COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 291 



8. On account of the high express charges, please pack in thin wood boxes, 

 using the utmost care in securing choice specimens and handUng to prevent 

 damage. As far as practicable, all fruits should be wrapped in tissue paper 

 and packed in dry chaflf or bran. Small fruits, should be sent in pint boxes, 

 and everj' precavition possible taken in packing. 



9. Please notify the superintendent at as early a date as possible of your inten- 

 tion to make entries and of what they will probably consist. A notice should also 

 be sent on the day of shipment. 



10. Every care will be taken here to see that each shipment receives just treat- 

 ment, and realizing as you must the amount of -vs'ork this will place upon the 

 superintendent, it is virgently requested that all the details here recited may be 

 closely conformed to, and thus as far as possible reduce and simplify this work. 



11. It is hoped that every fruit grower in our state will take advantage of this 

 opportunity to display without expense the specialties grown, or any unusually 

 good fruit that nature and careful tillage have kindly placed in their hands. 



Address all express packages or mail to 



A. W. LATHAM, 

 Supt. Minnesota Exhibit, 

 Horticultural Building, Chicago, Ills. 

 (The above address is sufficient to secure prompt delivery.) 

 N. B. — Please fill out and return the accompanying postal card at an early date. 



It was stated in this circular that the information was not official, 

 but consisted substantially of what I had been able to learn on the 

 subject. To be exact about this, I will say that I prepared the cir- 

 cular from information received from the officers connected with 

 the department of awards; and before sending-, it was submitted 

 to the chairman of awards in the horticultural building-, and also to 

 the chief clerk in the office of Mr. John Boyd Thatcher, Mr. Thatcher 

 himself being absent. It received their approval as expressing the 

 purposes of that department. Later, the entries running into the 

 thousands, it was considered impracticable to make awards to pri- 

 vate individuals on small exhibitions, and the policy was adopted 

 of noticing private exhibitors only where a large number of varie- 

 ties was shown. Very few awards were made in this department to 

 individuals, and in connection with our exhibit there were only two. 

 I have very much regretted the issuance of this circular, as it un- 

 doubtedly brought disappointment to a few who, if the plan as then 

 provided had been carried out, would have received awards. The 

 doings of the department of awards at the fair have been very hard 

 to fathoin, and I believe still continue to be to those of us who have 

 further dealings with them. 



On the 14th of June, Mr. W. L. Parker, of Farmington, came as as- 

 sistant, and remained until the first of October. His presence made 

 it possible for me to pe away from the exhibit and feel at ease in 

 regard to its care, as his experience at the state fairs had shown his 

 capability in this direction. I wish to express my sense of obliga- 

 tion to him for his kind helpfulness. 



On the 17th of June, I left the fair for a short visit at home to be 

 present at the summer meeting, Mr. Clarence Wedge of Albert Lea, 

 kindly consenting to occupy my place. This brings me down to the 

 termination of the period covered by the report rendered at the last 

 summer meeting. 



During the month of June a large number of notices appeared in 

 the press, mostly of our own state, some of which may be of interest 

 to preserve and are here reproduced : 



