The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-02-21
satan Reproring Sin.

/
EDITORS NEws:-In your issue of the
18th inst notice the following article
under the head of Tree Frauds
II am informed that there are parties
going about the city of Emporia, and the
surrounding country, exhibiting samples
of dollhouse grapes as "Conovers," Oh
Somebody's Seeding" and representing
the same as valuable hardy variety,
and inducing the unsuspecting to buy
the same at very high prices. Also large
fine pears, pretending they are samples
grown on three-year-old standard pear
trees, and that they can be grown here, il
the people will only buy their trees graft
ed on some peculiar kind of "imported
French stock" and much more of such
nonsense, which has no real existence in
fact. Our people are cautioned against
such fancy fruits" and are advised to at
least carefully Investigate the claims put
forth for these new things before signing
notes for them at the eXtravagant figures
charged for them by the vendors.
Respectfully, ROBERT MILLIKEN,
Vice President Kansas State Horticultu-
raj Society, Lyon county, Kansas"
l have few comments to make on the
above false statements, and trust the peo-
pie at large will give the same due con-
sideration, and render impartial judg-
ment.
First, I am glad the duty devolves up
on me to call an ignoramus to account,
and to remind Mr.. Milliken that lost rep
utation cannot be eclalmed by attempting
to pull others down. Yes, sir; there have
been parties going about the city and
country (and to some purpose, too), rep
resenting an old reliable establishment
parties who carry the best of references
from their home, and also have unobiec-
tionable references in Emporia and LYON
county as to business standing and re-
liability OF the "Hill Home Nurser-
les" Tadmore, Montgomery county, o.
As TO the LIGHTHOUSE grapes and pears
raised on "three-ye ar-old trees" simply
ask the farmers of the county whether
this statement is false or true. Does Mr..
NJ. know anything of Conover's Seeding
grape? presume not, but he very like
ly knows the Concord; probably he can
furnish no other. High prices No sir
no higher than good stock can be fur
nished. Does Mr.. NJ remember of ever
receiving, from Bluffton, Mo-, by ex-
press, Steady peach? and of carrying
the same up and down the streets of EN-
poria as sample? and of selling trees
from this same sample at one dollar each.
II he has forgotten this little transaction,
let him call on Mr.. G. w. White, on Ne
OshO, near the Rapids, and he can see
some of the Steady trees, that he has the
honor of furnishing at one dollar each,
bearing some common sour, worthless
fruit, no larger than hulled walnut.
Poor stock! Will Mr.. Milliken please
call on Mr.. Spencer, near Forest Hill,
this county? In Mr.. Spencer he can find
a man who refused to take trees ordered
from him at any price, with the remark
that he chad not contracted for riding
switches and grubs" Is Mr. Milliken
acquainted with Mr.. J. A. Young, of
Emporia? Mr.. Young at one time rep
resented the same nursery that Mr.. Mil
liken is now selling for. Mr.. Young
gives his experience as follows: Nine
tenths ofthe stock he shipped to Wichi-
Ia he could not get off his hands at any
price, and the brush is heeled in there
now. The proper way for planters to do
is to deal with reliable concern, either
direct or through an authorized agent,
and not with an Independent dealer or
tree peddler. If have been correctly
informed, Mr.. Milliken is a tree specu-
lator or contractor, not a propagation.
By dealing with contractor, you have
his word for it, nothing more, which,
nine times out of ten, is worthless In
dealing with the propagation, your trans
action is with business man whose rep
utation and business interests are at
stake. l could give you numerous other
illustrations as to who scattered wild
strawberry plants all over this county at
a ruinatIon price for "Wilson's Albany"
furnished the Baltimore Bell and Queen
of the Prairie rose bushes at good figures,
but they turned out to be common wild
rose bushes. did not say who sold
and furnished these wild strawberries and
roses, but refer the reader to Mr. Aaron
Miller who resides on Allen creek, ~
miles from this city. Probably this is
sufficient to convince the most skeptical.
Oh, no, Mr.. Milliken, you are pursu-
ing the wrong course. With your stand
ing and acquaintance, you might have
controlled a good paying trade in Lyon
comfy a O II iS fhnra
farmers here, who would not buy from
you under any circumstances. "a burn
ed child breads the fire." II a former
communication you speak of the new
settlers being the tree agents victims
You do not lack victims among all class
es. l can show list of names five feet
long among which there are but very
few new corners, but principally all
old residents here, not only farmers, but
many of the prominent business men of
this city, and majority of them I pre-
sumo, are fully as we'll versed in horti-
culture as yourself They at least have
shown judgment enough to act for them
selves. These parties will all be dealt
with, in an honorable and legitimate
manner by men engaged in a legitimate
business. No dollar peach tree or four
cent apple trees, but at living prices,
at regular rates established and adhered to
by all responsible establishments Oppo-
sition is the life of trade. A little more
energy and not quite so mnch ha rangue
over long official name will be more
profitable to you. CHANGING at the de-
scriptive catalogue of first class nur.
sery, l see the following varieties of
fruits can be furnised true to name by
responsible parties: Apples embracing
Native, English, Russian, and Crab ap-
pies 324 varieties, peach, 100; pear in
Guiding American and French origin
326; cherries, 50; plums, 10S; White
grapes, 40; separate distinct varieties,
black or purple grapes, 81; red grapes,
25; strawberries, 40; roses, including
Climbing, Moss, Hybrid-perpetual,
Bourbon, Noisette, China or Bengal,
Summer and Tea roses, 316 different
sorts. When this is taken into consid
Grafton it seems to me like pretending
too much to say that certain kind of
grape or pear is nonsense or
has no real existence in fact"
In travelling through Lyon county find
a majority of the residents are from the