getting a seedling. The 

 seedling may be a good thing and it may not. 



Mr. Weber: Mr. President, we know that in the spring the 

 dry goods stores distribute shade trees, and people carry them all 

 day with the tops tied up and the roots uncovered. You might as 

 well expect a fish to live out of water as to expect those trees to 

 live. If we send the average person a tree he may make it grow 

 but the chances are he will not, so why let him ruin a good grafted 

 tree with his initial experiments in planting a nut tree. On the 

 other hand you will emphasize the distinction between seedlings and 

 grafted trees, because on his coming into the association you will 

 present him with a seedling and explain to him in advance just 

 the purpose for which it is being given. He will then plant that 

 tree. If it grows he can see its performance along side of a later 



