82 ANNUAL EEPORT 



The worst specimen of humanity at our fairs is the habitual 

 grumbler. He made an exhibit last year and, although he had 

 the "very best there was" did not get any premium. "The 

 whole thing was a farce and you would not catch him there 

 again with anything to show" — "drinking, gambling and horse- 

 racing had become the main features of the fair, and it was 

 about time for the farmers to stay away and let the whole thing 

 fall through as it was bound to do." 



In the vegetable department there were two hundred and 

 forty-six single entries and only three displays from county 

 agricultural, or horticultural societies, viz: Brown, Clay and 

 Wasecai the rules laid down in the premium list having excluded 

 the counties of Eamsey, Dakota, Washington and Hennepin, 

 from competing. Why could not tliose Counties have been 

 included in a district class and have given us a grand display! 



Why there were no entries under the head of professional 

 gardeners I do not understand. The premiums w«ere liberal 

 enough to have induced those living in the vicinity of Minne- 

 apolis and St. Paul to have made a good exhibit. I am inclined 

 to think they did not covet the name of professor since some of 

 our plain horticultural brethren went up into Dakota to attend 

 a farmers' alliance and came back dubbed in that way. 



What has become of the German Horticultural Society of Eam- 

 sey county? It usually has made a fine exhibit at our fairs, 

 and some members are practically our best horticulturists. If 

 gardening is to become a science, we must act as co-workers to- 

 gether in our horticultural organizations and at our fairs. 



The management has struck the right cord in offering prem- 

 iums to the boys, but I suppose the boys did not know of it in 

 time to avail themselves of the privilege and prepare for the 

 exhibition, hence, there were no entries in that department. I 

 hope this arrangement will be continued in the future, not only 

 for the benefit of the boys, but for the girls also, in all the dif- 

 ferent departments in which they are capable of competing. 

 They would enjoy it as a real pleasure, and in the ardent effort 

 to excel and show what they are capable of doing, would acquire 

 much knowledge that would otherwise be neglected and lost, and 

 which would be of great advantage to them in subsequent life. 



We find the products of but thirty-two exhibitions on the board, 

 and but seven counties in the State represented. The whole 

 amount of premiums awarded on vegetables was $324.00, of which 

 twenty-four exhibitors, received part. In quality the display 



