206 State Horticultural Society. 



4th, Such apples as Ewalt, Gloria ]\Imidi, Wolf River, Gulp Mammoth, 

 Twenty Ounce, Pewaukee, Tulpehocken, Pumpkin Sweet, can 

 be brought to extraordinary size, as also some of the larger 

 varieties of pears and peaches by extra care and attention to 

 the details under apples. 



RULES FOR THE SELECTION OF FRUITS FOR EXHIBITION. 



Apples and Fears. — Should be in their natural state. Picked when 

 ripe, not soft, handled very carefully so as not to bruise or injure in any 

 v/ay, the fruit wrapped in two thicknesses of tissue paper and then in 

 paraffine paper and at once packed for shipment closely and tightly so 

 that they will not move in the package nor settle so as to bruise in 

 shipment. Each specimen should be perfect ; not specked, bruised, eroded, 

 nor wormy ; should have all its parts, stem, calyx, segments, clean, well 

 preserved ; not wilted nor shriveled. The size should be large or very 

 large. The form should be regular, except for abnormal specimens. 

 The color and markings should be characteristic. 



Peaches, Plwns, Cherries. — Size large, regular form, ripe but firm, 

 well colored, perfect condition, with all the characteristic markings, well 

 handled, no bruises, wrapped as above and packed in small packages 

 firmly so that no movement can take place. 



Grapes, Currants, Gooseberries. — Good large bunches, fine, plump, 

 large berry, well-colored, good bloom on the berry, perfect condition, 

 carefully gathered, more carefully wrapped, as above, not injuring the 

 bfoom or berry, bunches packed in cotton and in single layers, in small 

 packages, well covered with cotton so not to bruise, boxes marked "this 

 side up." 



Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries. — Size of berry or bunch of 

 first importance, perfect form, well-marked and good color, solid and 

 firm in berry, but ripe so as to get proper color, stem and calyx ad- 

 herent, wrapped as above and packed in berry boxes as directed for 

 grapes. 



In general, then, all these perfect fruits need the most careful selec- 

 tion, painstaking packing, prompt shipment, whether made in 1903 for 

 putting up in the jar exhibit or for cold storage, or whether collected 

 and sent in for the fresh fruit display during the ripening season of 

 the year 1904. Remembering these cautions and these suggestions, fruits 

 are sure to arrive in splendid condition and give a grand display. 



FERTILIZERS FOR FRUITS. 



No hard and fast rules can be given for fertilizing fruits, so as 

 to secure fine specimens. The kind and the quality of fertilizer to be 



