July 19, 1893.] 



Garden and Forest. 



309 



double forms seem to he equally esteemed. As to colors, they 

 may be divided into whites, blues (of the Violet shades, which 

 are really purples), blue-purples and red-purples. These colors 

 appear as selfs, mottled, flaked, laced and reticulated in dif- 

 ferent combinations, so that the variety of distinct kinds is 

 rather large. The plants at Pitcher & Manda's were either 

 numbered or with Japanese names. A very superb double 

 white bore the euphonious name of Semayanna, which seems 

 rather more difficult than Alba plena. However, it was of 

 perfectly pure color, except for a yellow blotch at the throat, 

 and the broad petals were of the crape-like texture which 

 makes this the most attractive of white Irises. There was also 

 a fine single white kind, differing only in the number of falls. 

 Other whites comprised one stained slightly with violet, and a 

 perfect beauty laced or marged on the edges of the falls with 

 light violet. There were others mottled or blotched with 

 wine-red on a white ground, a double one of this character 

 being especially attractive. The violet and indigo blues of 

 these Irises are very quaint, some being self-colored, while 

 others are finely reticulated, sometimes in white and some- 

 times in darker color. These sometimes have bright yellow 

 throats, which seem to accent the main color. There are 

 other forms of these which may be considered as laced flow- 

 ers, that is, the two colors of the petals being in broad lines. 

 The best of the blue-purples seem to be mostly selfs, ranging 

 in depth to a rich royal purple. A specimen of this here was 

 Number Four, named Oominata. It is among the reddish 

 purples that one has to exercise the most discrimination 

 among Japanse Iris'es, unless one enjoys solferino. There are 

 some superb flowers, however, in these shades. One splendid 

 reticulated flower in this section. Number Ten, was immense 

 in size and very effective in coloring. Number Fifteen was a 

 superb double one of same character. The self-colored 

 maroons are rather sombre flowers, but a collection is not 

 complete without a few varieties of these. I noticed one of 

 the light-colored maroons which had standards of a deeper 

 shade, which seemed a unique combination. Japanese Irises 

 are easily cultivated, provided they have a fair depth of good 

 soil and receive fair supplies of moisture, and they are sure 

 to become more popular plants, as they are not only attrac- 

 tive, but perfectly hardy and increase rapidly. It was a pleasure 

 to find such welcome additions to our present kinds in the 

 United States Nursery. 



New York. ^• 



The Columbian Exposition. 

 Citrous Fruits. 



CITROUS FRUITS have thus far constituted the greatest 

 attraction, among the fruit exhibits, to tlie general visiting 

 public. This is because the fruits have been displayed in 

 almost reckless profusion and in many bold designs. The 

 largest single exhibit is made by Los Angeles County, Cali- 

 fornia, in the south-west curtain of the Horticultural Building. 

 A monument thirty-five feet high, covered with 13,873 oranges 

 and some lemons, stands near the north end of the curtain, 

 the eagle which surmounts it standing in the very peak of the 

 roof. The base of this monument was at first covered with 

 the Washington Navel orange, which is the one distinguishing 

 orange of California ; but as these passed out of season, Medi- 

 terranean Sweets and others were substituted. At the southern 

 end of the same room is a large central table or platform, 

 twenty-four by fifty-two feet square, containing a Los Angeles 

 exhibit in the central portion, San Bernardino on the north, 

 and San Diego on the south. The boldest figure upon this 

 table, which is covered with dark green felt, is the liberty bell, 

 full size, comprising the central figure of the Los Angeles dis- 

 play. The entire table is decorated with lines, mounds and 

 pyramids of fruits in the most attractive manner. Orange 

 County, California, occupies a narrow table upon the east of 

 this central platform, and the recently organized Riverside 

 County has one upon the west. In the California State Build- 

 ing the display of citrous fruits is duplicated. Here, however, 

 the seven southern counties make a collective exhibit of 

 various products under the name of the Southern California 

 Association. This organization comprises the counties of Los 

 Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, 

 Orange and Riverside. The boldest design in this building is 

 a huge ball of fruit about eight feet in diameter, upon a base 

 twelve feet square. It is contributed by the Los Angeles 

 County people. All these designs are kept sweet and fresh by 

 new consignments from the storage-houses. 



The central and northern citrous coun ies of California are 

 also represented in the State Building, although none of them, 



save Fresno, has attempted to show fresh or plate fruits, 

 principally because the oranges ripen some three weeks earlier 

 in the northern counties than in the south, and no attempt was 

 made to keep them. 



