C(3LUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 315 



in Minne.sota, but the climate and soil had so changed their appear- 

 ance that we could scarcely recognize them. Some varieties were of 

 monstrous size. The spread was 500 plates. There were 45 varieties 

 of appleSjlS of pears, lOof peaches andGof plums. We were informed 

 that the fruit was grown in one orchard. 



West Virginia had a creditable exhibit that we came very near 

 ascribing to some other state. It consisted of 12 varieties of apples 

 and 1 of pears, and nutubered 85 plates. 



And now, last but not least, comes our near neighbor, Wisconsin. 

 Not a single other exhibit from any state showed to better advan- 

 tage. No extra pains had been taken for artistic effect and there was 

 nothing in the way to detract from the fruit or hide defects, and for 

 so large an exhibit it afforded one of the best opportunities for studj^, 

 observation and comparison of any exhibit in the building. It oc- 

 cupied 1,000 plates, on which were shown 120 varieties of apples, 6 of 

 pears, 10 of plums, 55 of grapes and -1 of cranberries. Besides these 

 there was an exhibit from Sauk county by Fox, Tuttle and others, 

 consisting of 3.50 plates, on which were shown over 50 varieties of 

 apples, mostly of Russian origin, and 55 of grapes. The apples were 

 generally clear and delicate in their coloring, smooth and regular 

 in form and attracted much attention. 



We will conclude with the Canadian exhibit. This was indeed a 

 great surprise to the majority of visitors. We most heartily con- 

 gratulate our Northern neighbors on the magnitude of the exhibit, 

 its tasty and instructive arrangement, the superior qualit3^and great 

 variety of their fruits and their good fortune in having such affable 

 gentlemen in charge of it. About 5,000 plates were used in making 

 the display, beside several hundred jars of the fruit crop of 1892 in 

 solution. The largest exhibit was from the province of Ontario. It 

 contained 100 varieties of apples, 67 of pears, 42 of peaches, 75 of 

 plums and 79 of grapes. Quebec had 119 varieties of apples, 2 of 

 pears and 7 of grapes. Nova Scotia had 144 varieties of apples, 23 of 

 pears, 10 of plums. British Columbia had 51 varieties of apples and 

 17 of plutus. The experimental farm at Ottawa showed 1.33 varieties 

 of grapes. The show of fruit on the plates from the middle of 

 August to the close of the exposition averaged about 30,000. As this 

 had to be renewed as often as every ten days, it required the enor- 

 mous quantity of about 200,000 plates to keep up the fall exhibits, be- 

 sides the quantities used in making the designs and decorating and 

 allowances for damage and decay in transportation. 



The officers of the department, the superintendents of exhibits 

 and others saw in this exposition an opportunity for broadening 

 the field of poinologj^, and bringing its leading spirits into closer 

 and more friendly relations. To effect this a society was organized 

 and named the Columbian Horticultural Society. Weekly meetings 

 were held, at which timely papers were read by a number of the 

 master spirits of horticulture in this and other countries. The in- 

 teristing and knotty qtiestions that continually arose were very 

 thoroughly considered. In June, the American Nurserymen's Asso- 

 ciation held their annual meeting within the fair grounds. In 

 August, a World's Horticultural Congress was held under the aus- 



