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362 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. __ 
balance of the increase being inapples. It was unfortunate for this 
department that the fair was held at soearlyadate. Applesshown  — 
there which were entirely green have since then taken on a beauti- 
ful coloring. None of the late ripening fruits were near enough to 
maturity to give any idea of their final appearance. The Wealthy, 
which is such a wonderfully showy apple when fully ripe, was only 
partially colored. Grapes, too, suffered from the same cause, most 
of the varieties shown being very green. 
The personnel in the hall was very much as in past years, though 
it was sad to note the zbzenee of some who for so long have been 
regularly with us. There has not been a fair before in many years 
that we have not seen Michael Pearce’s familiar face. Andrew 
Peterson, of Waconia, too, has been almost as regular an exhibitor. 
Both of these have died within the past year. Bi, 
In the awards, Mr. Wm. Somerville received the first premium for oe 
collection of apples,J.S.Harris being second and the Jewell Nursery er. 
third (a reversal of last year’s awards). The sweepstakes exhibit 
of apples, which was made possible by the premium of $100 offered 
by John W. Thomas & Co., of Minneapolis, proved to be all the suc- 
cess that was anticipated for it, over1,0U0 plates being shown in 
competition forthe premiums:-offered. Mr. Harris easily carried off 
the honors of this class, with 415 varieties, to secure which he must 
have swept the state over with anew broom. Every variety in his j 
exhibit was carefully labeled with its name and the name of the ee 
grower and the place where grown, which added very much to the ee 
value of the display to those who were interested to study the fruit, 
as a great many were. The other exhibitors labeled their fruit, too, 
but some were not so careful to carry out this requirement, and 
suffered on account of it with the awarding committee. On the 
whole, there was considerable improvement manifested in getting ee 
up and labeling the various exhibits, this year especially showing aa 
a large advance over any previous year. A number of the exhibits 
were especially commendable on this account. Exhibitors will find 
this to be a great advantage to them in the marking for awards, and 
it is to be hoped that all will follow these excellent examples, thus 
adding to the general appearance and attractiveness of the hall. 
As usual a few plates of pears and peaches were on exhibition, the 
latter being from Mr. Peter M. Gideon’s orchard, Excelsior. Mr, 
Gideon also sent down a very interesting collection of seedlings. 
Col. John H. Stevens brought this display to the hall in person, 
s howing, notwithstanding his infirmities, his old time enthusiasm 
and interest in horticulture. 
Taken as a whole, the arrangements, both on the part of the man- ie 
agement and the exhibitors, were a decided improvement over any 
previous year. The hall was handsomely decorated in the national 
colors, to which work Supt. Wyman Elliot gave his personal atten- 
tion, climbing on step ladders and other precarious elevations, like 
any youth of sixteen. ate 
While it is gratifying to note the increased care with which exhib- 
itors are setting up their fruit, it is very evident that on the part of 
some, there exists a necessity for greater preparation athome. It 
