I. \ DIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIKTV. o31 



witli and we must show them what we can do. We believe we have 

 some of the best fruit hiuds iu the world, and we must develop them. 

 Some specimens of fruit are good and some are bad. There is much in a 

 choice. I believe that some of our members do not thoroughlj' understand 

 selecting specimens for a show. We must not have an apple that is de- 

 fective in any way excepting it be in size and color; one that has a scab 

 or worm, or anything of that kind should be left entirely out in making 

 this selection. I remember when Fitzsimmons and Corbett were going 

 to fight out West. Corbett said if Fitzsimmons exposed his stomach for 

 one fiftieth part of a minute he would hit him there. That is the way 

 with our competitoi-s. If they have good apples with no worm bites they 

 will take the premium and you are left. Remember in making your 

 selections to select perfect specimens. We have found that the best way 

 is to save the specimens when you are gathering the apples, and select 

 the best from the best. I want to tell you this Mr President. The last 

 barrel of apples that I sent to Paris were dipped in blue stone before they 

 were sent. At first they refused to take these apples because they 

 thought the French people would not want medicine on apples, but they 

 did show them and they were all right. This will help to preserve the 

 fruit. I put two pounds to fifty gallons of water. I don't put lime iu 

 when I am going to show the apples, but the blue stone will scarcely 

 show at all. Whether necessary or whether not it is considered fine. 

 The committee will send you parchment paper in which to wrap the 

 apples. All of the apples should be marked so that anyone could tell 

 whose they were and what they were. People sometimes get lost in a 

 big crowd. I am going to have printed labels on all of my fruit, and I 

 think this would be a good idea for all of us to follow. These labels will 

 cost probably seventy-five cents a thousand. My lal)els will road as 

 follows: "Bononi, Grown by Joe A. Burton, of Orleans, Indiana." This 

 matter is important, and we must consider it so. We must all make our- 

 selves a committee of one to look out for fruit and talk to the owners 

 about it. If you think anyone has apples make an inquiry and urge the 

 man to let you have them. I would suggest that men be appointed in 

 different parts of the country to look up this matter and secure fiin- 

 specimens. The apples that I sent to Paris were worth ten times as 

 much to me there as they would have been at home. I .sent the best 

 barrel I had and that barrel was worth .$150 to me. Do your best. 



President Stevens: I would like to have a word along this line from 

 Mr. Johnson, who has had considerable experience in the way of collect- 

 ing fruits, and probably he can give us some suggestions along this line 

 of collecting fine specimens for the St. Louis Fair. 



Sylvester Johnson: I don't think I can add much to wliat has already 

 been said. I accept as the truth all tliat Mr. Burton has said ia 



