The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-02-07

i
KANSAS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,"
SEORETARY's OFFICE,
LAWRENCE, January 20, 1879.
DEAR SIR:-Our state, and especially
| the western counties, is being Over-run
with irresponsible and INSCRIPTIONS
tree peddlers from other states. They
seek those districts and counties newly
| settled, and where the people, being new
corners, are unacquainted with the vari-
cites adapted to our climate and soil, con-
| sequently are more easily victimized
Their stock in trade generally consists
as claimed of new varieties, (Which can
| not be found in our home nurseries, pos
sessing the most remarkable qualities in
| tree and fruit The varieties of trees or
| their fruit are never attacked by insects
or disease; they never fail to produce
prOdIgious crops OF fruit; never have been
known to die, and in fact would have us
believe that no human or superhuman
| agency could cause their death. The
| fruit from these trees is of the most ex-
quisite excellence, surprising anything
ever before known to the civilized world.
By q persistency (deservedly called
'cheeky,'') and sophistry most Infamous,
assisted by pictures skillfully drawn and
beautifully colOred, claimed to be true
representatives of specimens of the varie-
ties Offered-the like of which Dame Ma
ture, assisted by the most skillful hand
of man, would despair to even duplicate
they perpetrate the most egregious
frauds upon novices in horticulture
Many of their so-called new varieties are
as old as the hills, and familiar to every
even moderately posted fruitman, and
have no merit of any value IN their most
favored localities. Many of them are to be
found in rejected lists, as worthless. 9th
er varieties are new to Kansas only, but
have no established character only in
special localities, and very limited at the
most.
1t is claimed frequently that their va
rietieS are not to be found in our home
nurseries. Very truly said: and why?
Simply because their non-adaptatiOn to
our climate and soil render them worth
less, and our nurserymen have no desire
to propagate such class, nor to practice
such an imposition upon their trade.
Home nurseries are generally institu-
lions established for time to come. These
tree peddlers are only among us for sea-
son; their work is soon done, and with
the money obtained from their customers
IN their pockets, soon are out of sight
and gone no one can tell where-nor viii
they permit their whereabouts to be
known. There is no certainty that their
trees are even true to the name sold for
pine stick and pencil in their hands is
all that is necessary to enable them to
manufacture any variety in demand. The
swindling propensity is plainly discover
ed in the unreasonable and extremely ex-
orbitant price charged for their goods,
viz: fifty cents to one dollar for trees
which can be bought of any eastern nurs-
cry at ten to fifteen cents a tree, or $500
to 5000 per thousand.
To protect our people against such IN
merciful and swindling practice, the State
Horticultural Society is most earnestly
and vigorously at work. Thousands of
dollars have been taken from our state
during the past year for that which is
verify no valuable addition to our horti-
cultural interests, and which must in time
prove to be u source of great disappoint-
ment to those who have selected homes
in Kansas because of its remarkable adap-
tation to horticultural products. An hon
est deal will always be recognized and
supported. Respectfully,
G.. c. BRACKET, Secretary.