78 STATE HORTICULTURAL. SOCIETY. 



The protection given by this method is even better than buying from 

 the small, local nurserymen, who often have not, and can not keep, the 

 new and valuable varieties, and who, if they have much trade, must buy 

 largely of other nurserymen. 



The only protection a planter can have is by a legal, written guaranty 

 from financially responsible parties. Verbal promises are worthless in the 

 future when the trees come into bearing. 



THE NURSERYMEN AND A TREE AGENT HEARD FROM. 



Mr. Nelson Bogue of Batavia, N. Y. : There are many things in Mr. 

 Morrill's paper which are a delight to me and many things for which I 

 am sorry — regretful that people have to put up with them. The buyers 

 of nursery stock are largely to blame, for they have ample time in which 

 to inform themselves of the character of all nurserymen, for their true 

 character and reputation are easily to be ascertained. But for these 

 impositions there is really no justification. There is a wide difference 

 between even the leading nurserymen. Some travel in foreign countries, 

 going to their utmost bounds to learn of varieties, cultivation, and other 

 methods of treatment, attend such meetings as this, correspond extensively 

 and undertake to do exactly as they agree. When people are imposed 

 upon, it is often by a man claiming to represent a responsible house but 

 who really does not. If you wish to know the standing of some nursery- 

 man, write to some reliable man you know and who knows the party about 

 whom you enquire. The substitution clause is subject to grave abuse by 

 dishonest persons, but an honorable nurseryman may, and often does, use 

 it for the great benefit of ignorant purchasers who order what by all means 

 they should not have. I substitute both with and without correspondence 

 with the customer. The clause should not be so severely condemned. If 

 a buyer does not want it in his contract he should erase it. 



Mr. Tracy : I was once visited by a plausible talker who claimed to 

 represent an eartern firm of nurserymen whom I knew to be reliable. He 

 offered such stock as I wanted, and an order was made out. But instead 

 of giving it to him, I refused to sign it and said I would mail it to the 

 firm but leave to him his commission on the order. This the peddler 

 would not agree to, and he was never found a*gain in that community. 

 Before condemning dealers and nurserymen too severely, buyers should 

 more carefully investigate before placing their orders. 



Mr. Rice: We have heard from the farmer and the nurseryman on this 

 subject, and now it is time for the middleman to speak. I am he. Much 

 of the trouble comes from a certain class of agents, uneasy young fellows 

 who go to selling trees from lack of anything else to do, who really know 

 nothing about the business of fruitgrowing, and who strongly recommend 



