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riety "Early Golden" persimmon, from the vicinity of Alton, 

 ripens before frost and is certainly destined to become a fa- 

 vorite market fruit. Horticulturists in the south half of the 

 State should give this excellent fruit their attention with a 

 view of supplying the market with the same, for undoubtedly 

 there is a promising future for it. Let us not make the mis- 

 take of chasing after foreign fruits of poor quality to the neg- 

 lect of our own native fruits of superior merit. Not many 

 years ago bananas were as scarce in the markets as are per- 

 simmons today. 



Pawpaws, which grow wild in Central and Southern Illi- 

 nois, were by many visitors who tasted them considered very 

 fine, and wonder was expressed that they were not to be had 

 in the markets. 



In conclusion, it can be truthfully said that the exhibit of 

 Illinois fruits at the Fair attracted the attention of interested 

 people from this and foreign countries, and the good results, 

 while they cannot be figured up today in dollars and cents, yet 

 it is unquestionably true that the exhibit will be worth to the 

 State many times its cost, and it would have been very unfor- 

 tunate indeed had it not been made. Its benefits will be seen 

 in the increased demand for Illinois fruits, especially of apples, 

 both in our domestic and foreign markets. Many times was 

 the remark made that the observer was not before aware that 

 Illinois was such a great fruit state, and this shows that the 

 exhibit made a lasting impression upon the mind of the visitor. 

 We do not doubt but that many will be induced to buy fruit 

 lands that never would have thought of it except for this 

 exhibit; and many, now citizens of the State, convinced that 

 fruit growing can be made profitable, will engage in the same. 

 But outside of the pecuniary benefit to be derived hereafter, it 

 was certainly very gratifying to Illinois horticulturists to be 

 permitted to show their products alongside those of other 

 states and countries at the great Columbian Exposition of 

 1893, and the thanks of the fruit growers of the State are cer- 

 tainly due to the Legislature for furnishing the means for car- 

 rying on the exhibit. 



