STATE HORTICUl^TUEAL SOCIETY. 267 



ern States, and as far west as the Pacific coast. We employ one 

 hundred and fifty men to sell for us. We are selling such stock 

 as Duchess, Wealthy, Gideon, Fameuse, and other varieties. 

 We have aimed constantly for these eight years to place before 

 the public in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois a variety 

 of nursery stock which will give every satisfaction. In my mind, 

 and in the minds of many from whom we have valuable testimo- 

 nials, we have aimed to give people a variety of stock that 

 would do well, and that they would succeed with. Of course, as 

 with all nurserymen, more or less trees die; but we have been 

 the instrumentality — if I do say it myself — of furthering horti- 

 culture in this city and in the Northwest as much as anyone in 

 the jSTorthwest, and handling as much stock as any two nurseries 

 combined. What I say here are words of truth. I can show 

 recommendations as to quality of stock which we deliver, and as 

 to the satisfaction with the stock which we sell. These insinua- 

 tions have been cast out from time to time by Mr. Gideon. He 

 dare not come out boldly and say that we can not deliver the 

 Gideon apple. We defy him to do it. We can deliver it and 

 do deliver it, notwithstanding his coming out and trying to con- 

 vey the idea that we are frauds. Will these gentlemen come 

 out and state what they mean, so that we can have recourse 

 through the courts if we can not get at them through this asso- 

 ciation? We have done the best we could to place before the 

 people of the state of Minnesota stock that will do well. You 

 can take it here in the city of St. Paul; eight years ago when we 

 came here there was very little shrubbery to be seen; now look 

 at our city with its lawns and beautiful yards and grounds. Of 

 course we have been gradually getting into this; and what we 

 sell, gentlemen, we deliver true to name, and we deliver the 

 best stock that can be grown. I will state ri^ht here to Mr. 

 Gideon 



President Elliot. Mr. Gideon is not present. 



Mr. May. I beg your pardon; I will state here to you, Mr. 

 President, don't you think a Duchess apple raised in the state of 

 'New York, or a Gideon apple, a Wealthy, a Transcendent crab — 

 any of those varieties — that it is just as hardy as if it was raised 

 here ? 



President Elliot. Our Society has discarded them. 



Mr. May. I see the Iowa society recommend the Duchess and 

 Fameuse. 



President Elliot. Yes. 



