The alleged operations of certain patent sharks as recorded on third page of this paper reminds us of a couple of swindling operations humorously noticed in a late New York Tribune, viz: Certain Michigan farmers gave their notes, ranging from $50 to $500 each, for “hulless oats,” payment to be made out of the crop produced at $1.50 per bushel. But the I. O. U.’s were promptly sold on liberal terms at the bank or elsewhere. The persuasive agent “lighted out,” and the victims now think they perceive symptoms of the cutting of belated teeth, of the eye variety. Another interesting “little game” is this: Two men, apparently strangers, meet at a farm-house; get acquainted; arrange to stay over night. During the long evening they make a bargain with each other for some piece of property, draw writings, and ask their host kindly to append his name as witness. Just as might have been expected, the farmer’s signature turns out to be the most important of the three, since the document is so artfully constructed that by cutting it in two pieces one of them becomes a promissory note, which is subsequently negotiated, and, under the present bad law, has to be paid.—In view of such occurrences as these (still astonishingly common after years of repeated exposure by the press) the aggressive “Jabez” of the Tribune maintains that the countryman who doesn’t treat as frauds all tramps, no matter how well dressed, who seek his autograph, under any pretense whatever, would better have given his time to reading and not learned to write, for these bad signs indicate that he will never be forethoughtful enough in such emergencies to make his mark.
[MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HORT. SOCIETY]
The fifth annual meeting of the Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society held at Kansas City, Mo., January 22-25, was the most interesting and profitable ever held by this vigorous and valuable organization. Delegates were present from fourteen States, covering the great water-shed embraced by the “Father of Waters,” and its tributaries—in and of itself, an empire. The personnel of this body was excellent; it was a convention of practical, brainy men, alive to the interests of one of the most important pursuits in range of the rural industries. The essays, and the discussions they provoked, were full of interest, and highly instructive. We have attended scores of such assemblies during the last quarter of a century; none of them equaled this, all things considered, and we think this opinion was shared by the oldest and most prominent among those in attendance.
Our columns, as we find on our return home, are too crowded this week to admit of publishing a synopsis of the proceedings, but will make room for the eloquent, touching, and well-deserved tribute of the society to the memory of Dr. John A. Warder. Next week an epitome of the work of the convention will be given, and two of the papers that were read will also appear, to wit: “The Best Fruit Packages,” by E. T. Hollister, of St. Louis, Mo., and “The Educational Influence of Horticulture,” by Mr. G. A. Lyon, of Galesburg, Ill. Other valuable and interesting papers read at this meeting will soon appear in The Prairie Farmer; among them, Prof. S. A. Forbes’ paper on “Insects Affecting the Strawberry” (which is supplemental to a former paper which we published last year); another by Prof. John W. Robson, of Cheever, Kansas, on the “Circulation of Sap,” and others which are very useful, on various leading horticultural topics.
The re-election of Parker Earle, as President, W. H. Ragan, Secretary, and T. C. Evans, Treasurer, was a fitting indorsement of the faithful and efficient services of these officers.
[WHEN IT IS TIME TO RESIGN.]
We observe a general tendency this winter to re-elect about all the old officers of the various dairy, horticultural and other meetings, and this regardless of age or previous terms of office. While this practice is highly complimentary to men who have held the positions, and is a recognition of services well performed, we think the more frequent infusion of new blood an excellent remedy for stagnation and other ills liable to creep into association management. At several meetings this winter writers and speakers have expressed regret that more young men were not in attendance. Perhaps if the old members were a little more willing to give young men a fair proportion of the management there would be less cause of complaint in this direction. We have often wondered at the tenacity with which some old and otherwise sensible men hold on to offices in State agricultural societies. They indeed seem to think it a personal slight if they fail of renomination. We have in mind one clever old gentleman, now in almost every way ill-fitted for the position, who has for long years held the office of president of a State Association. Every member of the organization is aware that the days of this old gentleman’s usefulness in the position have long since passed away, yet he was re-elected almost by acclamation at a late annual meeting. It was remarked, in our hearing, that some younger, more vigorous and active man should be selected, “but,” it was added, “it would break the old man’s heart to put another man in his place, and that is the way all feel about it.” Such a sentiment speaks well for the hearts of the members with whom the old gentleman is associated, but less can be said of the judgment that is manifested. We respect age, especially if it has been attained while doing good service for the public. But something is due to the present and the future as well as to the past. It is to be regretted that men do not better recognize the fact that these little affairs of the world would move along just about as well if their management were sometimes resigned to other hands before death compels the change. But such is seldom the case. We have known a man, once a president of a State Agricultural Society and long one of its vice-presidents, who has really felt that many of his old friends and associates became his personal enemies the moment they aided in electing another man to his position. He thinks them so still, yet the fact is he has no more faithful, well-wishing friends on earth. It was one of those cases where public good demanded the sacrifice of private preference. It will be better for all our organizations when such adherence to correct principles universally prevails, or when failing faculties bring with them self-consciousness of weakening powers.