644 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



In national fairs, interest is not only sliown by the people of the 

 several States and Territories, but by foreign countries as well. And 

 from the care taijen by individuals and the funds expended by corpora- 

 tions and countries in their management, much is expected to be gained 

 therefrom. 



The present World's Fair at St. Louis is looked upon not so much 

 from tlie extensive preparations and exhibits that characterize it as the 

 greatest of expositions, but from the character of the displays and the 

 means employed to maintain them. It is true that in former international 

 shows some effort was made to preserve fresh ripe fruits by the liquid 

 process, but it has been left to the present fair to demonstrate the system 

 of other means of preservation. 



At Chicago a few States had displays of fresh fruits in the natural 

 state aside from the citrous kinds and grapes. At Buffalo more concerted 

 effort was made, but the plnns largely failed through a partial failure 

 in the fruit crops of the United States. At Paris many of the awards 

 for fruit were given to American exhibitors who sent their fruits abroad, 

 which was not only gratifying, but largely repaid them for making ex- 

 hibits so far from home. 



The extent of the present exhibit can be surmised when it is known 

 that thirty of our States and Territories, with Canada, have made the 

 entire exhibit. No foreign country has any fresh ripe fruits on exhibition* 

 This is quite a disappointment, as foi'eign fruits are much in demand 

 for comparison with our own, as to size, color and flavor. Upon the 

 tables in the Horticultural Palace more than 20,000 plates of fresh fruits 

 are daily maintained, aside from the large quantities used in designs 

 and oddly-arranged decorations. On these plates are placed live of a 

 variety, of equal size, color, and free from imperfections. 



Each State elects the qualities upon which its fruits are to be judged, 

 and upon these the results of the awards largely depend. Indiana takes 

 uniformity of size, good keeping qualities and unequaled flavor. Some 

 of the Western States elect large size, high color and good keeping quali- 

 ties, especially is this done as compared with fruit from the Central and 

 Eastern States, as the texture of flesh and flavor seem to belong to the 

 latter. 



Several exhibitors have profited by former exhibitions and have made 

 the best showing possible, while several States never before entered an 

 international fair. Most of the exhibits not onlj' include last year's crop, 

 but of the present, as fast as it is matured. This will give opportunities 

 to observe shipping qualities of many varieties when transported over- 

 land, aside from the use of the cold storage sj'Stem. 



Virtually all of the principal kinds of fruits can be seen on exliibilion, 

 and most of the principal varieties of each. There are to be found on 

 the tables: Choice bunches of grapes from New York, beautiful peaches 



^'Mexico, Caiiada, Ilonduras had fresh fruit exhibits. - Secretary. 



