STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 75 
trees. In the spring after seeding, corn planting, gardening, sheep shearing and 
the thousand and one jobs incident to farm labor have all been done, the forlorn 
bunch of apple brush, feebly starting out a few buds, endeavoring to do its poor 
best, attracts attention, and with muttered benedictions and blessings upon the 
head of the angel who persuaded him into the-investment, they are pulled up, a 
few small post holes are bored in the tough prairie sod, the roots are pounded 
in and the funeral is over, Should a tree throw out a few sickly shoots in a dy- 
ing attempt to prove that it was not wholly ungrateful for the treatment re- 
ceived, the cows are driven in and the wreck of what ought to have been the 
commencement of a promising orchard is complete, and the considerate planter 
is ready to have you replace them, on your next annual call, (and it serves any 
man exactly right who will warrant stock under any circumstances, save to be 
in good condition when delivered.) Should the agent inquire into the ‘whys 
and wherefores,’’ he is curtly informed ‘‘the dummed things were dead when he 
got them.” 
Nor is the farmer always the only one to blame. There are instances too nu- 
merous for the reputation of Minaesota nueserymen, where if any of the Weal- 
thy, Duchess or New Russians should survive this treatment, the attempt to 
live would develop undeniable symptoms of breeding back to Transcendent, 
Siberian or Hislop progenitors. Let us draw the veil over these facts; they re- 
flect credit on none of the parties concerned. 
To return to our subject, we have heard that ‘in the lexicon of youth there is 
no such word as fail.’ There should be no failure in horticulture. Forget- 
ting the past, except its sad experiences dearly bought, let us go ahead with a 
determined purpose to bury those old misfortunes under glorious harvests of 
fruit. How can we doit? By making it our business. If nurserymen, by 
growing nothing that we do not honestly consider hardy and desirable, in be- 
ing religiously careful to handle stock under its true name, by proving all things 
and holding fast to those varieties that are not good, and not permitting them 
to get out to curse the trade, and by all possible means to protect your custom- 
ers. If customers or planters of trees, by making an earnest endeavor for fruit, 
by subscription to good horticultural literature, by a careful attendance upon | 
the means of grace—the State Horticultural Society—by the establishment of 
local societies looking to the same end, by cultivating an interest in and for 
fruit, after doing these things, decide the varieties desirable, order them, pre- 
pare your ground thoroughly for planting, set your trees and care for them, 
cultivate them and feed them, as if you loved them and your heart was in the 
task, and in beholding the annual development of your orchard you will receive 
such satisfaction as will amply repay all expenditures of time, money and labor. 
And now a word to both the producer and consumer of nursery stock. Why 
not join hands and work together for the good of the common cause. Your 
interests are identical; one cannot do without the other. The nurseryman’s in- 
terest still continues in the tree after her has been paid for it, and it passes mto 
other hands. His time, money and experience have been expended in producing 
it. His reputation as a business man is involved in its welfare. If the planter 
does not do his duty in bestowing proper care and attention after it becomes 
-his property, he is doimghis neighbor wrong. Let us, by united effort advance 
this noble work. Donot be discouraged because of first failures, and the continued 
existence of imposters: ‘‘ By their fruits ye shall know them.’’ Know of whom 
you buy and what you buy; continue your labors. Do not be weary in well 
