22 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Mr. Keeves made report of the horticultural department as 

 follows : 



REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF HORTICULTURAL DEPART- 

 MENT. 



In reporting the affairs relating to the fruit department at the last 

 fair I can say that it was a decided success and the affairs passed off 

 in good shape. The fruit shown was brought from largely scattered 

 parts of the state so it represented the crop and conditions quite fully. 

 The showing was large; it filled the allotted space and overran into the 

 adjoining space and filled the galleries. Tables had to be crowded in 

 so the best effect could not be obtained. The fruit was sound and the 

 most perfect lot ever shown at the Iowa State Fair. However, the dry 

 season had retarded its development so it did not show as good color as 

 usual. Many of the samples were very small. A small showing of box 

 apples was brought and apples were bought and used facing about 150 

 boxes. This shows style of pack and does very well under our conditions 

 and at that time of year. We have no large commission firms on whom 

 we can call for a showing of box apples, so the plan adopted seems the 

 only way at present if we are to persevere in teaching the use of the 

 box for fruit. Help was obtained from the college to do the packing. 

 This was efficient and much cheaper than by hiring outside help for this 

 work. 



A sorting machine was shown, being shipped from Chicago for this 

 purpose. It proved to be cumbersome and considerable work to run and 

 with the showing made seemed to not be suited to Iowa conditions. In 

 spite of these facts it can be claimed that the showing of the machine 

 will result in enough added interest in the sorting and grading of apples 

 to pay for the time and expense of getting the machine. 



The quality and showing of grapes was excellent and quite in con- 

 trast to that at the Minnesota fair where it was almost nothing and, 

 as they said, the poorest in years. In plums the showing proved that 

 fruit to be a poor crop although more and better fruit was shown than 

 we had some years ago. For the premiums on ornamental baskets there 

 were ten contestants and the excellent arrangement showed a marked 

 improvement over last year. This premium adds much to the interest of 

 the exhibitors. The ten plate displays of the leading commercial sorts 

 proved a good addition and should be enlarged upon. These should also 

 be arranged on tables separate from other fruits. 



Our plan of having each exhibitor place his fruit and look after it 

 during the fair has its strong points and I believe it better suited to 

 Iowa conditions than the plan of taking it from the exhibitor and 

 classifying it as is done at some fairs. The latter method makes work 

 easier for the judge, but that is more than offset by the extra work in 

 arranging. Besides it does away with the valuable feature of having 

 the owner at his tables to instruct and entertain visitors. At the Iowa 

 fair that is a valuable feature and should be retained. 



It seems that the time has come when a better setting for the fruit 

 should be provided. Nothing expensive is needed but more good tables 

 should be provided and more room to allow for a proper arrangement 



