1851. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



261 



I^oiiimltiiral Hfiinrtiaeiit. 



EDITED BT P. BARRY. 



THB KORTICULTUEAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 

 STATE FAIR. 



Jy our last we made a few general remarks on the 

 arranofement and contents of Floral Hall. Now we 

 are able to present a very correct and well executed 

 drawincp of the interior, by Mr. G. Winter, of this 

 city. The tree in the center, the ranges of shelves 

 and tables around the tent, with the baskets of fruit 

 "and various floral ornaments, the rock work around 

 the base of the tree, the rustic fence enclosing it, 

 the orange tree in a vase on a rustic pedestal oppo- 

 site the entrance, and other conspicuous objects in all 

 parts of the tent, are brought out as conspicuously as 

 possible in so small a space. Among the spectators 

 is one who will be readily recognized by those who 

 reside in Rochester or vicinity. We refer to the 

 gentleman with a long beard, whose back is turned 

 towards the interior of the hall. This is a first rate 

 portrait. The tree in the center of the hall, which 

 in the main gives it character, was originally de- 

 signed by Mr. David Watson, at present employed 

 by Messrs. Ellwanger fc Barry. He ought to 

 have received due credit in our last, but was over- 

 looked. 



Coming to the details of the exhibition, we think 

 we may safely say that in quantity as well as in 

 quality it has never been surpassed in this country, 

 and it would have been much better but for a few 

 circumstances. In the first place, the Massachusetts 

 and Pennsylvania Societies held their exhibitions at 

 the same time, and of course deprived us of all the 

 contributions of eastern fruit growers. In the sec- 

 ond place, we had two weeks of excessively warm 

 weather just before the show. This ripened fruit so 

 rapidly and was so injurious to flowers, that both 

 fruit and flower departments sufiered much — the lat- 

 ter more especially. 



There were about fifty contributors of fruits — half 

 the number from Rochester and vicinity, and they by 

 far the largest contributors. We were particularly 

 interestsd in the display of pears, because it enabled 

 us to mark the progress being made in New York in 

 the culture of this fruit. There were several excel- 

 lent contributions. John Morse, of Cayuga, had 

 forty-three varieties, all good popular sorts, and 

 specimens fine ; Messrs. Bissell k, Hooker, thirty- 

 seven varieties, among which we noted some new 

 ones ; Col. B. Hodge, of Buffalo, twenty-three vari- 

 eties ; L. F. Allen, Esq., of Buftalo, ten varieties ; 

 Chas. Taxjntor, Esq., of Buflalo, fourteen varieties ; 



A. H. TNTorris, of Staflbrd, eighteen varieties ; 

 Messrs. Thorp, Smith, Hanchett, & Co., of Syra- 

 cuse, many varieties ; Messrs. W. T. &c E. Smith, 

 of Geneva, nine varieties ; Ellwanger k, Barry, of 

 Rochester, one hundred and six varieties, and a small 

 tree of Louise Bonne de Jersey in a tub, loaded with 

 fruit — a very attractive object. Among all the vari- 

 eties presented, the Bartlett, Louise Bonne de Jensey, 

 SlevevUs Genesee, Seckel, White Doyenne, JJuchesse 

 d' Orleans, and Belle Lucrative, were prominent, 

 being not only remarkably abundant and fine, but 

 brilliantly colored and attractive. There were also 

 later varieties, such as Dix, Beurre Bosc, Beurre 

 Did, Bonpock, Van Mon£ Leon le Clerc, Vicar of 

 fVinkJield, Easter Beurre, Beurre Gris d' Hiver 

 jVouveau, and many other standard sorts shown in 

 greater perfection than we have ever seen them be- 

 fore as to size and fairness. We are confident, from 

 what we have seen on this occasion, that New York 

 will soon stand at the head in pear culture. In a 

 few years more, when our extensive orchards come 

 into bearing, we will make such a display, on occa- 

 sions of this kind, as has never been seen yet. 



Among peaches we had some good collections, in 

 all of which Craio/ord's Early occupied a prominent 

 place. They were not only large and fine, but pre- 

 sented in baskets and large dishes piled up in all 

 directions. Mr. David McKee, gardener to I. R. 

 Murray, Esq., of Mount Morn presented a large 

 and beautiful collection, but gener ily without names. 

 The late Mr. Murray, sen'r, was a great peach am- 

 ateur, and had collected in the t ardens at Mount 

 Morris every valuable sort ; but he is gone, and the 

 names of many have been lost. Mr. John Donnel- 

 LAN, of Greece, had a fine collection of sixteen vari- 

 eties — superb specimens. Mrs. W. R. Smith, of 

 Macedon, fi.fteen varieties, but specimens rather infe- 

 rior. Mrs. S. also presented eighteen glass jars of 

 nicely preserved fruits, (without sugar, alcohol, or 

 vinegar,) a very interesting contribution. Mr. L. 

 Fay, of Chautauque presented a good collection. 

 The chief novelties in the peach way were some 

 good seedlings from Mr. James Lyon, of Irondequoit; 

 they will no doubt prove valuable. 



Plums were scarce. The most interesting collec- 

 tion was from E. Dorr, of Albanj^, though the speci- 

 mens were small — twenty-four varieties, including 

 "fourteen Scuyler Gages for premium." James 

 BucHAN, of Rochester, exhibited twelve varieties ; 

 Ellwanger fc Barby, eighteen varieties ; and S. 

 H. AiNswoRTH, of Bloomfield, fine Jejfcrsons. 



Of grapes there were a few fine contributions. — 

 R. L. Colt, Esq., of Patterson, brought a fine col- 

 lection of foreign varieties from his extensive vine- 

 ries, and this was the most important contribution 

 from abroad. H. L. Suydam, Esq., of Geneva, ex- 

 hibited from his vinery beautiful bunches of St. 

 Peters, Black Hamburgh, Zinjindal, and Black 

 Prince. These were the first crop, the vines having 

 been planted a year ago last spring. Mr. S. has 

 promised us soon an account of the construction and 

 management of his viner\. Messrs. Bissell &c 

 Hooker presented half 3 oozeu varieties from their 

 vinery. The specimens were all, and especially the 

 Black Hamburgh, very fine. Dr. J. A. Warder, 

 of Cincinnati, editor of the Horticultural Review, 

 exhibited Cataivbas and Herbemont' s Madeira., be- 

 sides samples of Ohio wines. The latter we under- 

 stood were thoroughly tested, and produced a most 

 lively sensation. We hope the next time the Doctor 



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