STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 403 



new cattlemen, and thus go through the whole list of everything 

 they buy. Why, I should think the farmers would resent all this 

 thing. They will buy of a man who will charge them about three 

 or four times what a thing is worth quicker than they will buy of 

 one of us poor fellows, who sell just as low as we can and live, 

 and sell them stock that we raise, and at a much lower price than 

 that brought from a distance. People favor the agents every 

 time who charge high prices. This is no theory of mine; I know 

 what I am talking about, and I am telling the truth. An agent, 

 for instance, tells about what I have got; how it will compare 

 with anything that can be procured elsewhere. They are look- 

 ing for something better; they want a gooseberry two inches in 

 diameter, as big as a Wealthy apple, and if they can see a nice 

 picture of one, greatly magnified, they are bound to take it. 

 One of these same men who had given an agent of mine an order 

 for three or four dollars' worth of stock and thought it was a 

 pretty large price to pay, gave one of these travelling agents an 

 order of twenty or twenty-five dollars. This man came by my 

 place after that and told me he was fool enough to buy some of 

 their stuff, and I told him I was glad he did so — possibly after 

 he had a little experience he would know who to buy of; I didn't 

 pity him if he was victimized, as he did not seem to wish to favor 

 his neighbors, but expected to get something which it was impos- 

 sible to obtain. 



Now, I don't believe we can accomplish anything in this di- 

 rection further than the discussion of the subject may develop 

 something that may tend to put those on their guard, who may 

 have an opportunity to read it. 



Mr. Pearce. This is a good deal like locking the door after the 

 horse is stolen. It is said that lightning never strikes but once 

 in a place I would say, let the innocent individual throw the 

 first stone. Asa matter of fact I know that trees are imported 

 by our nurserymen; I have done it myself. I buy stuff raised 

 elsewhere, although I never import trees. I think this thing 

 will regulate itself in a short time. Agitate the question and 

 get it before the people. They are not buying much of agents 

 of late. In some places they would almost go for an agent with 

 shot guns and dogs. I think passing a law of this kind would 

 be of no benefit whatever. It would help every nurseryman 

 in the State — I know it would. It would stop the retail business 

 over the country. The best way is to go straight along and do 

 a steady business. That is the true way. It will be a dead let- 



