210 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



is thrown through the trees several times during the season, in a powdered state, 

 at a cost of "2} cents per tree. I have no theory about tlie matter, but can cite 

 a number of instances where the results have been all that could be asked for. 

 This was Dr. IIuU's plan, and, altliough I do not know tlie philosophy of it, I 

 still have a good deal of conlidence in tlie results produced by practicing it. 



Mr. l>ucll, Kalamazoo. — How large arc the apples when the first application 

 is made? 



Mr. Ilanford. — The practice with us is to make tiie lirst use of tlie lime 

 retty soon after tiie trees are out of blossom. 



Mr. Chapman. — How is the lime applied? 



Mr. Hanford. — We take it with the hand and .-ow it among the branches of 

 the trees. I suppose a bellows might be cfCectually employed, but I never have 

 seen it used for this purpose. I have just a word to add about Mr. CampbeH's 

 letter on grapes. He is not favorably located for the ripening of varieties that 

 are rather late for our season, and writes me that he never has succeeded in 

 ripening the Catawba or Isabella, so his opinion in this direction will be 

 very safe to follow. I was very much pleased with his estimate of the newer 

 kinds of grapes. 



The first topic for discussion was : 



METHODS OF EXHIBITING FRUITS. 



Mr. Chilson. — I was expected to open this discussion and present some 

 samples of plates that have been promised me, but as they are not here, I prefer 

 that Prof. Beal should occupy my time, as I see he has sam2)lcs, etc., to 

 illustrate what he may say. 



Prof. W. J. Beal. — The subject is a very interesting one to me, and since 

 attending tlio last fair, I consider it of the greatest importance to our society, 

 for there is little satisfaction in either exhibiting or examining fruit put up as 

 ours was at. the Jackson fair. If our fruit is taken to expositions largely for 

 purposes of instruction, and if our annual exhibitions are to be largely 

 educational in their ol)jects, I urge that some progrc.-s be made in methods of 

 showing samples. I have samples of plates, clasps, and cards as used by the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society, which I have brought from our museum 

 at the college. The plates are of white stone ware, as you will see, quadrilateral 

 in shape, tlie proportion of length to width being as three to four, the edges arc 

 raised very slightly and there is no waste sjiace when numbers are placed along 

 together. I need not mention the necessity of having card so fixed to each 

 plate of fruit as to be a permanent fixture. With the card giving name, 

 exhiljitor, and locality laid loosely upon the plates, a gust of air or sweep of 

 clothing will remove it never to be returned, and if people are allowed to pick 

 up cards, as they were at our last fair, there is no surety that they will replace 

 the tickets where they belong, and varieties get hopelessly mixed to any except 

 experts, and no information is given except the owner or exhibitor of the fruit 

 is at hand to answer all inquiries. Again, committee men cannot do their duty 

 without cards are fixed to the plates where they belong. I show you here clasps 

 with cards slipped into them that I trust our Society will examine, and if 

 thought desiraljlc, secure. The brass ones come at ^^^.OO ])er gross, nickel i)late 

 ^5.00, and Japan plate at 83.75 per gross. In the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society, cards with name stamped thereon are furnished the principal exhibitors, 



