TWENTY FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING. 255 



this the nurserymen of this country are investing their capital regard- 

 less of the existing uncertainties, with a vim almost to be envied. 



No piece of land requires more constant and expensive care than nur- 

 sery grounds. To grow first-class trees and plants, the soil must be kept 

 in first-class condition all the time. If the soil deteriorates, the product 

 of the soil must deteriorate also, and failures are the consequences. 



To be successful the nurseryman must consider the demands of the 

 fruitgrower. He should raise the kinds of tree that are in popular 

 favor, and at the same time he must educate the people regarding the 

 value of the different sorts. He must also improve the work of propa- 

 gating trees, and the caring for them, using only the best implements and 

 methods. Formerly the varieties were propagated mostly by grafting; 

 today, budding is generally practised, and with the most satisfactory 

 results. 



Much improvement has been made in the quality of stocks used for 

 propagation. Formerly small stocks were used; today, only the best 

 selected stocks are planted. Instead of the single straight root, nur- 

 serymen now use the branched root-seedlings of which only the heaviest, 

 of extra-large calibre, are selected. The bulk of these seedlings an? 

 grown in France and imported into this country, the soil and climate of 

 France being adapted to the growing of a better class of seedlings than 

 can be produced in this country. Unfavorable seasons cause much anx- 

 iety. More than once has the dreaded frost destroyed the prospects of 

 several years' labor, and what the frost does in a few hours the drought 

 accomplishes in a longer period of time, but with equal results. 



Then there is a great army of insects and diseases that threaten the life 

 of the nursery and the welfare of its owners. Although our professors 

 have arrayed themselves on the side of the planter against the bugs, with 

 all the science at their command, yet the bugs are with us and it is a con- 

 stant battle. As to diseases, we profess to be more fortunate than our 

 eastern and southern neighbors, and further venture to say (although 

 Brother Willard may not agree with me on this point) that Michigan 

 trees are among the best in the world. 



All this will convince you that it requires unceasing care and great 

 outlay to carry on the nursery business successfully, and with so much to 

 harass the mind of the nurseryman, it seems quite a task at times to 

 keep the mental balance. 



To be candid and give credit and honor to whom it is due, I must pay 

 a tribute of thanks and respect to the professors at our agricultural col- 

 leges, who, by their diligent researches, have enabled us to overcome 

 some drawbacks in our way; and I would acknowledge the great improve- 

 ments we enjoy in facilities for shipping, and reaching the public through 

 the mails; the excellent publications through which we bring our goods 

 before the people ; and though there are always some very queer people to 

 deal with, who have no idea of the difficulties of the trade, who also ask 

 impossibilities and offer advice which may be worth something in Africa, 

 but which is behind the times here, I must say that the majority of our 

 patrons are cultivated people, with whom it is a pleasure to transact 

 business. 



But how about the nurseryman's profits? It seems to me that the most 

 of the nurserymen must be carrying on the business only for the pleasure 



