330 



THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 



Kov. 



the table lands of Iowa, fruit culture would be 

 of little account, but the Messrs. Smith have 

 most fully demonstrated that such en idea is 

 sheer folly, and the Inggards can now profit Vy 

 their experience. Mr. S. puts the Concord at 

 the head of the list as the great market grape — 

 the grape for the miiron, the grape that can al- 

 ways be relied upon with that ordinary culture 

 that fai mers and professional men generally give. 

 Hartford Proliflio is another valuable grape. 

 Mr. S. says that Concord, Hartford Proliflic and 

 Delaware are the beat three grapes for the North- 

 west, in which we fully concur. In this collec- 

 tion the visitor will observe fine specimens of 

 Diana, Tokalou, Franklin, Canby's August, Re- 

 becca, Perkins. Garrigues andMascadine. 



GRAPES UNDER GLASS. 



The collection from the grapery of I. H. Burcb, 

 presented by his gardener, F. Hooker, are of the 

 highest merit. They number nine varieties. It 

 requires a stroug moral effort tj pass by such 

 tempting sp cimens. It certainly would not be 

 safe to leave a hole in the garden fence from 

 whence came such luscious specimens of this 

 magnificent fruit. 



Two plates of grapes from J. 11. Reese, are 

 very fine. Dr. E. S. Hull, of Alton, presents a 

 fine collection of grapes, grown out of doors. 

 G. H. Baker of Cobden, has Delaware, Catawba, 

 Clinton, Isabella, Concord, and several varieties 

 grown from the seed of raisins planted four 

 years since. The Herbemont grape is also in 

 the collection of Mr. B. The grape is small, 

 but the clusters are long, and its value for wine 

 will probably bring it into notice. The Diana is 

 also another desrable grape in this collection. 



Dr. Merrick, of Quincy, sent in a large aiid 

 fine collection of thirteen varieties : Delaware, 

 the best grown on exhibition; Rebecca, Cataw- 

 ba, Concord, and his new seedling the Chicka- 

 saw, This lot shows what can be done in the 

 way of grape culture on the bluffs of the Miss- 

 issippi. 



PEARS. 



On the same table is a fine lot of pears from 

 the grounds of A. S. & Geo. Berry, of Alton, 

 embracing Bartletts of most tempting exterior, 

 Dutchess and V/hite Doyenne. 



AVe move along, being flanked to the right and 

 left by the choicest assortment of peaches, 

 pears and apples, which almost bewilders one to 

 contemplate, and we give over for the day. 



SECOND DAT. 



On entering the Hall the first object that at- 

 tracts the visitor is the Temple of Flora, stand- 

 ing in the center of the Hall. The design and 

 work is that of Lewis Pantlan, and is a work of 

 rare merit; it is not only the center of the Hall, 

 but the great center of attraction. 



The collection of Edward Sander.=, of Lake 

 View, is large and select. Our people have for 

 several years been in the habit of decoraticg 

 their groumls and rooms, with the gems of fiorai 

 beauty, from the well known stock of this old 

 establishment. 



The display of William & Withold is not large, 

 but very choice. 



C. E. Peck shows asters, ornamental grasses, 

 and a large lot of everlasting flowers. 



H. C. \Valdo, gardener for Dr. Kennicott, of 

 the Grove, shows a good collection of everlasting 

 flowers, verbenus, German stocks, cut roses, 

 dahlias, asters, Japan and China pinks. 



J. E. WatkinS; of Graceland Cemetery, shows 

 a fine collection of Fuchias. 



Lewis E.lsworth, of NapervlUe, 1 y his gard- 

 ener Reese, shows cut roses, dahlias, and verbe- 

 nas. 



Mrs. S. T. Atwater, of Chicago, shows a most 

 magnifficent wax plant, near five feet high and 

 three broad. 



ROCKFOKD AHEAD. 



Up to this morning, the gardeners of Rockfdrd 

 mike the best display, our own gardeners being 

 tardy in tringing their plants, but tliey propose 

 to bring up the rear this afternoon. 



We will catalogue those fine collections, and 

 would call the attention of visitors to the fact 

 that the Chicago gardeners will find in those of 

 Rockford a pretty sharp competition. These 

 latter men are wide awake and promptly on 

 hand, which we cannot say of but few of those 

 in Chicago. Our own gardeners should have 

 filled the Hall the first day of the fair, but up to 

 this morning, the large collections are not (n 

 place, and but just arriving at the ball. This is 

 all wrong, and may have a powerful infljence in 

 taking the next annual fair to our more enter- 

 prising neighbors. Thanks to our Rockford 

 friends, the hall will be filled to overflowing with 

 gems of beauty. 



W. G. Ferguson made the best display of cut 

 flowers, in a bcquet of over sixty varieties of 

 choice flowers, and has probably the best twelve 

 dahlias in the hall. E. G. Abell shows two flat 



