STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 277 



not worse, than highwayrobbery. These people not only im- 

 pose upon the people by taking their money for worthless stock, 

 for which there is no compensation, but there is a loss of time 

 also. I have known people to spend ninety to one hundred dol- 

 lars for stock, such as peach trees, pears, cherries, etc., which 

 were utterly worthless. Our legislature should j)ass some law 

 to prohibit this kind of fraud. That is my idea about this, and 

 I hope this Society may accomplish something for the protection 

 of innocent purchasers. This man Jordan that came around 

 selling the gooseberry tree had a picture of a tree with him 

 which represented a tree some six feet high, with a fifty cent 

 piece in front with the berries larger than the half dollar. One 

 of my neighbors gave an order for $100 worth, and when the 

 trees came to be delivered he compromised with the agent for $50, 

 80 he didn't lose but $50 that time. Usually they send around 

 another man to deliver the stock so there is no chance for the 

 man to object who has been duped by the fraudulent representa- 

 tions. 



Mr. Grimes. I think this discussion has gone about far enough. 

 We understand ourselves pretty thoroughly, and as the secretary 

 is keeping a record in regard to the matter it will come out in 

 our transactions. But there is one point that has not been 

 touched upon in the controversy; that is the influence these 

 agents and outside parties have in pawning worthless stock upon 

 the citizens of Minnesota. Our legislature is expecting some- 

 thing to be accomplished through our Society for the promotion 

 of the horticultural interests of the State, and if we take no ac- 

 tion in this matter will they not conclude our Society is a fail- 

 ure"? Our work is worse than thrown away if we are only mislead- 

 ing the people. I hope this convention will take some appro- 

 priate action in this matter to place us in a proper light before 

 the representatives of the people; we are friends of the State and 

 propose to protect the people of the State and their interests. 



Mr. Sias. I see that Mr. May is about ready to leave, and he 

 promised us a list of his fruits that he has been selling here; and 

 I would say that I am chairman of the committee to revise the 

 fruit list and when it is convenient would be glad to get the list, 

 especially of the common apple. 



President Elliot. We want a full list of the stock they are 

 selling. 



Mr. May. We will mail it to you, or deliver it to you. 



Mr. C. L. Smith. I presume I have been asked a hundred 



