294 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



to the exhibit of currants, ten varieties, and gooseberries, two varie- 

 ties. A fairlj^ good exhibit of raspberries was made, including 

 twenty-two named varieties and manj' seedlings, and on this fruit 

 the state received an award, to which it was fairlj" entitled. The 

 fruit shown was bj' no ineans equal to that of ordinary years,though 

 it compared well with any other state exhibit. There is no doubt that 

 had it been a good fruit season our state would have come through 

 this portion of the exhibit with the greatest credit. Of blackberries 

 onl}' five varieties were shown, bvit in sufficient quantity to make a 

 good showing until about the first of October. The drj', hot weather 

 still continuing affected equallj^ this with the other small fruits. 



The visit home to which I referred terminated on Jul}' 6th, from 

 which time to the 10th of August, I was personalU' in charge of the 

 exhibit. At that date I again retvirned to Minnesota, as it seemed 

 verj' necessary' that I should, in the interest of securing fruit for 

 the fall exhibit. The answers to inquiring letters as to plums and 

 apples were of a most discouraging character and I feared that, 

 without extraordinary efforts,we should be unable to make an exhibit 

 of even a very limited number of varieties. Soon after my return, I 

 prepared what I felt like calling a "forlorn hope" circular letter, a 

 copy of which here follows: 



Read verx carefuIJj^. 



EXCEI-SIOK, MiXN., Aug. 15, 1893. 

 DEAR vSlK: 



It seems almost impossible to find a sufficient number of varieties of apples 

 and plums this verj' unfavorable year to make a creditible exhibit at the World's 

 Fair, and to accomplish this absolutely demands the co-operation yf every mem- 

 ber of our societs'. Two of us are making personal efforts to find this fruit, but so 

 far without sufficient success; but I still believe it is to be found, and that if all of 

 our members will promptly respond to this call a sufficient number of varieties 

 will be secured. As only four or five apples— or one-half pint of plums— of any one 

 variety are needed, if you have any fruit at all, it is likely you can find that many 

 specimens. Of course, we do not want to exhibit anything that is absolutely 

 inferior: but if it is of fair size and reasonably free from blemish it will have to 

 answer, even though it is not up to the standard of good fruit years. 



We do not need Duchess or Wealthy, as we have found plenty of those varieties, 

 but every other variety of apples, crab apples and plums, including especially 

 seedling apples, of which we are very desirous of making a large exhibit. 



Will j-ou not take a few hours the very d ax you receive this to look over your 

 f)wn orchard and any others near you, and fill out and mail the enclosed postal, if 

 possible, by return mail. I will let you know then at once what kinds to send, and 

 you can forward them as fast as they ripen. Full directions for packing and ship- 

 ping, also shipping tags, will be furnished you. 



A record will be kept of the varieties furnished and name of contributor, which 

 will go into our next published report, and whatever expense you are put to in 

 this connection will be wi!lingly paid. 



Will you not please give this very important matter immediate attention? 



Yours fraternally, 



A. W. LATHA?!, Sec'y. 



In this circular I felt it necessary to make a very earnest appeal to 

 our members and all interested in the credit of our society and the 

 exhibit to come to the rescue and send what tlicj' had. Scarcely any 

 one, I knew, had any really first class fruit, and everyone was unwill- 

 ing to send anything else, the result being that we were getting and 

 were likely to get very little. In reply to this appeal the friends of 



