the: ANNUAL MEETING. 237 



Ever-bearing Kaspbcrry.' '' ''Yes/' said I, '*'1ig got tliem here for one dol- 

 lar, and you could have had them for tlie same." Now, if this same dealer 

 had gone to my friend and offered to liavc sold liim a pair of imported 

 chickens, warranted to lay three large eggs every day except Sunday, and then 

 six, my friend would have ''got mud in a minute." People will buy what 

 purports to be " Seedless Grapes" at live dollars a vine and refuse the Concord 

 and Delaware at ten cents. Yes! and if a irood honest lookinor man, with 

 most eloquent words of entreaty should try to sell them a new breed of pigs 

 called "Boneless licauty," witli no ribs, back-bone no larger than a fence- 

 wire, cars and snout all "bred off," in fact every pound "clear pork," 

 think you they would buy? No, indeed ! But if a good, smooth talker sliould 

 offer them anew peach, a '^ winter peach," one which would keej) perfectly 

 until Clmstmixs, fruU extremely large, leautiful, liigU flavor, and all that, and 

 what is more wonderful, it has no pit, but when cut open there would be the 

 cream and sugar just in the right proportion, he would smack his lips and ask 

 tho price. " Only three dollars each ; six for fifteen dollars; would not sell 

 over six to any one man, as all must have a chance and the stock on hand is 

 limited." He would think, "Well, I can sell peaches about the holidays at a 

 marvelous price," and down goes his order for half a dozen and sorry because 

 he cannot buy more. A fev/ days ago a Hollander came to me and asked the 

 price of the early and late Crawford peach trees. I named a very reasonable 

 price. "Too much ! too much !" was his reply. 



You know the Hollanders are proverbial for taking good care of their 

 money. Well, before he left he told me that he had just paid a stranger 

 from Ohio or Ncav York eleven dollars for seventeen peach trees, but could 

 not tell me the name or good qualities of even one of the wonderful varieties. 

 Canvassers say that they "have got to offer something oiew and a higli 

 price attached in order to sell." For instance, the Poplar peach at one dollar 

 per tree, California grapes at five dollars a vine, and Japanese Persimmons 

 at two dollars each. 



Let us ever remember that our mutual interests are co-equal with our indi- 

 vidual interests, not exactly identical but rather reciprocal, and as we exchange 

 our views and the results of our experience and observation from time to time 

 may we truly feel that no personal advantage shall ever stand in tlie way of 

 our whole duty to each other. 



Mr. Stearns remarked that he agreed substantially with jlilr. La Fleur, 

 that the interests of the nurseryman and fruit-grower are identical and there 

 should be no jealousies growing up between them. He knew that there were 

 unprincipled nurserymen and offending fruit- growers, but every flock must 

 have its black sheep. 



Mr. A. G. Gulley. — I do not count the interests of the two classes identical 

 except they are both after money. The nurseryman will key the tone of his 

 business to " Will it pay" every time, if he is a good sharp man. He will 

 raise the stock that pays him the best. H fruit-growers call for straight trees 

 the tree-grower will grow him straight varieties. If they insist on having 

 straight greening trees and the nurseymen has the power of substitution he 

 will put in varieties that grow straight and are as closely allied to the greening 

 in fruit as possible. The planters will have to be educated by this society a 

 long time before they can work in harmony with the best judgment of our 

 best horticulturists, which generally includes the nurserymen. 



Mr. Sailor. — I differ somewhat from the gentleman. I am satisfied people 



