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MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and operated. Of late years certain concessions have crept into 

 this building, selling perfumery, fancy glass, pens, tops and some 

 other things that on account of the way they are operated always 

 draw a crowd. The excuse is that the concessions, as they are 

 called, increase the revenue for the maintenance of the fair. 

 This year we understand the amount received from this source 

 was approximately $500.00. After setting up such a splendid 

 building and spending over $5,000.00 in doing it, and this, by no 

 means, covers the whole expense of this department, which in- 



View across fruit tables at State Fair. 



eluding interest on investment, depreciation, repairs, overhead 

 expenses, etc., would easily increase this amount one-half — it 

 seems poor policy to introduce so discordant an element to save 

 one-fifteenth of the cost of the department. It would even have 

 been better to have cut down the premiums offered in this depart- 

 ment $500.00 and had a clean building. Don't do it again ! 



The Horticultural Society maintained an office near the 

 north door during the fair, at which the secretary was in at- 

 tendance a considerable portion of the time. A large number of 

 members were met in this way, and the fraternal spirit of the 

 society had opportunity for full manifestation. A considerable 

 number of memberships were secured, and we trust the presence 

 of the society in this semi-official way added somewhat to the 

 interest of this splendid building. Nearly all of those we met 

 there were from our own state. We had the pleasure, however, 

 of spending two or three days during the week with Professors 



