REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. II 



The display of fruits, which was not as large as it has been 

 some years and not nearly as extensive as the growers in this 

 region ought to furnish, yet excelled in the fine qualities of the 

 specimens offered, and was a manifest improvement on the exhibi- 

 tions of a few years ago, when all the overgrown and coarse 

 textured fruits were abundantly displayed as if they were the 

 acme of perfection. It is gratifying to see the competition for 

 mere size give way to specimens having a clean, smooth, fine 

 grained surface, free from deformities, with all those on the same 

 dish of an even size and shape, as if cast in a mold. Worm holes, 

 even in extravagantly large fruits not being considered either orna- 

 mental, useful or deserving encouragement by way of reward. 

 Those fruits only should receive premiums which would command 

 the highest prices in a market of cultivated taste that can appre- 

 ciate and is willing to pay a full equivalent for the best. It is 

 hoped that this matter will be kept fully in view by exhibitors and 

 judges, and thus become an educating influence in the production 

 of a larger proportion of fruit of the highest excellence. 



In order to gain the greatest good as an educator, it is be- 

 lieved that some changes in the details of competition are desira- 

 ble. The whole exhibit ought to be upon the tables with the 

 competing specimens arranged side by side, and the cards denoting 

 the awards attached, before the exhibition is opened to the pubhc. 

 Each visitor can then see what the decisions of the judges are? 

 and can comment upon the result so as to gain some knowledge 

 of the subject, and can learn something, even if it be only the in- 

 competency of the judges who make the awards. Under present 

 arrangements, the book of entries is not delivered to the judges 

 until the crowd of visitors makes it extremely difficult and annoy- 

 ing before they can get through with their duties, and by that 

 time it is too late to be of service as an instructive lesson, and the 

 interest is lost for future efforts. 



As a compensation for the additional labor required from ex- 

 hibitors to bring this about and also to increase the interest and 

 competition, it is suggested that the schedule of premiums be 

 somewhat enlarged with perhaps an increase in the amount of 

 money offered. The new life that has been and is to be infused into 

 the Society's exhibitions, growing out of its improved financial con- 



