HORTICULTURE AT THE STATE FAIR, 1897. 379 



Improvement League of that city, of whom Mrs, Geo. B. Alton 

 is chairman. The work of this committee was well recited in a 

 paper read before our last annual meeting- by Mrs. M. M. Barnard, 

 the former chairman and still a member of the committee. This 

 display of over 100 bouquets represented a large amount of 

 work, as they were secured largely by solicitation and from 

 nearly all the schools of the city. These ladies are doing a noble 

 work in interesting the children in flower culture and should and 

 will receive from our society the fullest support. Seven of the chil- 

 dren received premiums in competition with other amateur exhib- 

 itors, most of whom were adults. This kind of exhibits would be 

 encouraged by making a class for amateurs under fourteen years of 

 age, or possibly premiums might be offered for exhibits of cut 

 flowers by schools with satisfactory results. 



We were fortunate in having with us again Mr. J. B. Rogers, of 

 Newark, N. J., who again consented to act as judge of grapes. Mr. 

 D. K. Michenor, a successful orchardist of Etna, in southern Minne- 

 sota, acted in a similar capacity on amateur apples. The other 

 judges. Prof. S. B. Green on professional apples and seedlings, A. S- 

 Swanson on professional flowers, E. Nagel on amateur flowers, and 

 J. S. Harris on plums, we have always with us, but their assistance 

 is none the less fully appreciated. The one judge plan seems to 

 work well and give uniform satisfaction, with us, at least. 



This article could be continued indefinitely, but instead — come to 

 the fair next year and see for yourself. 



THE FUTURE OF VINEYARDING IN MINNESOTA. 



A. A. BOST, EXCELSIOR. 



I will say a few words only with regard to marketing grape crops, 

 as I think the future depends largely on this part of the work. We 

 have the advantage of being near the consuming market of the 

 west; we have less disease, insects, etc., to contend with than in 

 other localities. We have additional expense to be sure, in the way 

 of winter protection, but trimming, covering, etc., is done so much 

 more quickly and easily than formerly, and is so well understood by 

 you all that I won't take your time in that line. Our grapes have 

 quite a reputation, and if all use full weight baskets, pack nothing 

 but sound, well ripened grapes, our commission men would soon 

 have a demand for more than they could supply. 



I have shipped to a good many western towns and heard many 

 complaints that our baskets were not full weight. Merchants are 

 accustomed to handling full weight baskets from other states and 

 expect the same from us. It is a great mistake and an injury to 

 our market to pack poor bunches and unripe grapes. There is a 

 demand for them for jelly, and they bring almost as much in bulk 

 as good grapes in baskets. I have shipped them successfully into 

 Dakota in barrels, but bushel baskets are more suitable. 



