48 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



next to the consumer at our shows? If the time ever comes, 

 which is predicted by cnr good friend Hale, when the man 

 with a crop of apples is as over-supplied as the man who 

 prayed for a barrel of pippins, nothing could help to alleviate 

 our condition more than a systematic and consistent cam- 

 paign, begun right noi^', to capture the consumer. 



And now having said so much by way of introduction, 

 may I suggest that I beHeve the fruit exhibition of the future 

 ought to be like? 



First: To begin with the least important section, I 

 would certainly retain the plate exhibit, but I would modify 

 it so as to make collections more important, and I would re- 

 quire more information from the exhibitor. If I examine 

 a plate exhibit and find that George Drew has taken first 

 prize on Ben Davis it doesn't teach me much, except that 

 George grozvs that varietx- and has somehow beaten the 

 Maine crowd on their own ground. But if a prize is ofifered 

 for the best five conmiercial apples and I find that George 

 Drew has entered Mclntcsh, Baldwin, Rhode Island Green- 

 ing, Wealthy and Northern Spy, then, having great respect 

 for Mr. Drew's opinion, I have learned something, for I 

 know that he considers these are at least among the best 

 commercial varieties. 



I also think that the plate (and still more the box or 

 barrel) ought to give) more information to the patron of the 

 show. It ought to give him at least the following points in 

 regard to the fruit : 



1. Locality where grown. 



2. Soil. 



3. Age of trees. 



4. Fertilizers used. 



5. Culture. 



Some of these might be given on the label card (as 

 many as possible ought to be). Others might be reserved for 

 the official report, to be printed after the show, (another 

 reform). The man who sees that George Knapp, of Groton, 

 took the $100 prize for the best barrel of apples at the New 



