254 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



all nurserymen and dealers who desire to furnish their customers with 

 the best sorts. 



In former years fruit was considered a luxury and was not grown to 

 any greater extent, generally, than for domestic use; even then, how- 

 ever, there were seasons of over-production, and large quantities went to 

 waste for the simple reason that the value of fruit, the art of preserving, 

 and the method of marketing it, was not known as today. 



The demand for ornamentals at that time was equally small, as the 

 new settlers had their hands full in getting land cleared up for the rais- 

 ing of the necessary grain. But with the influx of educated emigrants 

 from all parts of Europe, who had been taught to love plants and trees 

 and beautiful surroundings of their homes, this gradually changed. 

 Today you will scarcely find a cottage that has not some kind of orna- 

 mental tree, shrub, or climber. 



The nurseryman's business methods were in accordance with the times 

 and his means. The beginner had to undergo all kinds of hardship and 

 trouble. All soliciting of orders was done by the nurseryman himself. 

 The orders were small, as commercial orchard planting was then 

 unknown. When delivering trees, they often had to be carted for many 

 miles into the country over almost bottomless roads, the fastest con- 

 veyance in those days being the historic ox team. 



Very little oflBce work was required in those days. Few letters were 

 exchanged, some of which contained something of the humorous, and 

 helped to keep up the humor of the business. I recall a countermand 

 thai caused much mirth. It was a postal card, and was directed to the 

 postmaster, who was requested to hand it to the man who sold trees to 

 Maria Jones. 



As to advertising, very little could be done under the limited means 

 of the nurseryman. He had to do the greater part of it himself, while 

 soliciting the orders. 



And today, what a change in the conditions of the nursery business has 

 taken place! The country in general, and our own dear Michigan in par- 

 ticular, has developed wonderfully. Improvements everywhere, rail- 

 roads in every direction, forests cleared, and fine farms with large fruit 

 orchards everywhere; fine residences in city and country, with modern 

 conveniences showing the prosperity and intelligence of the people, who 

 have been educated to appreciate fruit as a food, to see the profits in fruit 

 culture, and to cultivate their tastes in beautifying the surroundings of 

 their homes. 



Our government has also been doing its part to encourage fruitgrow- 

 ing, in the dissemination of desirable varieties, and has established 

 experiment stations where new varieties may be tested as to their merits. 

 The results are published in various bulletins- which are issued at differ- 

 ent times and distributed gratis among the people. 



But where was the nurseryman while such evolutions were going on? 

 He was not sleeping, I can assure you ; nor is he idle today, for he was one 

 of the principal factors in effecting such a wonderful change. Believe 

 me, my friends, it is not all sunshine and profit that falls to the lot of 

 the nurseryman. It is hard work, constant care and worry; more risks 

 to run than in any other business, and more grumbling customers to 

 pester one's life than in any other business of which I know; and for all 



