730 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



classes, thus drawing exhibits from a much larger field than now. It 

 is possible to do this without raising the offering in this department 

 although it would seem that as we have less than $300 in premiums 

 while we offer $834.00 in the arts, we could stand a little raise in the 

 premiums offered in the needlework division. 



Sincerely, 



F. E. SKEELS, 

 Superintendent. 



REPORT OF SUPT. OF HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 



To the officers and directors of the Michigan State Agricultural Society: 



Gentlemen — Your Superintendent of the Department of Fruits and 

 Flowers reports as follows: As you are aware, the year of 1897 was 

 not a fruit season so far as large or tree fruits were concerned, and 

 the outlook for a creditable display was anything but bright and for this 

 reason I did not make the usual trip through the various fruit growing 

 counties, thereby saving a considerable sum of money, but confined my 

 soliciting to correspondence, which, however, was productive of but 

 meagre results. At the opening of the fair, however, by personal solici- 

 tation among the fruit growers in the vicinity of Grand Rapids, we 

 finally succeeded in obtaining a very presentable display — of course, noth- 

 ing to compare with that of the preceding year, but considering that it 

 was largely picked up after the opening of the fair and the condition 

 of the crop in general, it did very well. Notwithstanding the rules of 

 the society, I was obliged to accept entries on the second day, or have 

 a hall full of empty benches, both in the fruit and flower exhibits, in 

 the fruit department in order to get it at all aud the exhibitors of flowers, 

 all were of the opinion that to place the exhibits of many kinds earlier 

 would not only destroy the specimens, but detract materially from the 

 show. The exhibit of flowers was very large and fine and attracted 

 much attention and many favorable comments. In this connection, I 

 desire to recommend that premiums for plants and flowers shown in 

 beds be discontinued. With our facilities for showing, they are not an 

 attractive feature of the display, and the same money put into other 

 premiums would make a far greater show. 



