SUMMER MEETING AT BUTLER. 113 



A few, through toil and experiments and mistakes, learn some- 

 thing about horticulture ; and in the hour of their victory over diffi- 

 culties they are called hence ; their knowledge goes with them ; their 

 sons and successors follow and repeat all their blunders ; and thus it 

 goes, world without end- And so there is so little real progress made 

 that the bravest are sometitnes almost discouraged. 



It is hoped, Mr. Secretary, your suggestion in regard to a library 

 for our State society will be seconded by every member of the society. 

 But that is not enough by far. If we fail to reach the farmers as a 

 •class we fail totally. Is there a better way than through a county so- 

 ciety ? I can think of none better: and what a good and grand work 

 it could and must do if it is ever done at all. 



The whole business of fruit growing among the masses is rotten to 

 putrefaction and "smells to heaven." If the salt has not lost all its 

 savor, let it be speedily applied in the shape of a county society com- 

 posed of men full of faith and good works whom the planters can look 

 to for information and guidance. For the sake of our indivual pocket- 

 books wake up to this matter ; let us not supinely fold our hands and 

 say it is nothing to me. 



Don't we remember awhile back when that Russian apple man 

 was around— how he sold thousands of dollars' worth in our county ? 

 Even some of the leading farmers bought largely and of course every- 

 body followed their good (?) example ; and now not a stump is left for 

 all that outlay. . 



Let no one flatter himself that it cannot be done again ; and more- 

 over, it is only a question of time when it will be done again. If we ques- 

 tion the men who were taken in by these swindlers, we get the answer : 

 I did not much want anything, but he kv^pt on until I got tired of him 

 and I bought to get rid of him." A poor excuse; for he forgets all his 

 life long to be as kind to a respectable agent. Why should people be 

 forever robbed of their money by these irresponsible men who, if they 

 furnish what they pretend, it is an experiment to the man who buys ? 

 His hopes are disappointed. The thing has been repeated until many 

 good men believe the fates have conspired against them and they can- 

 not trust themselves to plant anything but something gotten up by an 

 extraordinary method of propagation or possibly Ben Davis apple. 

 These parties are always game for swindlers. 



I believe it is within the reach of the county societies to remove 

 all this evil. We want varieties suited to the various soils all over our 

 State. 



Each county can find them for itself. It seems entirely practica- 



H R— 8 



