Special Report 47 



CHERRIES AT THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION, 

 ST. LOUIS, 1904 



As the Cherry Committee was not organized until after the cherry 

 season, it was not possible for the members of the Committee to examine 

 the fruit on exhibition at St. Louis, but Prof. L. R. Taft, Chairman, Hor- 

 ticultural Department, Jury, was asked to furnish some information regard- 

 ing the cherries exhibited at St. Louis, and he kindly consented to do so. 

 Following is a copy of a letter received from Prof. Taft : 



" While the records and entry cards show the varieties and quantities of 

 cherries exhibited, together with the names and addresses of the exhibitors, 

 I doubt if you would be able to get much from the records that would be 

 of value to you. The quantity of sweet cherries exhibited was very small- 

 Those from Oregon were best in every way. A number of large shipments 

 were made and the fruit was of extra large size and came through in 

 excellent condition. Several large exhibits were also made from Michigan; 

 the best being from Paul Rose, of South Frankfort. The South Haven 

 Sub-station made several shipments, and other exhibits came from Benton 

 Harbor. Several fine boxes were also received from the Sacramento Val- 

 ley, California. Napoleon and Black Tartarian were the leading varieties, 

 although there were a number of fine shipments of Bing and Black 

 Republican from Oregon. 



For the most part, the sour cherries were of three varieties : — Rich- 

 mond, Montmorency, and English Morello. Among the other varieties 

 exhibited were : — Wragg, Magnifique, Montreuil, Olivet and Dyehouse. 

 The largest exhibits of sour cherries came from Missouri, Kansas, Colo- 

 rado, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and New 

 York. 



From the fact that an exhibitor could have but one award, and that 

 most of them showed several kinds of fruit, it would not be possible to 

 give the names of those who received medals. I could furnish you with a 

 list of the names of those who received medals upon cherries, but where a 

 man exhibited four or five kinds of fruit, the award was made for ' an 

 exhibit of fruit,' so that any list of awards upon cherries would be mis- 

 leading. To tell everything about it, it would be necessary to examine the 

 12,000 entries. 



Trusting that this will aid you, I am, 



Yours very truly, 



L. R. Taft." 



