Rural School Leaflet. 1023 



AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 



C. S. Wilson 



This year the State Fair Commission offers the prizes mentioned 

 below to the boys and girls who are interested in fruit growing. It is 

 the second time such an offer has been made and the readers of the 

 Leaflet are urged to make such entries as they can. The State Fair 

 will be held at Syracuse about the second week in September. 



Section 17. — Boys' and Girls' Collections. (Open to all boys and girls in New 

 York State under 16 years of age). 



For the best arranged and most extensive, perfect, and 

 varied exhibit of orchard products, collected and ex- 

 hibited by any Boys' and Girls' Club or Rural School . $20.00 $10.00 $5.00 



For the best display of fruit collected and exhibited 



by any boy or girl 10.00 5.00 2.50 



Single Plates 



Best plate of apples $2 .00 $1 . 50 $1 .00 



Best plate of pears 2.00 ^-5° i.oo 



Best plate of peaches 2 .00 i • 50 i .00 



Best plate of grapes 2.00 i • 5° i . 00 



Begin early to prepare the fruit. Soon after the blossoms fall in 

 May, choose a young tree or a branch of a large tree. Thin the fruit 

 until all specimens remaining are six or eight inches apart. A little 

 later in the season, when the fruit is about one-third grown, bag enough 

 specimens of each fruit or variety to make one or two plates. Ordinary 

 manila bags which you can get at the grocery store may be used for 

 this work. The bag will protect the fruit from any mechanical injury 

 and cause it to develop a thick and beautiful bloom. On the other 

 hand, the bagged fruit may not color so well and therefore it is not 

 advised to bag too many specimens. 



In choosing the fruit for the exhibit, choos3 specimens that are even 

 in size, color, and degree of ripeness. Each should be free from blemishes 

 and possess a full-length stem. In the collection exhibits send only one 

 plate of a variety, but send as many different fruits and varieties as 

 you can collect. Each plate must contain five specimens. 



The boys and girls will get a great deal of pleasure in planning for 

 this exhibit and sending the fruit to the Fair. They do not have to 

 go there to put it up themselves. The Commission will put it up for 



