406 ANNUAL REPORT 



working trees and would not only put in cions that were untrue 

 to name, but would take several varieties out of the same bundle. 

 These fraudulent practices have been continued year by year; 

 they have the thing down so fine now that they will take most 

 anyone — I don't care how well he is posted in horticulture — and 

 they will swidle him from the word go ! 



In order to put a stop to this thing, and the only way in which 

 to reach the thing, it seems to me, is through legislation ; and if 

 we can not get our rights through legislation, perhaps the sooner 

 we quit business as a Society the better. When people can come 

 in here and throw out insinuations that unless we do as they say 

 that they will stop our appropriations, why I think it is time for 

 us to move. I have corresponded with parties in other states 

 and find others of the same opinion with myself in regard to 

 this matter. If Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota will 

 unite to secure legislation in this regard, I think we may get a 

 law that will protect our poor people; our immigrants that are 

 coming in here, those who can not speak the language, who can 

 neither read nor write, those who fall easy victims to the wiles of 

 these irresponsible tree men, those who are an easy prey. I 

 think we have a legislature now that will act in the interest of 

 poor people and the farmer, and the members of that body 

 will gladly help us out. While this proiiosition, as set forth in 

 the report of the committee, may not be exactly what is desired, 

 the subject can be brought before the proper legislative com- 

 mittee to formulate an act that will be for the best interests of 

 the State at large. 



Mr. Dartt. I suppose our committee on legislation will look 

 after the matter. 



Mr. Latham. I do not feel fully satisfied with this yet; I 

 think the matter should be well considered before definite 

 action is taken. If the motion is insisted upon I think I shall 

 move to indefinitely postpone action upon it at this time. 



Prof. Porter. It strikes me that we are claiming a monopoly 

 in this interest. This discriminates in favor of Minnesota men; 

 this contemplates the passage of a law for the regulation of the 

 transactions of outsiders, but it seems to make no difference as 

 to the character of the operations of the nurserymen of Minnesota. 



Mr. Gould. I want to repeat some things I said before. It 

 seems to me this is going to interfere largely with the operations 

 of nurserymen in this State. I am not in the nursery business 

 myself, but don't like to see a foolish thing done. If it was not 



