STATE HORTICUI-TURAL SOCIETY. 245 



■wish to study the lesson it imparts, surelj' will not begrudge Mr. 

 PefFer his premium. 



In this experimental stag'e of our fruit raising, when we have so 

 much to learn, it will not do to have cast iron rules about 

 premiums. You must leave some discretion to the secretary and 

 ■executive committee in lists and programs; then, if you appoint a 

 •competent set of judges on your exhibits, such as we always have 

 had, there will not be much to complain of. 



Mr. Pearce opposed the resolution. He thought if a man pro- 

 duced fine fruit he should be rewarded for it. We do not all agree 

 as to what should be recommended. The majority vote is what 

 recommends. It may not be right at all times. I can grow 

 varieties that I cannot get recommended by. the majority. If we 

 say we will pay no premiums on a varieby till the majority recom- 

 mend it, the minority have no fair show. 1 say at present it is 

 ■desirable to invite for exhibition all good fruit grown in the State. 



Mr. Plumb. As a general rule, it is safe to leave it to your 

 judges to decide whether a variety offered is worthy of a premium. 



Col. Stevens, President Smith, Mr. Grideon and others opposed 

 the resolution, and it was rejected. 



THE McMAHON WHITE APPLE. 



Mr. Plumb. I have found on your table here a fine plate of the 

 McMahon White apple. It is a very interesting variety. Can 

 any one present tell us how it is doing in Minnesota? 



Mr. Taylor. It is a hardy, medium variety, bearing fairly and 

 keeping all winter. We consider it peculiarly well adapted to top 

 grafting on the Duchess. 



[See close of this day's proceedings for letter from Mr. Taylor.] 



\ 



DISCUSSION ON GRAPES. 



Col. Stevens. Some of our members have expressed a wish that 

 we have a discussion on grapes. I would like to hear from Mr. 

 Norquist of Red Wing, on this subject, as he is a large grower 

 and one of the most skillful and successful in the State. 



Mr. Norquist. I have been cultivating grapes for fifteen years. 

 Have Concord, Delaware, Worden, Janesville, and about sixteen 