At this date, the second week in July, many of the varieties 

 of oranges which were prominent in the California displays 

 earlier in the season are gone. In the State Building only 

 Hart's Tardive (or Hart's Late), Valencia Late and various 

 seedlings are left. In the Horticultural Building, however, 

 Washington Navel is still shown in considerable quantity. 

 The Improved Navel, from A. C. Thompson, the originator, 

 Duarte, Los Angeles County, makes an attractive show. This 

 orange is remarkable for its enormous size and weight, and its 

 quality is good. Next to the Washington Navel, the St, Michael 

 and Mediterranean Sweet contend for supremacy, but the St. 

 Michael appears to be in greater favor. Other prominent va- 

 rieties are Malta Blood, Australian Navel and Ruby Blood. 

 Various Tangierines and Mandarins have been on exhibition, 

 of which the King has been the most prominent of little-known 

 kinds. 



Lemons are shown in profusion by the Californians, espe- 

 cially by Riverside County, under the charge of G. W. Garcelon, 

 one of the most successful of the lemon-growers of the Pacific 

 Slope. Lemon-growing is a very recent industry in America, 

 but the Californians are now confident that it will meet with 

 commercial success. The lemons on exhibition are well cured 

 and appear to possess all the merits of an ideal fruit. The 

 leading variety is Eureka, which is an ever-bearing sort. A 

 tree of this variety, in flower and fruit, stands upon the lawn 

 in front of the California State Building. Lisbon occupies 

 second place, and Villa Franca is prominent in the shows. 

 Apparently the most remarkable, as well as the handsomest, 

 lemon on exhibition is the Bonnie Brae, shown in the San 

 Diego displays. It is very long and smooth, with a short tip, 

 thin skin, and is seedless. 



California also shows limes, citrons, pomelos and grape- 

 fruits. Some idea of the extent of these exhibits can be learned 

 from the fact that seventy-five car-loads of citrous fruits have 

 been shipped from the seven southern counties for displays in 

 the Horticultural and California Buildings. Aside from the 

 fruits, there is a California Orange-orchard in the north court 

 of the Horticultural Building, and another in the nursery sec- 

 tion of the Midway Plaisance. 



Florida is the only other American state making a citrous 

 exhibit. The state made no appropriation for World's Fair 

 purposes, and the display is made entirely by private enter- 

 prise. This fact accounts for the small and poor show, which, 

 under liberal support, might have been very large. It must 

 also be said that the Florida fruit is earlier than that from the 

 Pacific, and is now out of season. The Florida section is at the 

 north end of the north curtain. The varieties of oranges are 

 Hart's Tardive and Seedlings, all more or less russetted. An 

 arch of russets spanning the central passage-way, flanked by a 

 Cocoanut-tree, has been a pleasing object, but is now showing 

 the effects of the season. Still, the Florida oranges have kept 

 better than the California ones, notwithstanding their earlier 

 season, and their quality is unsurpassed. Grape-fruits are 

 also shown from Florida. 



Italy shows lemons and oranges, but the display is not ex- 

 tensive and the fruits are nearly all wrapped in colored tissue- 

 papers and covered with tinsel and gaudy pictures and orna- 

 ments. In most cases, the covers of the boxes only are re- 

 moved, and the fruits are not exposed to view, or they are 

 covered with glass. The labels are very few, and the visitor 

 is unable to form any intelligent conception of the variety or 

 merit of the exhibit. The oranges represent the familiar 

 Italian types seen in the markets, being smaller and thinner- 

 skinned than the California variefies. The lemons, to all ap- 

 pearances, possess no superiority over the American product. 

 The exhibit, because of its obscured condition, attracts little 

 attention. 



New South Wales shows a large quantity of lemons and 

 oranges on tables adjoining the Italian exhibit. The lemons 

 represent Eureka and Lisbon varieties mostly, and they com- 

 pare tolerably well with the average run of California speci- 

 mens, although they are less attractive than the better samples 

 of the domestic product. The oranges are all one variety, the 

 Parramatta, a small, flat, very sour fruit. This is the first pick- 

 ing of the Australian fruit, and the exhibitors assert that sub- 

 sequent arrivals will show better oranges; but no one expects 

 that any region will be able to make as meritorious displays as 

 California has done. New South Wales has made the most 

 commendable efforts, however, in every department of the 

 Exposifion, and its shows of pomaceous and citrous fruits 

 have excited much admiration from the first. 



