168 Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society. 



perfect, facilitate and give creditable displays and satisfactory decisions, it is 

 all important that printed circulars containing general rules as to the per- 

 fection, handling, proper entry, etc., arc furnished exhibitors. I do not know 

 that I can do better than submit for consideration a set of rules gotten up 

 some years ago with great care by the Missouri Valley Horticultural Society, 

 and which subsequently has been adopted by the Kansas and Missouri State 

 Horticultural Societies. 



GENERAL RULES. 



1st. The general app3arance of the fruits, care in its selection and taste 

 displayed in arranging, cich entrij being distinct. 



2d. In every grouji or single plate (never more than one plate of any va- 

 riety allowed) lists of names of varieties must be attached to entry cards. 



3il. The mme pldtes oi fruits can not compete for ditt'erent prizes; they 

 must be duplicated. 



4th. When the number of specimens for a plate is given, just that number 

 must be shown. 



oth. In general collections of fruits where several are specified tliey must 

 all be shown. Where the number of varieties are given, just that number 

 must be shown, no more or less. 



6th. In all cases of best collections (1) number of varieties ranks first, other 

 Ihings being equal, (2) quality ranks se-CDiul (3) condition ranks third, (4) taste 

 in display ranks fourth. 



We take then on a scale of ten, example: 



100 plates, number 10 



Quality, inferior •"> 



Condition, poor ■') 



Taste in display, bad 5 



2.') 



90 plates, number 8 



Quality, good 8 



Condition, perfect 10 



Taste in display, good '■• 



3o 

 The second would take the premium. 



In shifjle plates we would have 1st, Condition ; 2d, Form : od. Size ; 4th, Color ; 

 5th, (Quality. 

 This can be scaled the same way. 



SPECIAL RULES. 



Apples and Pears. — 1st. Condition of fruit, which siiouUl be in its natural 

 state, not rubbed, nor polished, nor specked, brui.sed, ero led, nor wormy, 

 with all its parts, stem, calyx, segments, well preserved, not wilted, nor shriv- 

 eled, clean. 



2d. The size should be average and the specimens should run even. 



M. Form should be regular, and the lot should be even. 



4th. The i-<>lor and markings should be in character, not l)li)tched nor 

 scabby: in fact, a perfect fruit. 



oth. Te.dure i\nd flavor are imj)ortant. 



Peaches and Plums. — Four points: 1, form; 2, color; 3, flavor; 4, condition. 



