486 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



4th. The effect on the gardener and the art. — I think it is self-evident that 

 the tendency of this change is to make a mere vegetable grower instead of a 

 gardener in the old sense; and to make gardening a mere trade instead of an 

 art; to cause the producer to los<4 all pride in his product save as it brings 

 dollars and cents. 



This is evident in our exhibitions, the idea of which used to be, and 

 theoretically is now, a friendly contest for acknowledgment of superior skill 

 in growing, producing the exhibit. 



But last year in our State fair (and it was the same at other fairs I 

 visited) not l-20th of the space was occupied with exhibits made with any 

 such view ; but it was all taken up by displays which were made up simply 

 to take the premium for the sake of the money there was in it. A number 

 of the exhibitors said frankly that they didn't grow them but collected them 

 where they could, because the premiums would pay them for doing so. Can 

 we expect or hope for any advancement in the art of gardening under such 

 circumstances? 



But what would you do about it? One of the ways of correcting the evil, 

 and I think a perfectly feasible one, is to change the character of our 

 premium list, giving much more prominence to exhibits by amateurs and 

 making the awards attractive and intrinsically beautiful and honorary rather 

 than of pecuniary value. Then I would amend the rules so as to throw about 

 these amateur classes such guards and protections as have been found 

 eflScient in contests in bicycle and other clubs. I believe that in this way 

 we can do much toward reviving interest in our exhibits and that it will be a 

 pecuniary advantage to us as well as a furtherance of our great work in the 

 interest of horticulture in our State. 



Respectfully submitted. 



Will W. Tract, 

 Chairman Committee on Vegetables. 



Mr. Root, Ohio — When I was a lad it was voted by the powers that con- 

 troled matters, that my services were not very valuable on the farm, and I 

 was turned over to my mother to 'tend garden. That kind of work didn't 

 amount to very much either way. But mother and I made the garden a 

 source of profit that surprised the natives, and the first year I secured a vote 

 of confidence. I still garden for the fun of it. A few years ago we imported 

 all the celery that was consumed in our town, from Michigan. While we 

 have great regard for you people up here, we thought it shameful to be de- 

 pendent upon you for garden products. We have become independent now, 

 and raise our own celery. As I said I gardened for pleasure, still my surplus 

 is sold to the less fortunate, and it is delivered by wagon in a fresh condition. 

 This matter of freshness dwelt upon by Prof. Tracy is of great importance. 

 We illustrated it on peas at our house. My wife contended that pe^is, to be 

 at their best, must be picked and shelled immediately before cooking. We 

 made the comparison and found it most emphatically true. Strawberries, 

 fresh from the vines, are worth three or four cents more per quart. I made 

 some money by taking advantage of this fact. Another strong point in this 

 amateur gardening is the stimulus given the little people in this work. 



Mr. Hilton, Fremont — The old garden touclies tender memories with me. 

 The delightful days I enjoyed with my mother in the morning of my life, 

 are inseparable from the garden. 



Prof. Bailey — Prof. Tracy has touched the key note in placing the stress 



