STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 283 



Now, our Society has been teaching us for nearly twenty years how to 

 protect ourselves. We have been posting ourselves, and guarding our- 

 selves against humbuggery. We don't need to do anything to guard 

 Mr. Underwood, but there are a great many farmers that never come 

 into these meetings, and -many of them live so far away that they can't 

 get here. I have been here a good many sessions, and try to do a lit- 

 tle something to guard against humbuggery. Some of our best mem- 

 bers don't believe in stirring up these things; it is true we have 

 always had enough regular business on our program, but I would like 

 to see this resolution pass; I believe we ought to do something to show 

 these irresponsible agents and foreign tree venders that we are not to 

 be imposed upon. They are hurting Mr. Underwood; they are hurt- 

 ing me and every man that is trying to do an honest business in this 

 State. They are doing probably nine-tenths of the business in this 

 State. They are bringing in trees mostly from Ohio and New York. 

 Their trees, as a rule, are good for. nothing, for this climate. If we 

 submit to it, why it will go on, and the farmers will call us humbugs. 



Mr. Gould. I don't see how in the world the farmers are going to 

 distinguish between the agents of the different nurseries. I think 

 there are honest men in the nursery and tree business, as well as some 

 humbugs in that business. Now, I wouldn't draw any line between 

 them in a public way. I think it is entirely out of place. I think the 

 tree-peddlar is a civilizer. I believe that he and the Methodist preach- 

 er go hand in hand; [Laughter] he is a horticultural colporteur. He 

 spreads a knowledge of fruits and flowers among the farmers and makes 

 their families happy. I believe one is about as important as the other. 



Mr. Latham. I do not see the use of publishing the resolution after 

 everybody in the State have purchased their trees; these agents are 

 going through the country all the time; everybody will have bought 

 their trees and have them planted before our report is published, and 

 if it is determined to pass such a resolution at all, I move to amend 

 the resolution by requesting the press to publish it over the signatures 

 of the o'flficers of this Society, and have it done to-morrow. 



Mr. Pearce. These agents will probably sell just as many trees, 

 and we may possibly get ourselves into a lawsuit. Suppose we got 

 into court. It would be like this: Witness would say, "I know noth- 

 ing about it; but I presume it is true. " Hearsay testimony don't count 

 with the courts. 



Mr. Harris. We have given this matter a pretty good airing by the 

 discussion we have had, and I suppose some of it will get into the 

 daily papers; I think that is all we ought to do. 



