64 ANNUAL REPORT. 
as possible to perfection, and the thousands of visitors at the fairs bemg favora- 
bly impressed with the beauty and utility of the articles and learning something 
of the methods of growing them, will return to their homes fully determined to 
do likewise or even better, and that alone will prove an ample return for the 
labor and expense involved. 
Progress Shown. 
By comparing the last four with those of previous years, we see that a most 
wonderful progress has been made in the horticultural department. Less than 
twenty years since orchards, nurseries, and plant houses were almost unknown in 
this State. The earlier premium lists were largely copied from those of other 
states, and contained the offer of small prizes for the best fruits and flowers, which 
brought out a meagre exhibition, although the best available, of such§fruit and 
flowers as would not at this time receive a passing notice, in fact at some of the 
fairs two square yards of table room was more than sufficient to hold the entire 
collection of fruits and flowers. We now have not a perfect but a liberal pre- 
mium list for the department, and scores of men bring forward grand collections 
of fruits and flowers and compete tor the prizes, and 1t requires a large hall to 
accommodate the treasures of Pomo and Flora that they may be shown to ad- 
vantage. 
Unfavorable Circumstances. 
There were several circunistances that were considered unfavorable for having 
a great display of fruit at the last fair, September 2d to 7th, 1878. A severe 
frost having occurred in May after the trees had blossomed and set their fruit greatly 
lessened and entirely destroyed the crop in some sections of the State. The time 
of holding the fair was a few days too early for showing grapes and the later 
apples to the best advantage except by those having the most favored locations, 
as the former were scarcely ripe and the latter not well colored up, and last, but 
not least, the great exposition to be held in Minneapolis was expected to (as it did) 
call away many of the exhibitors of former years. 
Number and quality of Entries. 
Notwithstanding all these unfavorable impressions floral hall was tastefully 
decorated and put into very complete order and filled to overflowing with the 
fruits and flowers of Minnesota making a magnificent exhibition. There were 
242 entries of apples and grapes, comprising about 2,000 plates of apples and 
more than 100 of grapes. There was in the exhibition over 100/0f the named 
varieties of the apple, nearly as many more of seedlings, about 30 of Siberians 
and hybrids and over thirty of grapes. The very fair appearance of the apples 
and the good quality as far as tested, and the quantity as compared with the 
hardy and easily grown Siberian, must have a tendency to make a favorable 
impression upon the minds of the thousands who were in attendance at the 
fair, and doubtless many of them returned to their homes satisfied that fruit 
growing in Minnesota is a success, and fully determined to plant and own an 
orchard. The floral department, although limited to exhibitions chiefly in St. 
Paul and the immediate vicinity, was magnificent and spoke volumes for the 
taste and refinement of our people whose patronage warrants the extensive 
growing of such plants. 
