<)0 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The great heat of summer and the absence of showers, 

 Have so damaged our trees and cut short our flowers, 

 That we thought we could never report at one time, 

 One encouraging word in prose or in rhyme. 



But the drouth has passed by, and the beautiful fall 



Has come with its showers to revive us all ; 



So we'll trust Him who rides us, when we've passed throngh the snows, 



To bring back the tulips, the lilies and rose. 



[September Meeting of the Missouri Valley Horticultural Society.] 

 BEST METHODS OF EXHIBITING FRUITS AT OUR FAIRS. 



BY L. A. GOODMAN. 



In taking this subject, I shall believe that it was intended to make 

 the exhibition of fruits for the benefit of fruit-growers. 



A stockman does not make a show of his stock for the express 

 purpose of display, but that he may give the stockmen an opportunity 

 of judging of the advantages of his particular breed. 



An implement dealer shows his goods for the benefit of those who 

 want to use them, or be instructed in their use. 



In making an exhibition of fruits, we want to instruct and enlighten 

 those who are interested in fruit-growing. We want them to under- 

 stand the varieties ; to become familiar with their characteristics, so they 

 may be able to distinguish them. 



In fact, it is an edu cator and the people are the pupils. 



The more knowledge we can give in these exhibitions the more 

 we accomplish our aim. 



In the exhibition of fruits, as w^ll as every other line of exhibits 

 at our fairs, I find, that if the ones that know everything about it will 

 take the matter in hand and interest the people, they are the ones who 

 will have charge of it, and make it a success. And I find that the fair 

 associations are willing and glad to have the horticulturists come and 

 take hold of the matter, and relieve them of a great trouble. 



In peculiar contrast to this is the prominence we have obtained at 

 ■our Kansas City fair in contrast to some other of the western ex- 



