248 MINNliSOTA STATli HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



SELLING TREES. 



C. C. IILXTKR. MIXXKAroLIS. 



The early settlers that came to this state were largely men 

 from the east, where they had plenty of apples and small fruits. 

 They started into stock and grain farming with success, but with 

 fruit growing they often made a total failure. They were worked 

 to death with the tree agent from the east, and while thousands 

 of dollars were spent and carloads of trees were shipped in here 

 from Ohio and New York the farmers and lovers of fruit have 

 often not realized a cent out of their work and money. The 

 varieties planted were, as a rule, from the east and were not 

 adapted to this climate and with their eastern methods in grow- 

 ing fruit they mostly made failures. Men experimented with 

 seedlings and propagated fruit plants and soon found out that 

 with right varieties fruit could be raised here with success, and 

 the many successful fruit growers are witnesses to the truth of 

 ihis statement. 



Reliable nurserymen are anxious to do an honest, legitimate 

 business, and nine times out of ten where there is any difficulty 

 the consumer or the agent is at fault. For example, you order 

 one hundred apple trees through an agent. The firm you buy 

 your stock from will pack and ship them to you in good shape, 

 and they will arrive at your depot in the best kind of condition. 

 Now here is where your trees will die, if the roots are exposed 

 to the sun and wind while you take them home. I have seen 

 men planting trees who would lay out fifteen or twenty trees and 

 allow them to be exposed to the sun and wind so that they 

 would be dying before they were planted. You can see in such 

 a case the nurseryman is an innocent party and the loss is not 

 his fault. 



The people are interested in fruit raising, and if they want to 

 make a success they ought to know the advantage of spring as 

 compared with fall planting. Location and soil they should also 

 study in relation to varieties as well as how and where to plant 

 and when to buy. The care of trees after planting should re- 

 ceive their careful attention. If they would only study the con- 

 ditions they are to work under they would get far better results 

 than is the general rule. All of which would be in favor of the 

 nursery business. 



The tree agent and the nurserymen go hand in hand. Agents 

 vary a great deal. Some are trying to make an honest living and 

 are working for a reliable house and do a great deal of good in 



