78 | ANNUAL REPORT. 
tuberoses, hand, table, and bridal boquets, funeral ornaments and floral des 
Mr.-Mendenhall had a very choice collection of specimen and ( 
J. E. Booth made 21 entries, consisting of green and hot-house, foliage, 
plants, plants in bloom, roses, bedding plants, succulent bulbs and p 
plants, also rustic stand filled with growing plants, boquets and floral ee 
roses and cut flowers. Mr. Aldon’s collection consisted of thirteen entries, green- 
house, decorative and groups of plants in bloom, also roses, dahlias and house 
plants. The specimens were all in fine condition, and arranged to the best ad- 
vantage for the inspection of visitors and judges. Of amateurs, or those growing a 
few plants for their own special use, I would mention C. A. Smith, whose collec- 
tion consisted of foliage and decorative plants. Wm. Grimshaw, wardian case 
filled with flowers. Mrs. Lizzie Morse, stocked aquarium and group of plants, 
and wardian case of ferns. Mrs. Rachel Riddle, house-leek growing in basket, 
fine specimen. Henry A. Lovering, Oleander tree, and Mrs. I. Atwater, speci- 
men plants and cut flowers. Of the class of plants above named, the collection 
was very near complete, and while we should regard them as household pets, and 
give them all necessary care and protection, we mu:t not forget that there are 
other plants and flowers seldom seen at fairs that are perfectly hardy im all situ- 
ations, and flourish with but little care, that are more suitable to adorn the sur- 
roundings of home with all their ennobling and refining influence, and make 
attractive the door yards of the rich and poor alike. 
Vegetables—University Exhibit. 
The vegetable section comprised no less than 262 entries, certainly very cred- 
itable, but not better than I have before seen on exhibition im the State, and in 
addition Prof. Lacy, of the agricultural department of the State University, 
presented a large collection of grains and vegetables, grown on the Experimental 
Farm. This collection was not entered for premium, but to illustrate the work 
in which the professor is engaged in his experiments as a scientific and practical 
farmer and to show the result of crops treated with and without fertilizers, and 
also the relative value of the same when applied to the growth of grains and 
vegetables, and also the results accruing from different modes of farming. 
This group was of more importance in a practical sense than all the overgrown 
specimens put together, because it teaches a lesson of demonstrated facts that 
may be learned even by the boy who is supposed to be too dull and stupid to 
make anything—but a farmer. 
Northern Pacific—Hennepin County. 
The Northern Pacific put in a good display of grains and vegetables, collected 
along the line of their road, by way of advertisement, showing that they are 
wide awake to their own interests. 
The Hennepin County Farmers’ and Gardeners’ Association had a large 
pyramid or monument (I am not sure which) of vegetables that loomed up in 
magnificent proportions, showing what combined effort and artistic skill can 
accomplish. 
Other Exhibitors. 
But I must fall back to the regular patrons of the show, who exhibit for pre- 
miums and that alone,‘and pile up in embryo mountains Nature’s monstrocities 
