358 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



for samples of trees to Mr. Phenix, and received very nice largo trees, whicli 

 were entiixdy satisfactory. lie then sent an order for the trees v/hich lie want- 

 ed, accompanied by tlie money, and received very poor, small trees, not at all 

 like the samples, many of them not true to the kind ordered, lie has no con- 

 fidence in Mr. Phenix, and denounced him in round terms. 



Norman Philhps said the people were to bhime for buying of eastern nurse- 

 ries, lie had known of men j)aying 61.*^5 for an evergreen from tlie east wiiich 

 he wonltl sell for 35 cents. 



A. Ilealey said we ought to buy our trees at home, when we could get the 

 varieties and could do just as well in price. 



Mr. llolcomb, of Athens, liad had some ex])erience in l)uying trees and plants 

 of eastern nurserymen, and as a rule was generally grossly cheated by agents 

 and dealers. 



Tliey could not raise ])eachcs at Dry Prairie in this State. 



Mr. Bidwell remarked that those wiio purchased and set trees for an orchard 

 should make a careful plat of the whole orchard, and have a record of each 

 variety set, which would save a good deal of confusion in after years; mistakes 

 would happen in the nursery sometimes, and in this way we would be able to 

 detect them. 



J. G. Kamsdell said the chief cause of the mischief was in buying trees and 

 plants of irresponsible agents, who went over the country taking orders, pre- 

 tending to represent some one of the leading nurseries east, generally at lloches- 

 ter or Geneva, having a catalogue as })roof of agency. After taking the order 

 they would go to some played-out nursery or to some irresponsible parties and 

 buy up all the leavings of a block of trees that had been dug over, the best all 

 taken out, and for a very low price, perhaps two or three cents apiece, would 

 purchase the block; he would then proceed to fill his orders with these trees 

 which he had sold for a large price. He thought the only way out of this 

 trouble was to have nothing to do with eastern agents, but if we must buy our 

 trees east, we should club together and send a good reliable man, well posted 

 in selecting trees and plants, to the nursery, and make the whole purchase of 

 responsible linns, and good trees could be got at wholesale prices, true to name. 



MarcJi 12. 



The meeting was called to order by Vice President Kamsdell. 



The report of committee on small fruit list was laid on the table another 

 week. 



A. J. Pierce opened the discussion on the planting and i;rotection of shade 

 trees; })referred cherry, evergreens, larches and nut-bearing trees. Wanted 

 low, branching trees, but could not protect them safely ; the usual plan of up- 

 rights and cross pieces at the top worse than useless, as they often injure the 

 tree. Must settle the cow nuisance first; the commons are nearly all enclosed ; 

 must drive our cows to pasture if not too far, and boys could be trusted ; other- 

 wise we must dispense with cows; knew it would be hard on a few poor men, 

 but it is done in other jjlaccs, as at Kalamazoo, Paw Paw, Decatur, etc. Tiie 

 law gives a majority of poo{)lc in each town ])ower, through the IJoard of Super- 

 visors, to exclude stock from the highway. It is not a matter of taste and 

 pride alone, but of dollars and cents, and there is no alternative but to act at 

 once; also urged the necessity of planting groves for timber, fuel, and climatic 

 iuiluence. 



