EXHIBITING FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. 



INTRODUCTION. 



FOR a number of years past the Horticultural Branch of the Department 

 of Agriculture has been supplying judges for fruit, and to a certain 

 extent for vegetables, for the numerous fairs of the Province. This was 

 undertaken primarily in order to establish uniform and correct standards of 

 perfection, which the indiscriminate choice of judges by each local fair had 

 previously failed to do. The reports of the exhibition officials and exhibitors 

 indicate that, to a very large extent, uniformly correct judging standards have 

 now been established and maintained. 



It is also the desire to use the information so acquired by the Horticul- 

 tural Branch to modify the prize-lists of the different fairs in such ways as 

 to promote the culture of the best varieties of fruits and vegetables by giving 

 the greatest prize-money to such varieties ; by providing for commercial displays 

 in order to educate exhibitors in the commercial methods of packing; and 

 generally to build up exhibitions by inspiring their officials to keep well abreast 

 of the progress of horticulture in their districts. 



The work of the Horticultural Branch has been of great assistance to 

 exhibitors in the identification of varieties; in disseminating a knowledge of 

 the various blemishes to which fruit is subject; and to a very large extent in 

 promoting general information on what is ideal in fruit-production. This work, 

 having been carried on for several years, has given general satisfaction. There 

 has been a great improvement in the fairs, and the offer made by the Depart- 

 ment to have the prize-lists of the various fairs revised at the end of each 

 year by the Horticultural Branch has been generally taken up. This matter 

 was discussed at the last Agricultural Fairs Association meeting at Victoria, 

 and the following resolution passed: 



" Be it Resolved, That this meeting is fully in accord with the general 

 principles of prize-list revision as stated before us by the Provincial Horticul- 

 turist, and we recommend that the various agricultural associations consult 

 with the Department of Agriculture on the necessary revision." 



Our officials found much room for improvement in the choice of products 

 for exhibition, in their preparation, nomenclature, and arrangement, and we 

 have been able to make many recommendations in the revision of prize-lists. 

 A general demand has been created for information along many of these lines, 

 but more especially with regard to the score-cards used and the standards of 

 perfection for the various types of fruits and vegetables, and it is to meet this 

 demand that the present circular has been prepared. 



EXHIBITION OF FRUIT. 



STANDARDS OF PERFECTION. 



The first step in preparing the exhibit of fruit is to get a mental picture 

 of the ideal first prize exhibit. Of course, the entry must comply with the 

 rules and regulations of the association, and be entered in due form and staged 

 correctly on time and place; but the fruit itself must have a high degree of 

 intrinsic merit if it is to excel in competition. There are certain standards 

 of perfection which are accepted as ideal, and in proportion as the exhibits 

 approach the perfect ideal they should receive awards. 



