370 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



BETTERING THE NEXT STATE FAIR. 



GEO. J. KELLOGG, WISCONSIN. 



[Mr. Kellogg has made below some criticisms as to the fruit exhibit at the late 

 state fair. In the main they say "enforce your regulations," and for the intelli- 

 gent understanding of the subject the regulations of the state fair referred to 

 follow this article. Other criticisms are invited.— SEC'y.] , 



Allow me to eug-gest some things about the horticultural depart- 

 ment at your state fair, from an outsider. 



Enforce rule No. 1, grapes and all. 



Enforce rule No. 6, and furnish a competent person or persons 

 who shall do nothing else while the fruit is being placed and 

 named. 



Enforce rule No. 8. 



Enforce rule No. 9 and insist on it, and insist that the judges live 

 up to it, and each one making an exhibit. 



Enforce rule 10 (b), (c), and require statement at time fruit is put 

 out. Bring them to time on (c). 



In rule 11 have statement of what has been kept in cold storage. 



Enforce latter part of rule 12. 



I would suggest that sweepstakes be cut down to twenty-five 

 varieties of apples, ten varieties of seedlings, ten varieties of crab 

 apples, five varieties of plume, five varieties of grapes, and that the 

 professionals and non professionals exhibit separate, and that no 

 person can enter in both, and that a professional is one who makes 

 most of his living in the fruit business. 



After sweepstakes I would have lists of five, ten and twenty apples 

 in both classes. 



I would have hybrids and crabs separate and insist that hybrids 

 must be bigger than crabs. I would reject all plates of standard 

 varieties that did not make a commendable show; also all plates 

 of seedlings, crabs and standards that were wormy and not up to 

 size. 



I would cut down the list of plates. Judges should be given their 

 work the first day and not be hurried, and exhibitors must furnish 

 lists. 



I would make some radical changes so as to call out the farmer 

 with his five or ten varieties. 



In search of good seedlings, I would take the Wealthy as a stand- 

 ard and cut off everything that was not three-fourths the size of 

 the Wealthy; that would have shut out three-fourths of all the seed- 

 lings on the tables. 



I only find twenty-three exhibitors of apples, six exhibitors of 

 grapes, and about six of plums — thirty-five in all. At Walworth, 

 Wis., I had 907 entries of fruits, by 107 exhibitors. I think if you 

 will divide up the money and make more premiums, you will im- 

 prove your show. 



