^) 4wi Tn£ rOMOLOGICiVL DEPAKTMKNT AT AGUICULTUEAL FAlliS. 



to the plant, and hence we pce the error of deep i»hinting, aiul their heallliy growth 

 on all soils and in all situations. Even on rocky surfaces the roots penetrate the 

 numerous crevices of the rock, and receive nourishment Irora the decay of leaves and 

 veixetable matter, which the descending rains convey to their utnjost extremities. 

 They descend deep into these fissures, because atmosjiheric gases are not impeded ; 

 but cover these tender fibres with five or six inches of close, compact soil, and their 

 further extension is completely arrested. 



I may, on some future occasion, present my views with reference to the introduction 

 of undergrowth shrubs in ornamental plantations. The common-place, one-idea sys- 

 tem, of dotting over a certain portion of ground with trees at regular distances, is 

 becoming so prevalent, that it is time some characteristic feature should be attempted, 

 in order to break up the monotonous, formal aspect, produced by this method of 

 planting. 



I 



THE POMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT AT COUNTY AND STATE FAIRS.* 



BY THOMAS M. COOLEY, TOLEDO, OHIO. 



A CONSIDERABLE number of our cities and villages boast Horticultural Societies, whose 

 efforts in behalf of pomology are traceable in an increased knowledge of that science, 

 and an improvement in its practice, in the country immediately surrounding the places 

 at which they are located. For the most part, these societies are not organized for a 

 large territory, the number of their members is not expected to be large, and the 

 attendance at their weekly or monthly meetings is not too great to permit of each 

 person examining all the fruits presented, and becoming acquainted with the appear- 

 ance if not with the flavor of each. As yet, however, the agricultural community a 

 little removed from towns have not thought it worth their while to organize such 

 societies, and to meet the want of them a pomological department has been added to 

 almost all the yearly State and County gatherings now commonly designated " Fairs." 

 As it is upon these that farmers are to depend principally, for a long time to come, 

 for such aid in acquiring a knowledge of fruit-culture as organized effort can give 

 them, we propose to glance briefly at the mode in which the pomological exhibition is 

 made at these fairs, and to point out a few particulars in which, in our opinion, the 

 value of that exhibition might be materially increased. 



Let the reader take a walk with us through the building devoted to fruits, at one 

 of these State Fairs. Extending all around the building are long tables, upon which 

 exhibitors have arranged their fruits, labeled with names, or numbers, or not at all, as 

 suited their respective fancies. In front of these tables is placed a railing, to protect 

 them from the crowd of visitors ; and behind that the exhibitors, if they happen to be 

 nurserymen, station themselves to improve the opportunity of advertising their wares. 



On examining such of the fruits as are labeled with names, we are surprized to find 



* This article was sent us after the exhibitions of 1853, and we thought it better to defer its publication 

 subject discussed would be again before the public. It should have appeared last month, but is seasonable yi 



