74 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



I want to give one instance of the kind of work these fellows are doing ; and 

 as I have no interest in any nursery, it cannot be said that L am jealous of them ; 

 and as I have never made a contract with one of them, it cannot be said that I am 

 seeking revenge. 



One of my neighbors has made a contract with an agent, representing a nur- 

 sery in the eastern part of the State, for 1600 apple trees— first-class 3-year-old 

 trees. He is to pay $500 for thsm in five years and 6 per cent interest. The treea 

 could be bought almost anywhere for $1"25, which gives the nursery and agent a 

 profit of 400 per cent; and, as the whole $500 draws G per cent interest, they get 

 as good as 3S per cent interest on the value of the trees, nearly four times as much 

 as the law allows a capitalist to charge for the use of money. If there ever was 

 an excuse for white-capism or a coat of tar and feathers, I think it would be justi- 

 fiable in such a case. It is too bad that there are some people so credulous as to 

 believe the enormous lies that some of these fellows can tell, but I do not suppose 

 we will ever see the time that the people cannot be humbuged. It shows the duty 

 of horticultural societies to help suppress such frauds. One of the first stories 

 that these fellows tell is that our local nurserymen have sold all their stock, and 

 have ordered several thousand trees from them ; another is that they are grafted 

 or budded in some way so that they will live forever. It puts me in mind of a 

 story of a boy who said a certain kind of fence-posts would last a life-time, for dad 



had tried it twice. 



M. L. Brooks, 



Secretary Livingston County Horticultural Society. 

 DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Nelson suggests that we issue a bulletin for information to- 

 settlers. 



Mr, Murray indorses the same plan. 



Mr. Gilbert thinks that a paper would be the best thing for the 

 Society. 



President Evans thinks newspaper too risky. 



Mr. Duffey says that a pamphlet answering such questions would 

 be just the thing. 



Mr. Blake thinks that the railroads should take hold and publish^ 

 or rather pay for publishing, what matter the Society would furnish^ 

 and help distribute them. 



The Secretary thinks if we could have a quarterly meeting, on& 

 every three months, and then have the matter printed in pamphlet 

 form and sent out while fresh, it would be much more agreeable and 

 satisfactory ; then have these four pamphlets bound together for the 

 yearly report; we would be much more satisfied with the work. 



Besides this, we want a pamphlet which will give as much infor- 

 mation about the State, in the fruit line, as can possibly be given in 

 a short space. Also, we want to include in this concise instructions 

 about how to grow all our fruits. Such a pamphlet would be in great 

 demand and of great value to the beginner. 



