ANNUAL MEETING. 2 



ri t 



display must be conceded to have been an exceedingly beautiful one, and the- 

 specimens generally very creditable, — even for a favorable .season . 



IOWA, 



with very creditable wisdom and forethought, provided an ample appropriation 

 and placed it at the disposal of some of her most experienced pomologists, who 

 were empowered and instructed to make thorough work of the matter, both by 

 collecting the best specimens to be had and by securing all the facilities neces- 

 sary for safe packing, shipment and handling at the Exhibition. Indeed, it 

 was whispered that one of the leading objects sought in the display was to out- 

 do the Michigan exhibit, — a very serious undertaking, one could imagine, when 

 the disadvantages of their climate are taken into consideration. The display 

 was mainly of apples, which certainly were, ii most cases, exceedinglv large and 

 beautiful. The entire collection was said to comprise three hundred and forty- 

 two varieties displayed upon one thousand five hundred and forty-one plates — 

 not with merely three or five specimens to the plate, but generally heaped with 

 all the dishes would hold. The specimens were generally perfect in form and 

 beautifully waxen in appearance, which was doubtless due in part to an effort to 

 catch the fancy of the inexperienced public, by resort to the polishing process, — 

 a practice which every pomologist must deprecate. Whether this assumption 

 be true or false, the great beauty of the specimens generally was a very note- 

 worthy feature of the collection, as was also their unusually large size. This- 

 superiority, however, cannot be said to be altogether without drawbacks. Gene- 

 rally the specimens showed a lack of color as compared with the same varieties 

 grown in more eastern localities. This might be attributed to premature gather- 

 ing, and doubtless in many cases was so, but we did not fail to observe that this 

 seemed nearly if not quite as true of the early sorts as of those not mature at 

 the season of collecting. Coupled with this deficiency we could not fail to ob- 

 serve a very noticeable deficiency in flavor as compared with fruits of the same 

 varieties grown at the east; although we may remark that these deficiencies- 

 of color and flavor seem to be even more marked in the fruits of Nebraska, 

 and especially in those of Kansas and California. 



This entire display was in charge of such careful and accurate pomologists as 

 James Smith and Suel Foster of that State, by whom the naming and labeling 

 were attended to in the most satisfactory manner. 



THE NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



exhibited a collection, principally of apples, embracing two hundred and sixty- 

 three varieties of this fruit : which, except in number of varieties and in quantity 

 shown, must be admitted to be fully the equal and in size possibly even the 

 superior of that from Iowa, but with the same drawbacks noticed in connection 

 with that, possibly in a somewhat increased degree. Both collections were 

 desirable for their general freedom from insect markings and also from weather 

 discolorations. 



THE KANSAS STATE BOARD OF CENTENNIAL MANAGERS, 



who were in charge of the entire exhibit from that State, had secured the privilege 

 of retaining their fruit exhibit at the Kansas and Colorado State building. 

 The display was confined almost entirely to apples, of which they exhibited 

 ninety-six varieties. So far as size and freedom from imperfections generally 

 are concerned, they must be admitted to have been fully equal — probably even. 



