04 STATE nOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



There arc a great many theories concerning the cause of failure of apples. 

 It is laid to cast '.vind.s, frosts, moist weather at time of blossoming, etc. The 

 most common explanation seems to be that tlie continuous frosts through May 

 weakened the vitality of the young fruit so that it dropped through June. 

 The varieties of apples that iiave as yet hung on the trees best are Baldwin 

 and Golden Kusset. Fall ai>ples seem to be almost a dead failure. The 

 Northern Spy, which is a great favorite in our State, will be represented by 

 very small quantities in the fruit cellars next winter. Cider, "apple jelly, and 

 evaporated apples will be reduced to a minimum. 



To the lovers of apple sauce I would counsel the selection of the best sub- 

 stitute in the way of canned fruit that is possible, and begin early. 



With this kind of a showing in what was expected to be the prolific fruit 

 year, little was anticipated in the fruit department of the autumn fairs. Sev- 

 eral collectors that usually make large exhibits went into the field the week 

 before the State Fair and gave up in despair, saying: "There is no use; no 

 good specimens of apples are to be found." But with all the unfortunate 

 circumstances we had a magnificent show in Pomological Hall, and what was 

 lacking in fruit was made up in plants and flowers. 



The fair was held in the city of Jackson September ISth to 23d, inclusive. 

 The hall given to fruits on these grounds is dark and damp on account of the 

 dense shade ; but chairman Gilbert of the Business Committee, by putting in 

 additional sky-lights and brightening up the walls, did everything in his power 

 to make things pleasant for our Society in the exhibition. 



THE FRUIT EXHIBIT. 



The exhibit of fruit occupied 2,000 feet of shelving, and in all there were 

 2,800 plates. In apples there was not the usual hight of color or freedom 

 from blemishes. However insect marks were rare, for Michigan exhibitors of 

 fruit have been taught to -'leave the worms at home." The show of pears 

 was very fine in some varieties that are usually ripened and gone at this 

 season. The peaches were the glory of the fruit show. They were shown 

 in abundance and in excellent variety. In plums Oceana county was not 

 alone this year, for Mason county at the last hour bethought herself of the 

 State fair, and sent down a fine lot of i)lums. The grapes were few and 

 scattering, all because the prominent varieties were not even colored yet. 

 However, Mr. Wm. Rowe showed beautiful clusters of the Prentiss and Mr. 

 J. S. Woodward exhibited the Niagara in abundance. Both of these varieties, 

 being what are popularly termed white grapes, although they were not fully 

 ripened, made delightful exhibits. The canned, preserved, pickled, and dried 

 fruits were exhibited in large quantities from all parts of the State. 



PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 



A few days before the fair opened the large platform in main hall was 

 offered the horticultural society upon the express condition that the wliole of 

 it should be covered with plants and flowers so arranged as to give it the best 

 possible effect. Mr. Gibson, our superintendent, accepted the offer and 

 immediately appealed to Jackson florists to aid him in making the finest 

 exhibit of plants ever shown at a State fair in Michigan. Messrs. Ilibbard 

 and Brown and Mrs. Andrews all responded by bringing their choicest plants; 

 and in a day's time at the 0))ening of the fair, all submitted that Mr. 

 Gibson and the florists had faithfully carried out their part of the contract 

 for the horticultural society. A mishap the first day, by which Mr. Uibbard's 



