136 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



been to provide a home at the exposition for the members and friends of 

 the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. An inspection of the plans 

 will show the arrangements that have been made witli this end in view. 

 Some one will always be in attendance there, and our friends and mem- 

 bers will always be more than welcome to the hospitalities of the Min- 

 nesota fruit exhibit. 



The first five rows of shelves for the display of fruit, as they appear in 

 this plan, are within refrigerator cases with double glazed covers, where 

 it is intended to display the fruits that have been kept in cold storage 

 over winter, as well as small fruits of all kinds to be shown fresh as they 

 ripen. These refrigerators will be cooled either by an ice box extending 

 the whole length behind them, or else by cooling pipes from a refrigerator 

 plant outside the building. These cases will hold about 200 plates. 



Aside from the refrigerators, the shelves are planned to hold about 

 300 plates of fruit besides the 200 glass jars, which will, probably, be shown 

 on the circular structures appearing at each end of the exhibit. Besides 

 the fruit, a seed exhibit may be placed at one end of the plan, next the 

 wall. This is to be prepared by a local firm. 



It is decided further to adorn these shelves in some way with decora- 

 tive plants and vines, either scattered about or suitably arranged in 

 groups. No plan has been decided upon for this decorative portion of the 

 exhibit, and suggestions will be gladly received from any one. It is in- 

 tended as far as possible to make use of plants native to our state, 

 although there is probably no objection to displaying those that are 

 cultivated in Minnesota floral establishments and homes, the object being 

 not so much to exhibit varieties of plants as to decorate the whole. 



Circulars have lately been sent out by the superintendent, very gener- 

 ally enclosed with the program of this meeting, asking for full lists of 

 fruit now growing and likely to bear the coming season. A large number 

 of these lists have already been returned, indicating an immense source 

 from which to draw, but, in order to be sure of flading everything val- 

 uable, it is necessary that a very full list should be secured from as many 

 as possible of the growers of the state. In this, as in other matters 

 where the friends of horticulture have been asked for assistance, the re- 

 sponse has been prompt and hearty. 



As to an exhibit of vegetables, while they properly belong in the horti- 

 cultural class, as it turns out that they must be shown in a separate part 

 of the horticultural building, requiring the expense of an additional at- 

 tendant, it appears to be a more economical plan to make this display in 

 connection with the agricultural exhibit of the state. Besides, the 

 amount set apart for horticulture is scarcely large enough to admit of a 

 good exhibit in both vegetables and fruits, and of the two it is more for 

 our interests that a first-class exhibit be made of the latter. This sub- 

 ject is still under consideration. 



The method and order of exhibition during the continuance of the fair 

 is to be something as follows: At the opening, May 1st, the fruit on ex- 

 hibition will consist of the glass jars and the apples and grapes now in 

 cold storage. These last two will continue on exhibition as long as they 

 hold up, renewing as is necessary. Fresh small fruits in their season, be- 

 ginning with strawberries, then raspberries, etc., will be exhibited in suf- 

 ficient quantity to fill the refrigerator cases, to be renewed as often as is 

 necessary during the fruiting season, extending the time of exhibition as 

 far as possible by preserving a quantity in cold storage. 



