282 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Upon my return, late in March, this work was entirelj' completed, 

 except the last coat of paint, which was put on the daj^ after mj^ leav- 

 ing. The Minnesota installation was at that time the only sig-n of 

 preparation for the fair in the pomological department, and contin- 

 ued so to be up to only a few days prior to its opening on May 1st. 



The fruit which had been canned as a part of the permanent ex- 

 hibit, comprising some two hundred glass jars, was sent by freight, 

 and I found it on hand at the time of my arrival there to set up the 

 permanent exhibit, on the 26th day of April. B3' good fortune the 

 jars came intact and in as good apparent condition as when they 

 were canned the fall before — and in digression I maj' now say their 

 condition has not deteriorated in any appreciable degree. 



On Frida}' preceding the opening of the fair our ice-box received 

 its first contribution of a ton and a half of ice, and three barrels of 

 apples were brought down from cold storage in the city to be used 

 at the opening of the show. This fruit was found to be in excellent 

 condition, much in excess of my most sanguine expectations, and I 

 may say that this has proved to be the case with nearly all the fruit 

 placed in storage. 



On the opening day of the fair,the Minnesota fruit exhibit was prac- 

 tigall}- in shape, the refrigerator cases, the shelving and the revolv- 

 ing tables all being well filled with fruit jars and plates of apples, 

 the whole adorned somewhat bj^ trailing vines and a few decorative 

 plants It was at this time, evidently, that the photograph was taken 

 from which the engraving was made that appeared in the Maj^ num- 

 ber of the Illustrated World's Fair magazine, a copj- of which I have 

 brought here for your inspection. This picture was taken without 

 my knowledge, or possiblj^ a few changes might have added to its 

 attractiveness. 



Since that time quite a number of additions have been made to the 

 exhibit, all of which it is hoped add to the attraction and usefulness 

 of the display. The object in view in preparing and maintaining 

 this exhibit has been its general effect upon the very transitory 

 audience that looks upon it, rather than to emphasize and call atten- 

 tion to any particular details therein. The benefit to the community 

 that pays for such an exhibit depends largelj- upon the number of 

 people whose attention can be attracted to it and who can be made 

 to perceive at a glance that the state of Minnesota is growing a 

 handsome variety of fruits. With the exception of citizens of our 

 own state,who are really looking for Minnesota exhibits, very few of 

 the thousands who dailj' pass by, pause an instant to notice anj"- ex- 

 hibit unless their attention is attracted by the whole or some special 

 feature of it. In emphasis of the theory upon which this exhibit is 

 being conducted, the turning tables, which are placed at either ends 

 of the booth and revolve in opposite directions by an electric motor, 

 containing, as they do, a variety of fresh and canned fruits and sur- 

 mounted b}' a cluster of decorative plants and graced with trailing 

 vines from Minnesota greenhouses, catch the eye of nearlj' all who 

 pass and cause a moment's delay. These tables are surmounted by 

 plain black crescents bearing the name, Minnesota, in gold letters. 

 The name of the state appears in several other places, so that the 

 public, who very largely move rapidly through this hall, receive 



