STRAWBERRIES IN THE PINE REGIONS OF MINNESOTA. 1(^3 



I trembled for fear our strawberry beds would be injured by it. 

 That is my memory, and we have all kinds and conditions where 

 I live so far as soils and the condition of the climate are concerned. 

 I want you to tell me what you mean by winter-killing if not 

 drouth ? 



Mr. Geo. J. Kellogg (Wis.) : Were your beds well protected 

 and covered ? 



Mr. Underwood : Yes, they were. 



The Chairman : Professor Hansen says he takes that up in his 

 paper on breeding hardy plants. 



Prof. Hansen: I want to hear that discussion first, (Laughter.) 



The Chairman : It seems to me that would be the way to get 

 at it, to get Prof. Hansen t'o speak to us on "breeding hardy straw- 

 berries and raspberries" among others. He has had a large ex- 

 perience and wonderful success. (Applause.) (See index later 

 for article by Prof. N. E. Hansen, under above title.) 



THE MAN WHO SELLS THE NURSERY STOCK-FROM 

 HIS OWN STANDPOINT. 



C. E. SNYDER, PRESTON, 



In the Northwest nine-tenths of the nursery stock retailed is 

 sold by the traveling salesman, or "tree agent." Two-thirds of the 

 trees now growing would not have been planted if it had not been 

 for this man, his pluck, his energy and his persistence in getting 

 orders. Nurserymen must have him to get their trees sold through 

 the country, and if he has the right make-up in him he gets along 

 pretty well with the people. Some large orchard sales, not actually 

 made by him, are brought about through his influence, arguments 

 and trees he has growing in the vicinity. Hence, the credit belongs 

 to him. They say he is "glib tongued," sauve mannered," "well 

 dressed, etc." Certainly he is, and he better stay at home if he isn't. 

 It requires all of this. Nurserymen want a glib tongued fellow, and 

 the glibber he is, the harder they want him. To be this it is not 

 necessary to be a liar, rogue or scoundrel. It takes a good talker 

 to describe fruit as well as it grows under good cultivation. The 

 agent must believe what he says himself, or the other fellow won't 

 believe him, and have tongue and sense enough to tell what he 

 knows. I have met hundreds of tree agents and in most cases 

 they were gentlemen, upright, conscientious and honest. There 

 are a few exceptions, but the same class of men are bit by the "tree 

 sharks" that go up against the shell game at a county fair — 

 they are trying to get something for nothing and consequently de- 

 serve little sympathy. 



The worst enemy the tree agent has is the man who does not 

 take care of his trees — a would-be-wise horticulturist who never 

 forgets to slur, insult and cast reflections on him ; and there is the 



