SUGQE8TIONS TO EXHIBITORS OF FRUIT AT MINN. STATE FAIR. 3O9 



neighborhood It will be found to pay to do everything connected 

 with this work in the very best way you know how — and, indeed, 

 what is there to which this rule does not apply ? 



Gathering. — At the proper time (allowing just time enough to 

 get the fruit to the fair in season) gather the best specimens that 

 you can find, those that are of the largest size and fullest color, free 

 from blemish, either by bruise or insect, and of typical shape, being 

 particular in the case of the apple to preserve the stem. They 

 should be picked off and handled with the greatest care, and before 

 packing in box or barrel each specimen of apple should be wrapped 

 in one or, still better, two wrappings of paper. 



Sorting. — A very common practice on the part of exhibitors 

 is to bring to the fair a quantity of unassorted fruit, intending to 

 select therefrom specimens to be used in connection with the several 

 exhibits. This method makes it necessary that the exhibitor should 

 get a large quantity of fruit out on the tables at one time, which 

 must be carried later to different parts of the hall, consuming a great 

 deal of time and causing such annoyance to fellow exhibitors and 

 the management. It is a great mistake to put off the sorting of the 

 fruit till the exhibitor reaches the fair. Taking the whole work con- 

 nected with gathering the fruit and setting of it up at the fair, it 

 can be done in half the time and very much better if the fruit is 

 sorted at home. For instance, to illustrate the methods clearly : if 

 the exhibitor is intending to exhibit a collection of apples, a sweep- 

 stake of apples, a collection of ten varieties of apples and a single 

 plate of apples, he should gather enough specimens of each kind that 

 is to appear in all of these entries ; that is, for instance, of Duchess 

 he should gather (allowing four specimens for a plate) four 

 times four specimens, and two or three extra ones to allow for 

 bruises, etc. Taking these Duchess apples to a table conveniently 

 placed near by, he should select first the best four specimens for the 

 single plate entry. Each specimen should be wrapped in paper, and 

 these four specimens then put into a paper bag with the name of 

 the variety written on the outside, and this bag should be put into a 

 box which is intended to hold only the single plate entries. The next 

 best four Duchess should be selected from those left to go with the 

 exHibit of the best ten varieties and put into a bag as directed, and 

 then into a box that is to hold only the ten varieties. The next best 

 four might be selected, and the bag containing them put into another 

 box intended to hold the collection of apples and nothing else. The 

 rest of the apples, packed as before described, should go into a fourth 

 box to hold the sweepstakes only. 



This plan of gathering, selecting and packing in separate boxes 



