THE POMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT AT AGEICULTUKAL FAIES. 



SO many of the names wrong. Here is the Baldivin under the name of Huhbards 

 ton Nonsuch ; the Herefordshire Fearmain and the Rambo both labeled Seek-no-fur- 

 ther ; the Green Newtown Pippin designated Rhode Island Greening ; the Wolcott 

 mistaken for the Red GilUflower ; and red Apples of various sizes, shapes, and flavors, 

 which the exhibitors seem determined to crowd into the already extensive family of 

 Spitzenburghs. With the Pears it is, if possible, still worse ; for Bell Pear, Butter 

 Pear, Pound Pear, and Virgalieu, seem to be generic names under which a hundred 

 different species having little apparent affinity are classed by their growers. It unfor- 

 tunately happens that with some of the varieties which we find honored with duplicate 

 names, we are wholly unaquainted ; and apart of the inducement for our coming 

 hither was to acquire some knowledge of them that would at least enable us to recog- 

 nize them when we met again. A few new varieties, promising great excellence, have 

 also been originated in the region where this fair is located ; but though we have 

 stronof reason for believing that they are exhibited here, we look in vain over the 

 tables for their names, and are compelled to an uncertain search for them among the 

 unnumbered and unlabeled ones. We had been told that we should also see at this 

 fair fruits from four degrees of latitude and eight of longitude, and we had anticipated 

 great pleasure and much instruction from a comparison of the different specimens pre- 

 sented, and a study of the various peculiarities induced by differences in soil, climate, 

 and situation ; but though the professional exhibitors have some of them taken the 

 pains to affix their cards over their entries, in many cases after diligent inquiry we 

 are unable to ascertain, from the entry tickets or otherwise, where the fruits were 

 raised, or anything of the climatic or other influences which have affected them. In- 

 deed, we learn, on inquiry, that the name and residence of the exhibitor are not 

 allowed to be placed on the entry ticket, lest dishonest judges might give partial 

 decisions ; while it never seems to have occurred to the managers that exhibitors who 

 cared to have the fruits of their raising known have many ways of making them 

 known aside from using for that purpose the tickets ttfey receive from the Secretary. 

 The committee on fruits are alone able to render us any essential aid in this pursuit 

 of knowledge under difficulties; yet, except the time when they are engaged in the 

 discharge of their duties, it is quite as easy to obtain without their assistance the 

 information we desire, as to find the members of this committee. 



It will not be surprising, therefore, that we return home from this exhibition but 

 little wiser than we came, and fully impressed with the belief that though State fairs 

 may be valuable to committeemen, and afford them a fine opportunity of becoming 

 familiar with the fruits of the State, yet to the public at large this portion of the 

 show is about as valuable as if the tables had been loaded with stones instead of 

 Apples and Pears. But we are more than ever convinced of that fact, when we see 

 the report of the committee published among the transactions of the Society ; for 

 though they have taken pains to inform us that thoy have awarded premiums in due 

 form for the best single variety, and for the best three and six varieties of fall and 

 ter Apples and Pears, they have not thought it worth their while to inform us ^ 

 thev have adjudged the best varieties, and the people who cultivate the Black ^ 



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