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THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. 



'Nov 



was a complete damper on the Fair that day, rend 

 ering it necessary, also, to postpone the exhibition 

 of Fireworks announced for that evening, which 

 will be had on Thurj-day evening of next week, in 

 connection witli our County Fair. Notwithstand- 

 ing the storm, however, the attendance even on 

 Thursday, was quite respectable. Yesterday was 

 a bright and beautiful day, and the attendance was 

 largely increased. On Wednesday an Excursion 

 train came in over the Galena Road, starting at 

 Cottage Hill, bringing about five hundred passen- 

 gers. On Thursday an Excursion train came over 

 the Kenosha Road, from Kenosha, also bringing a 

 large number of passengers. In consequence of 

 the storm the Fair was continued over till to-day, 

 and will be formally closed this afternoon. 



Most of our readers arc already familiar witl: the 

 location and size of the three Halls on the Fair 

 Grounds. They are all of them spacious, being 

 about one hundred feet in length, and fifty feet in 

 width. 



FLORAL HALL. 



This is the large tent heretofore known as Agri- 

 cultural Hall, but so changed in its interior arrange- 

 ment that it would hardly be recognized. It is 

 laid off into broad walks and terrace.?, the latter 

 made to represent Nature's green turf as nearly as 

 possible, and forming a splendid platform for the 

 display of the rich treasures of Flora's Kingdom 

 which were on exhibition. Near the south entrance 

 to the Hall is an elegant pyramid of evergreens 

 and flowers interwoven, some eight feet in height, 

 surmounted by an eagle bearing in his beak the 

 stars and stripes. This may be called the national 

 pyramid. Surrounding the pyramid are five smal- 

 ler ones, each surmounted by a representative bird 

 of the prairie State. This beautiful design and its 

 execution were the work of our well known Florist, 

 Mr. Alexander Strachan. In the center of the 

 Hall stands a beautiful fountain in full play. This 

 is surrounded by rocks, marine birds and shells, 

 and in the basin, a number of lusty bull frogs 

 "keep music Avith a sort of runic rhyme." At the 

 north end of the Hall is a very exquisite design of 

 a Floral Temple, also made of evergreens and 

 flowers, surmounted with a horned owl, and con- 

 taining in its centre a fine piece of statuary. The 

 basin iu the centre, together with the temple, and 

 most of the interior arrangements and decorarions, 

 are due to Mr. John Blair, of this city, a very 

 skillful Florist and designer. Mr. James McLaugh- 

 lan also had a fine fountain in play, with floral 

 design, as also had Mr. Strachan. 



It is nearly useless^'Jto attempt to describe the 

 floral display, as a personal view alone is adequate 

 to give any just conception of such a gorgeous 



display of floral beauty. One thing was marked 

 by all observers, and it is a fact in which we feel 

 no little pride, that in this department Rockford 

 furnished probably nine-tentks of all the specimenB 

 exhibited, and the display was such that we feel 

 well convinced visitors from abroad must hare 

 formed a very high opinion of ihe Horticultural 

 taste of our citizens. 



Among the exhibitors we noted the following: 

 H. P. Kimball, a splendid display of dahlias and 

 seedling verbenas, petunias and heliotropes; also 

 boquets; be had 60 varieties of dahlias and 85 of 

 veibenas. J. S. Shearman had a very large dis- 

 play of Green House plants, flovrers, evergreens, 

 fruit trees, etc. Capt. E. Cosv' r contributed a 

 splendid display of Fuschias avd Green House 

 plants. James McLaughlan, al.ige collection of 

 flowers, also rustic work. John ilair, 20 varieties 

 of leaf plants, also fine flowers : nd rustic work. 

 E. L. Able, a very fine collection uf Asters, Japan 

 Lilies and other choice flowers ; Mrs. Able and 

 Misses Mary and Emma Able also contributed 

 flowers and boquets — one of tlie latter of wild 

 flowers was particularly admired. A. Strachan 

 had a fine collection of flowers and boquets. W, 

 G. Ferguson, as usual, exhibited splendid speci- 

 mens of flowers. Mrs. Oscar Taylor, of Freeport, 

 fine cut flowers; "Williams & Witbold, of Chicago, 

 collection of leaf plants ; J. H. Douglas and H. B. 

 Norton, both had a fine show of Asters ; Miss 

 Redington, handsome wild flowers; Mrs. P. W. 

 Marsh, elegant Asters and wild flowers; Mrs. W. 

 D. Gregory, rustic vase ; Mrs. Calvin Pratt, Mrs. 

 A. M. Fletcher and Miss Sarah Fletcher, tastefully 

 arranged boquets of wild flowers ; T. D. Robertson, 

 house plants; Mrs. Sarah Robertson, beautiful 

 pansies; Eva Townsend, Asters and everlasting 

 flowers; Dr. Kennicott, of Chicago, some very 

 elegant flowers, his Japanese pinks attracting spe- 

 cial attention. Miss Maria Weldon, Thos. Liddle, 

 H. Kingsbury, Mrs. Moulthrop, Mrs. Blinn, Mrs. 

 L. B. Gregory, Mrs. E. P. Snow, Miss Mary E. 

 Wilson, and Mrs. S. P. Crawford were also contri- 

 butors in this department. A. Hovey, of Chicago, 

 exhibited a large variety of rustic work, including 

 chairs, flower posts, stands, vases., etc, which were 

 very fine. D. C. Scofield, of Elgin, had a fine dis- 

 play of Evergreens. An attractive feature of Flo- 

 ral Hall, also, were the stuffed birds of Mr. W. 

 Blackburn, perched in among flowers and Ever- 

 greens, giving life to the scene. Mr. Minier, Presi- 

 dent of the Society, also contributed some fine 

 pieces of statuary for the ornamentation. 



Pomona's hall. 



What has heretofore been known as the Diniog . 



J>M<.,'..:. 



