HORTICULTURE AT THE STATE FAIR. 279 



HORTICULTURE AT THE STATE FAIR. 



SECY. E. W. RANDALL, HAMLINE. 



I do not purpose to describe in detail the horticultural exhibit at 

 the recent state fair, nor do I understand that it was intended I 

 should do so when this topic was assigned to me. Many of those 

 here present helped to make the exhibit and have personal knowl- 

 edge of its character; others, no doubt, have read the careful ac- 

 count of it which appeared in the October number of the 

 "Horticulturist" and in that way have gained a knowledge of 

 its extent, excellence and beauty. The fruit and flower exhibit com- 

 prised as many varieties as were ever seen in any exhibition in the 

 Northwest and was one of the features which most visitors took 

 pains to find. There were seven hundred and forty entries in this 

 department and seven hundred and sixty-six dollars and seventy- 

 five cents was paid in premiums by the fair management. But 

 rather than continue this description, I wish to speak briefly of the 

 value of horticulture in a general way, that I may the more clearly 

 show the value of a horticultural exhibit at the state fair, not only 

 to the exhibitors and the fair, but to the state at large. 



The products of horticulture are itnportant from a commercial 

 standpoint, and the total income to the people of the state from this 

 source is not only large but is continually growing. It is true there 

 have been severe winters which have wrought sad havoc with fruit 

 interests; bilt, on the whole, there has been a steady advance. If the 

 figures of our state statistician can be relied upon, there were more 

 apple trees growing in 1874 than now, though the number of bushels 

 produced has been'much greater in 1896 than in any other year of 

 the state's history. The grape product is also important, and the 

 value of the small fruits of the state in the aggregate is very large. 

 That horticulturists, by their progressive efforts, are adding 

 materially to the annual income and wealth of the state cannot be 

 denied. 



It inay be properly urged, also, that the extension of horticultural 

 interests tends to the betterment of public health. The products of 

 any latitude are the ones best adapted to the health and well being 

 of the people living in that particular climate. A kind creator has 

 not only placed within oiar reach all the bounties needed for life and 

 comfort, but has apparently made it necessary for us to use them. 

 Facilities for transportation are now so perfect that sub-tropical and 

 tropical fruits are brought to our doors at verj' reasonable prices. 

 While we enjoy these fruits and find them palatable, we know that, 

 unlike the fruits of our own locality, they are luxuries and not nec- 

 essary articles of food. In the latitudes in which they are grown, no 

 doubt these fruits are extensively used with beneficial results, but 

 if people here should attempt the use of any of them to the extent 

 that our apples, for instance, are used the result would be positively 

 injurious. That horticultural products contain elements needed in 

 animal economy is proved by the growth and strength of animals 

 fed upon fruits largely for long periods. I was reminded in a recent 

 conversation with a well known local ph5'siciaa, that since the art of 

 canning, preserving and drying fruits has been so far perfected as 

 to make them possible articles of diet for sailors and men in bar- 



