STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 335 



whicli we have about 5,000. I should be glad to make up bun- 

 dles of willows and poplars to send out where I can do so. These 

 trees have been covered with snow and are in better condition 

 than if cared for in any other way. 



Mr. Pearce. We think trees kill before the snow comes. 



Prof. Porter. I know these are not killed. 



Mr. J. M. Smith. You are going to have the killing down at 

 home? 



Prof. Porter. Yes; I got our stock in N'orthern Iowa; we used 

 long stock for grafting; we took no short pieces. I have not been 

 in the nursery business much myself, but have lived next door 

 to two of the largest nurseries in the country and know it is im- 

 possible for any one man to do everything; he has to delegate his 

 work to assistants, such men as can be had at $25 a month, men 

 who are careless and who will disobey most positive instructions. 

 It is not to be wondered at that varieties are not always true to 

 name. I have bought grapevines from one of the best growers 

 in the country and found six kinds in the lot not true to name; 

 I suspected it soon as the foliage came out; I knew it as soon as 

 the fruit appeared. 



Mr. J. M. Smith. You did not get any wild grapes, I sup- 

 pose? 



Prof. Porter. Yes, sir, I did. I got two wild grapes among 

 the number. Some of the gentlemen present are among the 

 number who have been humbugging me and haven't sent me 

 varieties true to name. I don't wish to apologize for May & Co. 

 at all. I think the burden of proof is very strong against them 

 as it has been brought in here. But I say that there are nursery- 

 men here that have sent me false stock and they are in this 

 room. [Laughter.] 



President Elliot. They haven't any paint on the nose ! 



Prof. Porter. I paid full price for the stock and yet found 

 there were mistakes made. So we must exercise a little charity 

 and do unto others as we would have others do to us. If we 

 find a man persistently dishonest and refusing to make the 

 proper amends when his attention is called, then brand him 

 with as black letters as you can put on. I have had all sorts of 

 complaints sent me about our nurserymen and I have sent these 

 to the parties, and without explanation they have made the 

 correction; where they had improper agents they have been 

 ferreted out. If a principal will not do that, after a dishon- 

 est agent is reported, then I say go for the principal. 



