220 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



plain white or brown paper covering. Tlie number of specimens per 

 plate is usually regulated by each individual show association. In 

 the case of the larger fruit five specimens are usually required and 

 ten to twenty specimens of the small fruits such as plums, to make 

 an exhibit. Five bunches of grapes usually constitute a single plate 

 exhibit. 



When fruit is exhibited in boxes, as in case of carloadTots, clean 

 standard apple boxes should be used. The 'fruit should be carefully 

 sized in each box and a first class commercial pack should be presented. 

 Poorly graded, loosely packed, or "jumble" packed fruit is seriously 

 handicapped when compared with well staged fruit. Frequently super- 

 ior fruit is placed second or third in a competition because of lack of 

 care in arrangement. 



Score Cards, The following score cards, or very similar ones 

 which are in use, will give the exhibitor a general idea of the import- 

 ant points for consideration in show fruit. The score cards are as 

 follows, for single plates: 



Apples and Pears Peaches Plums 



Freedom from blemish 20 20 25 



Uniformity 25 20 25 



Color 25 25 15 



size 15 20 25 



Form 15 15 10 



100 100 100 



Freedom From Jilciiiislies. This important point in judging fruit is 

 too often overlooked by the exhibitor. Judging fruit is primarily a 

 process of elimination. More fruit is disqualified on account of blem- 

 ishes than any other point on the score card. Freedom from blemishes 

 means that each individual specimen shall be free from bruises, worm 

 holes, limb rust, frost blemishes or any evidence of the presence of 

 insect enemies or disease such as San Jose scale, apple scab, peach 

 blight, grape mildew, etc. Bach specimen must have its stem intact 

 and show no unusual conditions. Some exhrbit associations disqualify 

 entirely insect infested fruit. That is if one apple on a plate of five 

 shows a worm hole the entire plate is disqualified from competition. 



Uniformity. I'niformity refers to the appearance of several speci- 

 mens as they are brought together on one plate. To score high on this 

 point the specimens should be of the same size, color, shape, and degree 

 of ripeness. Four large apples and one small one would not score as 

 high on this point as five medium sized fruits. 



Color. Color is a very important factor in the .«ale of fruit, thus 

 it is given an important place in judging exhibit fruit. The color should 

 be bright, clear, and characteristic of the variety. It should not be 

 yellow if the variety is usually blushed in the case of well grown 

 specimens, neither should the specimens be streaked with red if well 

 grown specimens of the variety are normally solid red. 



