234 State Hoi'licullural Society. 



bringing needed information of what his firm has to offer to the 

 orchardist in any given season. This is as legitimate and necessary with 

 the nurserymen as with wholesale clothing or dry goods merchants. The 

 tree peddler is a faddist. He rides a hobby and never gets his steed 

 .groomed at an Experiment Station, or by a Professor in a Horticultural 

 College. His selling price is three or four times as much as your home 

 nurseryman will gladly take. You may not recognize him the first time 

 he comes around, but you will the second, especially if you wait as did 

 Mr. Minor, Mr. Mudd and their neighbors. Their trees fruited and were 

 not true to name. Old varieties had been re-named. Even then the 

 "whole root and piece root controversy had an existence. And while the 

 Horticulturists of that early day set their faces against every fraud and 

 ■attempt to deceive, they were saved from the sure cure for pear blight. 



Thus far the history seems almost like ancient history, and were it 

 not for a few men whose names I have mentioned, notably Col. Evans, 

 I would be tempted to so label it ; but I fear he who feels and looks so 

 young and vigorous would not stand for it. It was a necessary period 

 and in it was laid the foundation for the then future. 



The January meeting of 1880 was the last of its kind. For four years 

 they held only December meetings, and the meeting of this year was the 

 last over which Mr. Colman presided. The Treasurer reported a balance 

 of $160.20 on hand. The debt of $378.29 had been paid and all expenses 

 to date. From this time Mr. Evans held the Treasurer's portfolio for 

 four years, being associated with Tracy, Ragan and Goodman on the, 

 executive committee. In 1881 they secured $2,500 appropriation from the 

 Legislature, and in December the Treasurer's balance was $1,425.46. At 

 this meeting Mr. Goodman was elected President, and Mr. Tracy Sec- 

 retary. At the next meeting, December, 1882, these gentleman were re- 

 versed, Mr. Goodman becoming Secretary for 1883 and Mr. C. M. Stark 

 as Vice-President, was added to the executive committee. Mr. Stark 

 held his position for two years and Mr. Goodman is still Secretary. 



In this year, 1882, work began in earnest. For the first time the 

 executive committe had money to do with. That year closed with $572.00 

 in the treasury and no debts. In 1883 the balance was $592.19. Mr. Evans 

 was proving himself a valuable Treasurer. At the annual meeting of 

 this year, Mr. Goodman made his first report as Secretary. Through 

 circular blanks sent to postmasters, county officers and school teachers^ 

 in addition to those on the roll already interested in Horticulture, he 

 obtained tlie names of many men and some women too- — widows, no 

 doubt,, who owned an orchard, be it ever so small. This helped in cor- 

 respoadence an.d. in. adveirtising. 'Che. Secretary earnestly advocated, a. 



