322 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE. 



Nov. 



directions to insure a good crop at the least 

 cost of labor. We will here remark that 

 for the early market the Neshannock, for 

 fall and winter shipment the Garnet, and 

 for the spring and early summer the pur- 

 ple Neshannock will command our atten- 

 tion. Should we continue the other vari- 

 eties named, it will be in a small way. 



«e> 



Fair of the State Horticultural 

 Society. 



HELD IN CHICAGO SEPT. 9tH, IOtH, IItH AND 



12th. 1062. 



This was the first fair ever held by the Society. 

 The winter meetingg having been for discussions 

 and comparisions of fruits, not for competition 

 The fair is not to interfere with these valuable 

 vrinter meetings, the next one being adjourned 

 to Blooming' on for December, (he time to be 

 fixed by the President, 0. B. Galusha. 



The show of fruit and flowers was large, and 

 as a whole, creditable to the State. But witli 

 the exception of two or three exhibitors, the veg- 

 etable department was neglected. Had the act- 

 ing manager given this subject his attention, and 

 personally called on the prominent Chicago gar- 

 deners, we are assured that a very different re- 

 sult would have been arrived |at. The Society 

 has gained some experience in this — Iheir first 

 fair, which may be of use to them. There can 

 be no doubt as to the value of having a paid 

 agent to attend to the details of the business 

 previous to the fair, but unless he sees and con- 

 verses personally with the gardeners and florists 

 in the immediate neighborhood, and writes to 

 those at a distance, he will be of little service — 

 in fact, a damage to the enterprise. He can do 

 much to advise and encourage the timid and the 

 backward. To all such, it is an untried experi- 

 ment, and they need urging; and in many cs^.ses, 

 instruction how and what to exhibit. This is 

 more practically important at the first than eub- 

 Bcquent fairs. We shall, therefore, urge the pro- 

 priety of having rooms and obtaining some per- 

 son at a salary, to attend to those duties for a 

 monih or two previous to the fair. The omission 

 of duty in the present case, was more from a 

 want of knowledgo of what was necessary, more 

 than any disposition to avoid labor or responsi- 

 bility. In other departments the work was most 

 admirably done, and will serve as a pattern for 

 all future actuaries. 



Financially, the fair was not such a succes as 

 its friends hoped to reap, and here the Board 

 committed a grave error in regard to the time, 

 as it turned out. Supposing that the Horse Fair 



would attract thousands to the city, all of whom 

 would be pleased to spend their evenings at the 

 hall. It was natural fof them to select this as 

 the proper time to hold the fair, but the result 

 proved that it was the very worst that could have 

 been selected, for both strangers and citizens 

 who attended the Horse Fair, were so complete'y 

 jaded out with the day^ attendance, that it was 

 itnpossible to attend in the evening. The Horse 

 Fair was a worse iailure, financially, than this. 

 That was backed up by lirge contributions and 

 outside aid, while this stood upon its merits, un- 

 aided by a single outside dollar It paid all ex- 

 penses, but to the regret of all, the premiums are 

 left unprovided for. Many of tbese were dona- 

 ted to the Society by those who appreciated the 

 undertaking, but we hope that means will be 

 provided at the December meeting to liqudate all 

 claims of this kind. A list of those claims and 

 the amounts will be found in (his connection. A 

 list also of those who generously came to the aid 

 of the Society, and denoted their premiums, will 

 be found in its proper place. 



The week previous to the fair, the President, 

 W. C. Flagg, .T. E.-aStarr, Brjant, Sanders and 

 others, gave their valuable aid to decorate Bryan 

 Hall. Several ladies at the head, of whom stand 

 first and foremost in the good work, Mrs. J. Asa 

 Kcncicott, of Kenwood, gave their valuable aid 

 also. 



The list of entries will prove valuable hereaf- 

 ter as a matter of history, and we append them. 

 By this it win be se/n the extent of the fruit and 

 floral show being the largest ever before seen in 

 the west ; and in fruits, probably unsurpassed 

 anywhere. 



LIST OF ENTRIES. 



In the first place, we must commend the most 

 admirable arrangement of the premium list as 

 made up by Secretary Chase, iu which each article 

 for a premium, was numbered consecutively, 

 thus : — 



1. Best display of apples. 



2. Best six varieties for summer use. 



3. Best six varieties for winter use. 



4. Best one variety autumn cooking. 



5. Best one variety winter cooking. 

 Dispensing with ail letteriag of classes as is 



customary. 



In the fruit department,^we have apples, pears, 

 peaches, plums, etc., and the numbers running 

 through the series. By this system, few if any 

 mistakes can occur, aad there is no mystification 

 of letters, classes and numbers, there being but 

 one number to one article, and the same number 

 not repeated. 



