344 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Adrian ami then here, as the Centennial. Mr. Adams was cliairinan of the 

 committee on fruits, here, and after making his report remarked that he 

 thought he knew the berry; but to this no attention was paid. As there 

 was another "Centennial, it was suggested that this berr}^ should have a 

 ditt'erent name and Bidwell was given it. I sent plants of it to Mr. 

 Hathaway, who never really claimed that Mi-. Bidwell liought the original 

 plants of him, but I infer such was the case. 



Taking up the topic, "Exhibiting fruit at agricultural fairs," Mr. Adams 

 said in such exhibitions there are two considerations. (1) to make an 

 attractive exhibit, and (2) to make it instructive. Very few fruit shows 

 have met both requirements. Likewise there are usually two classes of 

 exhibitors, recjuiring different treatment. Ordinarily there is not time 

 enough for etfecti\e arrangement, and it is dithciilt to make good mass 

 effects, yet when made they are the most pleasing of all to the average 

 beholder. There is no more attractive way than to arrange the fruit on 

 flat tablei^ about five feet wide with spaces for passage between them. 

 Occasionally tiiere is a visitor who wishes to make a study of varieties, but 

 the eyes of the public must by pleased or there is a failure. Fruit never 

 shoM^s so Avell as when on shelves. 



Mr. Lannin: How would you place colors for best effect? 



Mr. Adams : Place a row of the smallest and brightest on the outside. 

 Three to each plate are not enough if effect is what you want. How the 

 rest is arranged does not make much difference, but at the Centennial we 

 put the small and red fruit at the outside, then larger ones and green, then 

 the lighter colors. We took fourteen medals and everyone said Michigan 

 was far ahead. 



J. G. E-AMSDELL: One thing has always seemed wrong — that premiums 

 are given on the largest collection. To get that it is necessary to get all 

 varieties possible, including much that is worthless. Better put on more 

 specimens of the better sorts. AVhat good results from a big collection of 

 poor kinds? 



Mr. Adams: Perhaps exhibitors are encouraged to this by the fruit 

 catalogue. 



Mr. Lyon: Mr. Ramsdell is right as to the desirability of increasing 

 the number of specimens upon each plate ; but the fruit catalogue purports to 

 name every variety of fruit grown in the state, and to fully indicate its 

 quality. The State Horticultural society has for years asked for the most 

 valuable and best handled, not "largest and best," so it is not amenable to 

 Mr. Adams' charge. It is not true that judges are charged to consider 

 unduly the size of exhibits, but the tendency is in that direction. 



Mr. Lannin : Many on a plate is good for the exhibition but bad for the 

 exhibitor, entailing needless expense. 



J. N. Stearns: At Kalamazoo for ten years and with the State Horti- 

 cultural fairs for four years, the premium has been for the best collection 

 without regard to quality. The exhibitor uses his best judgment in his 

 collection, and the committee theirs in the awards. So we get a greatt^r 

 number of exhibitors and growers of best sorts. No good grower has 

 one hundred and fifty sorts. 



Mr. Lyon spoke of the wrong plan of packing specimens indiscriminately 

 and sorting afterward. Label the specimens at the tree, and so save much 

 time and get better results. 



W. H. HuiiLBUT: This and all other like societies should discourage 

 useless multiplication of varieties. 



