The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-04-21
Tree PEDDLERS Are
BUNCOlNG FARMERS
County Agent Tells How John
son Agriculturists Bought
From Travellers.
By c. n. M'WILLIAMS.

claimed to represent an Indiana nur-
sery appeared in Johnson county and
from eight persons received to the
amount Of $1,1S3.95. Fortunately,
Mr.. F. A. GouGhler, county agent of
Johnson county, Investigated claims
the men were making and found that
their contracts and statements were
not what the buyers thought them TO
be. In addition to charging an out
rageouS price, the contracts allowed
the sellers 70 pat off anything they
might care to. Under such contract
it would have been possible to have
sold the unsuspecting farmer sassa-
fraS or persimmon sprouts if the nur-
sery men chose to do so.
One order sold to Johnson county
farmers was as follows: . pears (no
variety nanedD, So; , nectarines, s.;
1925 grape cuttings, $3O6.25; 6 rasp-
berries, $40; % blackberrics, free;
y gooscb2rfies, 50; 30 Strawberries,
s.. This is fair sample OF the work
they were doing. To another man
wonderful claims for the McPike
grape, variety that has never done
we'll in this State, we're made and 1O,-
600 Of them were sold to Peter Thesis
OF Johnson county with an understand
ing that he was tocuiyivate and care
fer them for stated time and that
the nursery was to sell them "and Of
course both would make lots of
money" The contract, however, call
ed for 500 for the original cuttings,
which was an enormous price, csEC-
ciaIly 80 when we realize that this
particular variety is weak and I'M
thrifty here. To other persons they
tried to sell these grapes at prices
ranging from $50 to 7 cents each.
All OF the men who bought them have
decided TO not take their orders and
iigh. the claims in TIE courts before
they pay one cent to thc nursery that
did the selling.
1t is fortunate that these reople
were exposed before they carried their
work further, and it We'll illustrates
the danger Of buying from u smooth
tongued stranger One thing is sure,
no strange agent is running over the
country making presents to people;
and it is a much safer plan to look
before YOU leap.
There are plenty of reliable nnr-
series in Missouri, and such happen
ings as the enc related here do much
10 discrcdit the whole nursery bust
ness. 1t is by far the safest plan 20
buy from people and firms you know
and that have an established reputa-
ton for being reliable.
A majority Of farmers have their
seed corn selected for this season and
q number have tested it for germina-
ton. The best plan is to test each
individual ear, because in a field Of
good corn one ear will produce four
or fiya bushels, worth from 81 TO So.
One thing is certain, and that is: You
cannot make a good crop without a
full stand. If it is impossible to test
every ear, a general test should be
made. 70 do this select ut random
100 ears from your seed corn and take
two grains from each car-one from
the bUtt and one from the tip. Place
them IN q pan of moist earth or sand
and let them terminate. If all grow,
ii means lee per cent termination;
if 100 grows il means 93 per cent
termination, which is fair; if $50
grow, it means 80 per cent germina-
ton, etc.
On account of the extremely unfav-
orabIc weather last Saturday, Mr.. Tai
bert vas unable to hold spraying
demonstrations 1T Oak Ridge and APP
pleton. The worl, is generally under
stood, however, and will be carried on
Notwithstanding. Mr.. TalDert will be
here again for the second fruit spray,
which will be in about Two weeks, and
when two-thirds of the apple bios
sons arc off and before the ca!yX
cup or blossom end of the young fruit
closes. This is perhaps the most INF
portant fruit spray and should on no
account be neglected. Due notice will
in the papers and circular let
tcrs will be sent out.
If anyone has not been supplied
with a spray calendar, the Office OF
the county agent at jackson will send
one on request.
Clarence Stevens late Saturday
night suffered broken left arm when
i. 90,