HORTICULTURE AT MINNESOTA STATE FAIR IN 1900. 3868 
a good deal of assistance, J. R. Cummins, O. F. Brand, W. L. Parker, 
August Wittman and many others taking a hand, resulting in a grand total 
of the unprecedented number of gor plates. 
As to grapes, this was an off year, and not much was expected in this 
department, and the fruit that was shown was hardly up to the usual high 
standard. There was am increase of five plates, however, over the total of 
last year. As to peaches and pears, we got there, as usual, with nine entries, 
These entries are of fruit actually shown, and do not include a number 
where the exhibitors failed to appear. 
The two nursery exhibits of last year were continued. C. W. Sampson 
occupied the sixteen feet in the southwest corner of the hall with a very 
tasty display, and the Jewell Nursery Company had as before the space be- 
tween the doors at the north end. The changes in the last named exhibit 
were such as to make it the attractive feature of the hall, and it deserves 
especial mention. The florists, all from the city of Minneapolis, occupied the 
rest of the wall space, excepting a space granted to so-called concessions, 
where the people could buy “solid” jewelry and similar goods. It is the am- 
bition of this department to eliminate this class of “exhibits” entirely from 
the hall, and as the management of the fair seem to feel that way too, it is 
likely that we have this year seen the last of them. With the aid of the 
horticultural society, always readily granted, there is no doubt that the en- 
tire building can be occupied with a purely horticultural exhibit and made a 
very handsome place, without this incongruous element. 
The comments of the press upon the horticultural department were more 
than usually liberal, and as our readers have all undoubtedly noticed them 
they need not be referred to here any more than to say that they voice very 
accurately the growing interest in the industries this department especially 
fosters. An editorial of more than two columns found in the Pioneer Press 
the Sunday following the fair gives a very fair resume of the present condi- 
tion of fruit growing in our state, and the relation of the horticultural so- 
ciety and the state fair thereto. If you are interested to know what others 
think of us, it may not be too late to secure a copy. 
As to the future of our department, it may only be conjectured. It 
may be retained in the building it at present occupies, or we, may be so for- 
tunate as to secure the erection of a new building the coming year. We 
would look better in a new suit of clothes and feel more comfortable. It 
would gratify our aspirations and cause us to put forth greater efforts to 
maintain the high standing of our society. It has been suggested that, as 
there must be soon a new building for either horticulture or agriculture, 
that a double building be erected which would accommodate both, with a 
rotunda between constructed especially for flowers and plants, and a long 
wing on either side, one for our brethren in the agricultural department and 
the other for ourselves. Agriculture is very illy accommodated under the 
grand stand, and the manufactures and liberal arts department would find 
plenty of use for our present building. Such a structure as this outlined 
would be a grand addition to the present fine equipment of the state fair 
and worthy of the two interests it would accommodate. The garden, or- 
chard and farm should touch elbows at the fair as they do at home. What 
do you think of this project, and what will you do to advance it? 
The regulation now enforced requiring all the exhibits to be in place 
when the fair opens Monday morning has caused a little disappointment to 
