THE ANNUAL FAIR OF 1886. 181 



1. It is a great mistake for any exhibitor to go to the fair with fruit, not 

 haviuo - his varieties so packed and labeled as to enable him to place his collec- 

 tions upon the plates rapidly and without error. It is not safe or discreet to 

 trust one's knowledge at such times to sort out varieties and name them, no 

 matter how good a pomologist he may be. Striking examples of the neglect 

 to carrv out this simple rule, and its consequent results, were numerous at the 

 last fair. Men who came from a long distance getting at the exhibition late, 

 because of their perfect methods of packing and labels, had large collections 

 in shape for committees at the appointed hour ; while others with small ex- 

 hibits, who brought their specimens direct from the orchard to the grounds in 

 baskets were unprepared for the committee, and their collections were dotted 

 with mistakes m nomenclature. 



2 The plan of limiting collections to a number which shall cover the best 

 varieties for the purpose indicated in the offering, is a valuable provision for 

 the exhibitors, the society and the visitors. It gives opportunity for exhibitors 

 to use their judgment with regard to the value of varieties, knowing as they 

 ■do that mere numbers count nothing beyond the limit set. It enables the so- 

 ciety to plan for an exhibit of which they know something about the propor- 

 tions when the entries are made. It gives visitors an opportunity to compare 

 the judgments of men with reference to the best varieties of a stated number. 



3. For the first time in the history of the society, all bars were removed 

 from in front of the tables of fruit, and even with the same number of watch- 

 men, there was less complaint from theft than usual. There is no question 

 that the bars are uow down "for keeps." A little more police force will be 

 required, and there should be large placards notifying people to keep "hands 

 off," and then make examples of those who wilfully break the rule. It is as 

 good a place, at the fair, to teach honesty and good maimers as it is to have 

 fun; and our society may as well become an educator in this direction. 



•A. Our experience in the securing of experts from abroad to award the pre- 

 miums, is most favorable to the plan. We may have men of just as good 

 judgment, and just as honest as any we can import, but in every instance the 

 a^vard made by the visiting judge will give the greater satisfaction. Why 

 would it not be expedient for societies to arrange an exchange in this matter of 

 committee work? The expense would be light, and the results would certainly 

 be valuable. 



5. Florists, or amateur plant growers, never should make an exhibit at a 

 fair, without a clearly defined plan of what they intend to do. Everything 

 depends upon arrangement^for effect. And one cannot afford to do his experi- 

 menting to produce effects after the fair opens. 



6. The educational exhibit of varieties which shall include everything that 

 can be gathered, showing the weak points as well as the strong points of each 

 sort, and gi\ing as much information as is possible upon labels, with an expert 

 near at hand to answer questions, becomes an indispensable accessory to our 

 fairs, when we limit the large competing collections to the best varieties. And 

 this is the safest way to show the poorer sorts, as no one will be deceived by a 

 handsome appearance or great size; for the grading of the variety will be upon 

 its label. Again, it is invaluable connected with an exhibit of this sort, to 

 have cases of injurious insects, and tree branches, galls, and blights. It is 

 entirely practicable for a society to give information in this way, and thus 

 pave the way for better methods and purposes in the conduction of our fairs. 



7. The experiment of showing bedding plants in beds as they would appear 



