466 ANNUAL REPORT 



I would be glad to give it the construction asked for, but the 



terms of the act are too plain to warrant my doing so. I have 



the honor to be 



Very respectfully, 



Moses E. Clapp, 



Attorney General. 



Secretary Mattson, states there has been a good deal of inquiry 

 with regard to this law, and there seems to be a disposition 

 manifested to comply with its provisions. He states that he 

 has sent out a large number of blanks and has written a great 

 many letters to nurserymen residing outside the State. Some 

 of them claim the law will prove a hardship if they are required 

 to give bonds for all their agents selling foreign stock in this 

 State. This seems to be the principal objection, as under the 

 rulings of the Attorney General they will be required to furnish 

 such bonds. He believes the law will be complied with, how- 

 ever, and will certainly accomplish much good in such event. He 

 states further that some of the foreign nurserymen write him 

 that they are much pleased with the passage of this law and will 

 do all in their power to see that its provisions are carried into 

 effect. Where parties manifest a desire to comply with the act, 

 he states, in such cases, unintentional violations, or, mistakes, 

 will be overlooked, where parties appear to be acting in good 

 faith; while endeavoring to enforce the law there is no disposi- 

 tion to do so in an oppressive and arbitrary manner, the object 

 being to protect the people from misrepresentation and fraud, 

 on the part of dealers in foreign-grown nursery stock. 



He cites an instance in Otter Tail county of a party there 

 who was selling stock raised in Canada, who writes that he dis- 

 liked to give bonds as to the reliability of such stock. He had 

 written him in reply, advising him to obtain stock from parties 

 whom he knew to be responsible. 



Under this act, the Secretary of the State has issued the follow- 

 ing blank forms : 



STATE OF MINNESOTA, 



^ ss. 

 County of. 



, being by me first duly 



sworn, deposes and says that he isabout 



to engage in the business of selling nursery stock in the state of Minnesota^ 

 ■which said stock was not grown in said State. 



