86 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



er jumped at this bait and swallowed it hook and all, including the 

 barb, for there was a barb connected with the hook. A printed agree- 

 ment or contract form was produced, which reads as follows : — 



"AGREEMENT." 



"We desire to sliow our patrons the profits of growing a five acre cherry orchard; by the 

 latest and most approved nietliod of pollenizing. In order to grow perfect formation 

 of fruit, we find by experience tlie only safe way is to grow fruit by pollenizing. There- 

 fore, the grower has perfect fruit to place on the market at the highest prices and no trouble 

 is found to sell all he can grow. (This method is endorsed by preserving and canning 

 companies) . 



The trimming of young trees is a most important element in their care and future de- 

 velopment, and in order to insure perfect trees to our patrons at bearing age, are to be 

 trimmed and cared for by the Home Nurseiy Company at such time and in such manner 

 as said company may deem best, and if said trees are not as represented and should any 

 of said trees die from any fault of said company within five years after planting of said 

 orchard, said trees will be replaced, free of charge, by the Home Nursery Company. 



At the expiration of said term of years, the purchaser will have an orchard of bearing 

 trees. The purchaser is to set the trees in accordance with the book of instructions given 

 him for that purpose by our representative. It is further agreed that the Home Nursery 

 Company is to buy and pick all fruit of the varieties mentioned on back of this agreement 

 at market prices. I being the purchaser of this commercial orchard agree to haul this 

 fruit to the preserving and canning companies, or the nearest railroad station. Upon these 

 conditions we guarantee prefect success. 



"THE HOME NURSERY COMPANY." 



The agreement which must be signed by the fruit grower or farmer 

 and his wife, reads further that he promises to pay to the agent for 

 order specified a number of dollars in cash on day of delivery. No 

 countermanding. Notice to be sent day after delivery. 



The above agreement means nothing, represents nothing, and guaran- 

 tees nothing, if you will examine it carefully. A curious part of these 

 transactions as determined by my investigations, was the fact that iu 

 but few cases had the purchasers read over the agreement, but took 

 for granted that the agreement contained all of the promises and rep- 

 resentations of the agent. 



Now comes the most curious and interesting part in this whole trans- 

 action. ''The Home Nursery Company, Bloomington, Illinois," does not 

 appear in the 1910 Directory of Florists, Nurserymen and Seedmen, 

 which is issued by the American Florist Company and is the most com- 

 plete list of its kind in America. A letter written to President Graham 

 of the Illinois Horticultural Society by Secretary Oranefield of the 

 Wisconsin Society asking for information concerning this "Home 

 Nursery Company" received the reply the "Home Nursery Com- 

 pany" does not appear in the City or Telephone Directory 

 of Bloomington, Illinois. Mr. Graham who liA^es at Bloomington also 

 stated that he knew of no such company at Bloomington. 



On further investigation my curiosity was still more aroused, and I 

 wrote two or three letters addressed to the "Home Nursery Co." at 

 Bloomington, inquiring as to the organization of their company, loca- 

 tion of their nursery, etc., from which, I received rather evasive replies, 

 some letters remaining unanswered. In a later letter I demanded to 

 know whether the parties which had been representing their company 

 in our state were bona fide agents, to which they replied in the nega- 

 tive. Again when the copy of the contract used by these agents bearing 



