360 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



OUR LATE AGRICULTURAL FAIR. 



\VM. SOMEKVILLE. VIOLA. 



Mr. President and Members of the Society: They have put 

 it upon me to write a report in regard to our state fair, and 

 the premiums that were offered and awarded at that fair for 

 exhibits in the shape of fruit. In the fruit exhibit at our state 

 fair I was disappointed with the amount of premiums offered 

 to the exliibitors, and not I alone, but a great many otliers 

 were just as much disappointed as I was, and I do not 

 think our agricultural society treated us as we deserve. It 

 was my opinion in the first place not to go to the fair at all, 

 but at the solicitation of our honorable sflteretary and others I 

 finally consented and went, but while I went it was not for the 

 money that was in it, because there was not enough money 

 awarded to anybody to pay the expense of the exhibit. I think 

 the management of the agricultural society does not understand 

 what it takes to get up an exhibit to take to the fair, otherwise 

 they would have been a little more liberal in their premiums. 

 It is quite a job to get up an exhibit of sixty, seventy to 

 eighty varieties of fruit fit to be seen at a state fair, but I am 

 in hopes that in the future they may do a little better with us. 

 I think we ought to get enough money out of such an exhibit 

 to at least pay the expense of getting it to the fair. We do not 

 like to do this when we know that premiums, very liberal prem- 

 iums, are offered for things that can be grown in a year or two 

 years; and while we have been working for thirty- five years in 

 growing what we exhibit, I think it no more than right, no 

 more than justice, that we should get a liberal premium on 

 what we exhibit there. 



Our last state fair (1895) was in every department a grand success 

 and an honor to the state. The efficient manner in which the offi- 

 cers and inanag-ers performed their laborious work, the order main- 

 tained throughout the entire fair, the prohibiting- of intoxicating 

 liquor or any gambling devices to be allowed on the grounds, all 

 are worthy the praise of every good citizen. The exhibit of stock 

 and machinery was one of highest grade. The main hall was 

 decorated by experienced hands, and the show of mercantile goods 

 was gorgeous beyond description. But horticultural hall appeared 

 to be the center of attraction. Now, what was the object of the 

 horticultural society in making such a display as would be an 

 honor to any state? It was certainly not for the premiums offered, 

 because the agricultural society had cut the premiums down for 

 the exhibitors of fruits to less than five hundred dollars, a sum in- 

 sufilcient to pay for collecting the fruit and the expenses of those 

 exhibiting. No, it was not for that; it was for the love of their work 



