442 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



larder. He deserves it for several reasons: first, he is something' of 

 a martyr himself, working for g^lory, just like you, and as such he 

 does not live any too high at home. Of course, you do not expect 

 to sell him anything, nor do you expect him to give you any great 

 big puff in the newspapers. In fact, you are most anxious about 

 what he doesn't saj^. He is generally a pretty good fellow and not 

 given to shying stones at glass houses, so give him the warin hand 

 and a kindly greeting. Show him all the good things you have and 

 cover your weak spots as best you can. It won't take you long to 

 learn what to hide. He will tell you before you lose him, and you 

 will be loaded for the " other fellow." 



Be a little shy of the tree dealer, the man who buys your beet 

 trees at the price of culls, who borrows your money to conduct his 

 business, who uses your name to give you a shady reputation, and 

 whose balance is almost sure to be on the wrong side of the ledger. 

 He is generally a smooth duck with a vivid imagination, an ada- 

 mantine cheek and very fertile in resources. He is designed by 

 Providence to hold the progressive nurseryman in check and pre- 

 vent his getting rich too fast. The regular salesman who handles 

 your goods under your direction, and who is sonaetimes known as 

 the "tree peddler," is a blessing, sometimes faintly disguised, 'tis 

 true, but still a blessing to the nurseryman and also to the farmer. 

 Without him, there would be but one tree growing in this state today 

 where there are now fifty. Kick him, to be sure, and lay the blame 

 of unsatisfactory deals upon him; he is generally irresponsible and 

 always away, so it is safe to abuse him — besides he expects it. Every- 

 body, from the most honored member of the horticultural society 

 to the humblest tree puller on the Mississippi sand bars, has a 

 whack at him, and yet he survives and goes bravely on with the 

 good work. There ought to be a sunny corner for him soinewhere 

 in heaven, "Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary 

 are at rest." 



There are some drawbacks to the business, and you will meet with 

 some queer people and many funny experiences, that will have a 

 tendency to expand your mind and make a broad gauge man of you. 

 You will realize how little real force there is in an iron-clad tree 

 contract and how "No countermands will be accepted" simply 

 invites countermands. You will also be surprised how your little 

 notice of the delivery of your nursery stock will stimulate the real 

 estate business. I have known of a dozen farmers selling their 

 places within ten days of the date for delivering their orders. At 

 least, that is what they write, and, of course, it is gospel truth. True, 

 the register of deeds knows nothing of these transfers nor do the 

 man's neighbors, and, if you ship the goods, he is generally the 

 first man to pay cash and no complaints. Then again, once in a 

 while a man dies, and his wife or daughter will write you that he is 

 dead and cannot pay. Well, sometimes he will fool you and die 

 sure enough, but if you ship the goods with a second notice, he gen- 

 erally sends his son with the cash and no comments. The men who 

 have "sold out" or who have "died" are almost always on hand to 

 get their goods early in the morning and invariably pay cash. 



If a man writes that he is "hailed out," it is always well to investi- 



