INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 647 



Grapes and quinces do fine if not too ripe, and as they add mucli to 

 the fruit displays they are expected to enter largely in the consignments 

 this summer and autumn that will be sent to the fair. 



Citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, limes and pomelos have long 

 since proven capable of withstanding the shipments with but little danger, 

 and no labor and expense has been spared to make it one of the greatest 

 displays ever given of these kinds of fruits. 



National fairs furnish the best means of comparison and study of 

 fresh ripe fruits, as the choicest specimens availaole are secured for 

 such displays, and, laying aside those kept in liquids, no plan could be 

 devised to be of greater value. In these opportunities for study not only 

 the growers and merchants are interested, but the consumers as well. 

 The chance to study the same variety grown on different soils, with a 

 diversity of climate, moisture, protection and care, cultivation and spray- 

 ing is there supplied. It was the intention of the government pomologist 

 to have a series of tables where the same varieties grown in the several 

 States could be placed under his direct supervision, and have careful 

 comparisons made. 



Many of the older varieties have not of late years been profitably 

 grown and the exhibits of newer sorts is of great value to the public 

 generally. New ones are being produced each year, and often valuable 

 seedlings are lost by not being known or for want of an enterprising 

 individual to introduce them. Some varieties that have been known for 

 many years have of late attained much prominence in the commercial 

 orchard and command much attention now. 



In these exhibits the grower has an opportunity to advertise his busi- 

 ness to the commercial fruit man by exhibiting what he can grow. In 

 this way he can permit his fruit to be sampled, which is an evidence of 

 its value, often convincing his friends of its unquestionable superiority. 



With a knowledge of where certain kinds, of fruits attain their great- 

 est perfection commission men can arrange, often for weeks ahead, for the 

 purchase of the products of entire orchards, which is of considerable 

 importance to both shipper and grower, as in this case tlie fruit can be 

 gathered and shipped when in prime condition, which is one of the essen- 

 tial requisites for its keeping and in the retention of its valuable qualities 

 so highly prized by the consumer. 



In concluding, it might be stated that through the aid of the cold 

 storage system these international exhibits are made possible, and from 

 the biilk and character of the fruits displayed there can be no doubt 

 that the standard of excellence attained in the varieties thus grown at 

 present is equal to any formerly produced, and, considering the exten- 

 sive field of operations of horticulturists, there may be expected even 

 greater possibilities in the broad and ennobling field of horticulture. 



