1851. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



245 ( ■ 



(!EMtor'0 ©able. 



Nkw York State Fair. — Floral Hall, an immense ob- 

 Jong canvass tent, 140 feet by 80, was devoted exclusively 

 to iho exhibition of fruits and flowers. The interior -was 

 arranged somewhat in tliis way : — Around the outside was 

 a low staging composed of three shelves about a foot wide, 

 rising one above the other, and covered with cloth : this 

 was wholly occupied with fruits. Within this staging a 

 broad and beautiful gravel walk extended around the whole 

 tent, from which every object could be satisfactorily seen. 

 On each side of this walk was a rustic railing or barrier, 

 made of larch poles and grapevine stems tastefully interwo- 

 ven. These were intended to prevent visitors from hand- 

 ling the objects on the tables. Within the walk was a con- 

 tinuous range of tables around the tent, appropriated to cut 

 flowers and ornaments. In the very center stood an oak 

 tree, its numerous branches covered with ivy and other 

 climbing plants, rustic baskets of fruits.and flowers suspend- 

 ed from them, and an eagle and numerous humbler birds 

 perched upon them as natural ae life. At the base was a 

 very pretty piece of rock work, embellished with appropriate 

 plants. The space on cither side of this tree was occupied 

 with a staging for the pot plants, and a couple of rustic seats 

 for committees or visitors whom the superintendent permit- 

 ted to enter. On one side was a double door — visitors 

 entering at one side and passing out through the other. Be- 

 tween the tables and the barriers a space of two feet was 

 left, which exhibitors were permitted to occupy in order to 

 answer questions and give explanations to visitors. 



This is a picture of Floral Hall as faithful as we can por- 

 tray it in words ; but those who have not seen it can form 

 but a meagre idea of its tasteful and brilliant appearance. 

 They may imagine the staging extending around the whole 

 tent, covered with dishes and baskets, and interspersed with 

 trees and branches of trees laden with the finest fruits — 

 apples, pears, peaches, plums, grapes, &c., in such variety 

 and of such a quality as have rarely l>een equalled at any ex- 

 hibition in the world — the contributions of about fifty culti- 

 vators from different parts of the country. On the other 

 hand, the range of tables laden with cut flowers, dahlias by 

 the tliousand, and roses, phloxes, verbenas, petunias, &c., 

 exhibited singly in small vials, besides floral temples, bas- 

 kets, and other devices, lighting up the interior of the tent 

 into a perfect blaze. Then to crown all, the " brave old 

 oak" in the center, with its rocky base, its rugged powerful 

 arms stretched out and bearing rich baskets of fruits and 

 flowers, vines clambering over them and»clinging to them, 

 and birds and squirrels perched upon them apparently in all 

 their woodland happiness. 



The whole arrangement was excellent as well as beauti- 

 ful, and elicited admiration from the thousands and tens of 

 thousands who paid it their respects during the three me- 

 morable days. The tree in the center was a novelty — a 

 happy idea well carried out. On all sides we heard the 

 remark pass from m-outh to mouth, ''It is finer than ever 

 before" — a proof that nature has for most people a greater 

 charm than art. Heretofore the central ornament of Floral 

 Hall has generally been a highly decorated temple, very 

 tastefully and well executed, and always much admired ; 

 but it was costly, and it had grown stale, as everything does 

 when too frequently repeated. The change, we are happy 

 to say, gave great satisfaction, and will, we hope, suggest 

 hereafter something new and still better. 



The Hon. L. A. Ward, President of our Horticultural 

 Society, performed the laborious duty of superintendent of 

 the Hall, and never have we seen duties attended to with 

 greater devotion or more complete efficiency. From the 

 opening to the close he occupied his place in the center of 

 the Hall, and we feel, as others do, that much of the quiet 



and good order that prevailed, was due to his prudent njau- 

 agement. 



The committee who devised and directed tlie arrangement 

 o'" the Hall, deserves credit for the able and faithful discharge 

 of its duties. It was composed of Messrs. Geo. Ellvvan- 

 GER, C. J, Ryan, H. E. Hooker, J. M. Whitney, Rob't 

 Donnelan. and Joseph Frost. All the rustic work was 

 devised and executed by Mr. Adam Kuchler, and it reflects 

 much credit on his taste and ingenuity. He is an artist in 

 these matters. Mr. Wm. Webster also rendered valuablo 

 services in perfecting the arrangements. We ought not to 

 forget a committee of young ladies, selected by Mr. Whit- 

 ney, Who assisted the general committee by their taste and 

 handiwork, and above all by their presence. We have not 

 space at this time to enter upon any detail of the exhibition, 

 but will take it up next month. 



In our next number we shall give a view of the interior of 

 Floral Hall. 



The success of the State Fdir in this city, an-d the satis- 

 faction enjoyed by distinguished gentlemen from other 

 states and countries attending the same, are largely ascribed 

 to the urbanity and labors of the President of the Society, 

 John Delafield, Esq. 



An Agricultural Congress.— We have to thank the 

 Hon. Marshall P. Wilder for an invitation to attend the 

 Exhibition and Dinner of the Norfolk Agricultural Society, 

 Mass. We can not refrain from copying some remarks con- 

 tained in Mr. W.'s letter — leaving out the complimentary 

 remarks in relation to our personal labors for the advance- 

 ment of agricultural knowledge, which our modesty induces 

 us to believe rather undeserved, notwithstanding tiio opin- 

 ion of so wise and worthy a man as Mr. Wilder to the 

 contrary : 



" My Dear Sir — I have this moment received the Gene- 

 'see Farmer for September. I am most happy to know lliat 

 you approve of our eflurts in Massachusetts to advance the 

 cause of agricultural education. * * * * 



* * No one has a warmer heart or more willing 



h:jnd to aid you according to my ability. I can sympathize 

 with you in all the trials and disappointments to wiiich we 

 are constantly subjected ; but no chagrin or mortification at 

 failures shall ever drive me from the path of duty, and which 

 in this matter I consider next to religious obligations. A 

 brighter day is dawning on us, and if we do not see its me- 

 ridian light in our day, our children or our children's chil- 

 dren will. In truth, 1 believe posterity will reward those 

 who have labored so zealously to advance the art of agiicul- 

 ture, and that your name with many others will be embalmed 

 in the hearts of those who shall in coming time reap the 

 fruits of your labor. 



" The great barrier to our success is political juggling for 

 office and its emoluments ; but I trust the time will soon 

 come when our legislative bodies, both in State and Nation, 

 shall be fully interested by the farming interest. I rejoice 

 that suggestions have been made by j'ourself and others, for 

 a National Congress of Agriculture. I am ready for il. Let 

 me help." 



The editor of the Maine Farmer, in speaking of our propo- 

 sition to establish an Agricultural Congress, to be composed 

 of delegates from State and County Societies, makes the 

 following remarks : 



" We think well of this plan. The only obstacle to its 

 success is the lack of funds at the disposal of many societies, 

 to carry the proposition into effect. It is a shame and a dis- 

 grace to the United States Government that they have done 

 so little to really promote the good of agricultural science cir 

 its practice. Every other branch of industry has received 

 its fostering care, but this has been neglected and pushed 

 aside." 



advertisements, to secure insertion in the Farmer, must 

 be received as early as the lOtli of the previous month, and 

 be of such a character as to be of interest to farmer.?. We 

 publish no other. Terms — $2.00 for every hundred words, 

 each insertion, paid in advance. 



