STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 209 



building was erected in the Court House square, over graceful palms and 

 orange trees, their branches laden with ripe, glossy fruit. We saw orange 

 trees that had buds, blossoms, and oranges on them, ranging from the size 

 of marbles up to the fully ripe fruit. The building was supplied with elec- 

 tric lights, and festooned overhead with flowers, evergreens, and fruits. 

 When we entered we were reminded of the fabled palace of Circe, but it 

 could not have compared with this in gorgeous richness of coloring. We 

 were reminded of the New England minister that gave a glowing descrip- 

 tion of heaven, when an old Californian nudged his neighbor and said, 

 that is California. 



The "Marysville Appeal " editorially said: Such a scene of beauty has 

 not been excelled since the days of Aladdin's palace. Each exhibit is a 

 gem in itself, and the general decorations present an originality of design 

 surpassing description. Every part of Butte County is represented [the 

 western half was not], and while the main part of all the exhibits consists 

 of oranges, limes, and lemons, yet every kind of tropical and semi-tropical 

 product may be found; all kinds of cereals, beautiful flowering plants, rare 

 palms, melons, apples, and all kinds of vegetables, etc. This fair must 

 be seen to be appreciated, it cannot be adequately described — so beautiful, 

 so rich looking, that two hours spent in viewing it passes away as quickly 

 as ten minutes usually do. 



Mr. Shinn, the editor of the "Overland Monthly," in writing to the San 

 Francisco " Examiner," thus spoke of the fair: The whole life of this region 

 is now centered in the orange pavilion in the Court House square. The 

 display there is worth a trip from New York to any person who wishes to 

 see what the Sierra foothills can do. There ought to be hundreds of people 

 here from San Francisco. The full development of this region means hun- 

 dreds of thousands of dollars in the pockets of San Francisco merchants, 

 bankers, etc. The display is most artistic and beautiful, and it appeals to 

 every esthetic sense as well as to the great American pocket. He further 

 adds, here are tomatoes, green and ripe, and fresh growing vines from the 

 open air; here are watermelon vines and pepper plants, lime trees, orange 

 flowers, and the most tender of flowering plants, grown at an elevation of 

 from five hundred to one thousand feet. Here are strawberry plants with 

 green and ripe fruits, and raspberry bushes loaded with berries. These 

 things mean that this is in the midst of a thermal belt such as the best of 

 Southern California so fortunately possesses. 



The San Francisco "Bulletin," in commenting upon the fair said: Ex- 

 clamations of surprise at the peculiar effects of the novel display are made 

 by nearly all visitors on entering the pavilion. Oranges are everywhere in 

 the most unique designs; the green of the pine foliage and the orange of 

 the golden fruit are worked in together in all combinations. Some mention 

 has been made in previous letters of the displays, but their merit and nov- 

 elty demands closer attention, and this the writer will endeavor to here give 

 for those who may not see the fair for themselves. 



Exhibits are arranged on all sides of the pavilion and in two rows through 

 the center. The Palermo citrus colony attracts attention by a large wire 

 summer house, half covered with oranges, with flowers and with exotics 

 grouped about. At its side, under a growing orange tree, are horticultural 

 products from the Merrimac District, up four thousand five hundred feet 

 in the Sierras. Near by D. N. Friesleben, who is General Superintendent 

 of the fair, has a unique display. A heart-shaped design, seven by nine 

 feet, composed of one thousand two hundred and eighty oranges, is sus- 

 pended from the ceiling; below is a double circle of oranges, twenty-four 

 feet in circumference, inclosing the words "Citrus Belt;" below this is a 

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