COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 285 



FINAL REPORT OF THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURAL 

 EXHIBIT AT THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 



BY A. W. LATHAM, SUPT. 

 (Made at the Annual Winter Meeting of the Societjs Jan. It, 1894.) 



In inaking- this final report to the society it is not the intention to 

 go over all the work. This has been partiall}' described in reports 

 which I made to you last winter and again at the last suininer meet- 

 ing. For a full report it will be necessary to consult those two par- 

 tial reports, but as this final report is to be of a more formal nature, 

 I will go briefly over the ground from the beginning. 



It will be remembered that the Minnesota Commission tnade the 

 appropriation of $5,000 for this exhibit earlj^ in August, 1892. I im- 

 mediately prepared and sent out to the members of the societ3' and 

 others whom I knew to be engaged in the business of growing fruit 

 the following circular letter : 



Dear Sir:— I am now making preparation for the Minnesota horticviltural ex- 

 hibit at the Columbian Exposition, and would like this fall to secure specimens 

 of all valuable varieties of plums, apples, crabs, etc., seedlings or otherwise, to be 

 preserved in glass jars for exhibition on that occason. 



Please write me at once what varieties you can probably supply, and I will let 

 you know soon what, if any, to send me. 



Also give me addresses of persons having anything in this line unusual or 

 extra nice. 



Persons contributing this fruit will be given credit for it in the report of the 

 exhibit, and any reasonable expense connected with the preparation and the 

 forwarding will be refunded, if desired. Not more than enough to fill a two-quart 

 jar of any one variet5^ is required. 



It is intended to make this exhibit as comprehensive as possible, and a fine 

 collection of this class of fruit is especially desirable. 



I also wish to secure a quantitj' of late-keeping apples to be placed in cold 

 storage for use on the tables at the opening of the Exposition. Can any be 

 secured in your localitj% and from whom, and what varieties? 



An immediate reply will greatly oblige 



Yours in the work, A. W. LATHA?i, Sec'y. 



To this letter there were many replies, and in connection with the 

 ensuing correspondence the following circular letters giving direc- 

 tions, etc., were used : 



DEAR wSlK:— My experience so far in canning fruit for the Columbian Exposi- 

 tion teaches me the a ft.so/ufe necessitj- for the utmost care in gathering and 

 packing the fruit intended for this purpose. Every little bruise or pressure 

 shows. 



Will you please then follow exactly the following directions, viz: 



1. Allow the fruit to attain full size and color, without being over-ripe. 



2. In picking do not touch the fruit with the hand, but place tissue paper 

 around it and cut off the stem with scissors. 



3. Pack closely in a box with plenty of cotton batting or soft paper, and send 

 immediately by express. 



I send you by mail some tissue paper for this purpose. 



Y'ours very resp., A. W. LATHAM, Sec'y. 



Dear Sir: — Will you please pack to put in cold storage for the Columbian Ex- 

 position the following apples, viz: * * * * 



To be certain of their keeping well, these directions should by followed e.vacfir, 

 viz. 



1. Allow the fruit to attain full size and color, ■without getting over-ripe. 



2. Select only fairly large, well-colored, and quite perfect fruit. 



