HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITS PROMINENT AT THE 



STATE FAIR 



By Horace S. Ensign 



Secretary Montana State Fair. 



The horticultural display at the 1918 State Fair was one of the 

 big features of the exposition in spite of the apprehension felt by many 

 people owing to the early dates of the fair. A total of 330 entries 

 were made in this department, of which over fifty per cent consisted 

 of apples — apples of more than fifteen different varieties comprising 

 all the popular commercial types raised in Montana such a&" Mcintosh, 

 Jonathans, Wealthies, Delicious, etc. Seldom, if ever, has there been a 

 more comprehensive display of fruit at the Montana State Fair. It 

 demonstrated conclusively that fruit growing in Montana is not only 

 holding its own, but is making forward progress. 



The State Fair will be held early again this year and it is needless 

 to worry or feel any anxiety as to the showing that will be made. The 

 outcome of the 1918 fair and the experience of fruit exhibitors during 

 the past season should prove sufficient answer to those more or less 

 misguided persons who insist that ' * it can 't be done. ' ' The chief con- 

 cern for 1919 among growers should be: **What methods should I 

 adopt to build up and develop the standard and more nearly perfect 

 the varieties of fruits in my orchard?'' 



The first essentials, of course, are careful selection of land and 

 varieties of fruit to be raised. The State Horticulturist should be 

 consulted on these points as he can undoubtedly g^ve many valuable 

 suggestions that will save money and forestall disappointment. The 

 advice of experts is always helpful. Make the most of it. 



The next step in building up standards lies in exhibiting at the 

 state and county fairs. The lessons to be gained from comparison of 

 fruit on the judge's table and the knowledge acquired by attentively 

 following the judging cannot be overestimated. Many fruit growers 

 have been put on the right track in just this way. They have dis- 

 covered slight deficiencies of which they were previously unaware — 

 deficiencies' that lowered the standards of their fruit. They have 

 learned how to eradicate or remedy these faults through observation 

 and information gleaned by reason of exhibiting at the fairs. 



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