The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-10-15
BY j. A. JOHNSON.

ion that the American people liked to
be humbugged And doubtless, Mr..
Barnum was right, as he had abun-
dant opportunity of finding out many
things about their gullibility. But 1t
isn't alone in the circus tents that
American people let themselves be
humbugged, for right here in our own
business of growing fruit we let our
selves be humbugged right and left,
IN spring. summer, fall and winter
And the unfortunate part of it all is
that we let ourselves be humbugged
with things that we are supposed TO
know all about. and with our eyes
vide open.
For example. news report is to
,he effect that agents of an Indiana
nursery firm are operating in some
Missouri counties. charging robbery
prices for their stock, and that the
,hief of county agents in Missouri has
notified the county men to warn the
-esidents of all Missouri counties
against buying nursery stock from
hese agents.
While it is an old, old trick for
smooth tongued nursery agents TO
come to farmers and with gorgeously
eolored illustrations of mammouth
size. talk the farmer into paying
enormous prices for trees that they
fay will produce fruits even better
han the colored pictures show. And
is probable that some INSCRIPTIONS
representatives of good, substantial
nurseries may take advantage OF their
,ustomers by one-charging.
People of Crisp county have been
,autioned time and time again against
atronizing itinerant agents who rep
,esent nursery firms whose names are
Unfamiliar in the advertising columns
f farm papers. In too many instances
hese wanderers have no other OBJ
ect than to gouge the customer for
IL they can and to care not snap OF
heir fingers whether the goods are
delivered, or if delivered are true to
lame.
The quack nursery agent does
,reater injury to the fruit and nur'
cry interests than any other indl-
idual. The salesman of RESPONSE
lie nursery is benefactor, help to
he community in which he works
nd is responsible to the firm he rep
'esents. But the quack, who pur-
jorts to sell stock Of the greatest
,urserv in the world" with which
lad never been heard of before, de-.
,eryes no attention from anyone but
he sheriff.
The various associations OF sur
erymen, state horticultural societies
nd nursery inspection officers should
cooperate in wedding out these still
,orn nurseries that persist in robblng
he unsuspecting. Nursery interests
re jeopardizing by such alleged ras-
ais as are operating in these Mis-
ouri counties, and whose type may
found at this season Of the year in
lmost every state. Fruitgrowers in
erests likewise, are injured by the
)ractices of these agents, and no one,
lot even the agents themselves are
'enehted.
Beware Of the nursery agent. Many
them are statesmen representing re-
yonsible firms; some of them are
uacks, and the latter have given a
cd name to the whole class. Make
he agent show YOU his credentials and
he advertisement of his firm in some
esponsible farm paper Then before
living the agent your order, drop a
,ostal card in the mail box asking
he nursery for copy of its catalogue
nd make the agent sell you what
GU want at the prices quoted in the
dialogue. Not many will want to do
hat, as they frequently must charge
larger price than the catalogue will
robably list, but responsible hrms
phold their statesmen, and in fact
ave only one price for mail orders
nd statesmen alike. But beware OF
he quack nurserymen.
Let us hope that the time will come
-hen nurserymen themselves will
AXE hold Of this matter and clean up
loir business by getting rid of the
inerant vendors of bad stock at high
rices. 1t is hard enough at the best
or good nursery firms to sell good
.tcck at living prices, but when they
lust overcome the bad name that
given to the whole nursery trade
" tne euack agents, it adds burden
lat is altogether too expensive.