THIRTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VI 295 



Mr. Mullen recommended that the nominal charge of $1.00 be 

 made for outside space and that contract be written for such 

 space. On motion of Mr. Mullen the above report and recom- 

 mendations were adopted. 



Mr. Reeves made report of the horticultural department as 

 follows: 



To the State Board of Agriculture: 



Gentlemen: In reporting the outcome of the fruit department at the 

 1912 fair I can say that it was a decided success. The fruit crop was 

 small over most of the state and it took an unusual amount of work to 

 secure the exhibits, but they came from all districts although the southern 

 was poorly represented. The distance their exhibits have to come and 

 the consequent expense, together with a poor crop, was the reason given 

 for their failure to show. They, together with exhibitors from other 

 parts of the state, claim that they are poorer paid for their efforts and 

 for the benefit they are to the fair than any other department exhibitors. 

 One man who helped in putting up an exhibit said that it did not pay. 

 While they brought three wagon loads of fruit and it took the time of 

 three men to place and care for their fruit, they also brought some corn 

 in a suitcase and handed it to an attendant and received about the same 

 in premiums from each department. By increasing the premium list 

 each year we have been able to secure a good showing so far. However, 

 its seems that we must soon face the necessity of doubling the premiums 

 to hold the old exhibitors who have made this department so attractive 

 for the past years and to secure the new ones who must take the place 

 of those who yearly drop from our list. 



There was this year fully the usual number of plates of fruit shown 

 and of a higher quality. The management insisting on a high quality to 

 secure the awards has had the desired effect and as a rule none but good 

 fruit is shown, which is a decided advance over the practice a few years 

 ago. On account of a poor crop Mr. C. G. Patton did not show his seedling 

 apples but the many inquiries for them showed the interest of the public 

 in his valuable work. 



Mr. B. A. Mathews showed about seventy varieties and being constantly 

 on hand to answer questions has created quite an interest in the growing 

 of fruit in the state. 



The new feature was the box exhibit of apples. While this was largely 

 made by the department as an object lesson, there were good exhibits by 

 growers and an interest has been aroused by the efforts of the past three 

 years that will not only insure good box exhibits in the future but cause 

 growers to market their choicest grades in better shape as is done in the 

 west. 



The box packing school received much attention from exhibitors and 

 visitors and this should be continued. However, as we now have trained 

 experts in the state it will not be necessary to send to Hood River for 

 a teacher for this work. 



