490 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



FRUIT AT THE 1896 IOWA STATE FAIR. 



(See plate on opposite page.) 



The fruit exhibit at the Iowa State Fair, was a grand success un- 

 der the management of A. F. Collman, of Corning. Mr. VV. Green, of 

 Davenport, who is an expert in that line of work, assisted in the 

 decoration. Floral hall was decorated with evergreen wreathing, 

 gracefull}^ draped in squares across the hall, and the walls were 

 trimmed with evergreen, flowers and bunting. The florists in Dea 

 Moines greatly helped to make the hall attractive with a very fine 

 exhibit of rare flowers and plants. 



The fruit exhibit was the largest and best the state ever made. 

 Choice fruits from the east and west, from the north and south, filled 

 the hall to overflowing. The fine exhibit from the agricultural col- 

 lege grounds was very attractive. Many fine peaches were on the 

 tables from several counties in the state. In fact, all the exhibits 

 were attractive. The floral hall should be enlarged to make more 

 room for another year. (Just like us. Sec'y.) 



Principal exhibitors were: 



Southern District. apples. 



J. F. Record, Glen wood 80 Varieties. 



A. F. Collman, Corning 90 



Central District. 

 J. Wragg&Sons, Waukee 100 



B. Steward, Ivy 80 



Isaac Dawson, Rising Sun 75 " 



J. M. Chaffee, Mitchellville 40 



J. W. Dawson, Rising Sun 38 



Northern District. 



L. G. Chute, Delaware Co 45 " 



E.H. Smith, Dubuque 30 " 



R. P. Speer, Cedar Falls 40 



J. B. Mitchell, Cresco 200 



C. G. Patten, Chas. City 150 " 



There were some very fine seedling apples shown by Mr. C. G. 



Patten and Mr. B. Steward. 



Inoculating the Soil.— A writer in the Contemporary Review 

 tells of the recent discovery of a German professor which bids fair 

 to solve the problem of worn-out lands and will transform in many 

 respects the treatment of soils. It consists of the inoculation of the 

 soil with pure cultures of bacteria for the purpose of promoting 

 plant-growth. Some conception of its importance luay be afforded 

 by the statement that it offers a practical solution of the great prob- 

 lem of how to utilize for vegetation the boundless stores in the air 

 of one of the most important of all plant-foods, viz , nitrogen — a 

 problem which, we may add, has long exercised the minds of the 

 plant physiologist and agricultural chemist. 



