September 20, 1893.] 



Garden and Forest. 



399 



TJie region of large fruits seems to begin with Idaho, and to 

 include Oregon, Washington and California. These states 

 have not made much attempt to show peaches, on account 

 of tlie distance, but plates of enormous specimens are on ex- 

 hibition. Lemon Cling is shown from Idaho. Oregon and 

 California both show the Orange Cling, which is the largest 

 and handsomest peach on exhibition. In Oregon this fruit is 

 known as Oregon Cling. 



California now has an interesting collection of nectarines, 

 comprising eleven varieties, from the veteran grower, John 

 Rock, of San Jose. The most attractive of these are Darwin, 

 Claremont, Golden and Downton. Nectarines have been 

 shown from other parts of the state for several weeks. 



Plums, however, comprise by far the most varied and at- 

 tractive exhibits of stone-fruits. They stand shipmentandkeep 

 well upon the tables, and nearly every state finds varieties 

 which it can grow. Peaches pass from the shelves quickly, 

 and a state which has a good collection one day may have 

 few or none the day following. But the peach displays have been 

 good, notwithstanding, and especially in view of the extreme 

 drought. The peach does not appear to be modified greatly 

 in shape by the different climates, although there is a tendency 

 for the Pacific fruits to develop a very prominent or even pro- 

 longed tip. Other fruits from the Pacific slope show this ten- 

 dency to elongate in a very marked degree. This is true of 

 the plums. The preponderance of rounded and soft-fleshed 

 plums is observed in all the collections from the east, and even 

 as far west as Colorado, but once over the mountains into 

 Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California, the long and hard 

 prune-like types appear. The eastern fruits excel in table 

 qualities, but they lack the size and shipping qualities of those 

 from the west. In the collecdons from the eastern states, the 

 plates from Oceana County, in the Michigan exhibit, are most 

 interesting. They come from one of the newest and most 

 promising fruit-regions of the east, and, contrary to general 

 experience in Plum-culture, they thrive upon gravelly soils. 

 The Oceana varieties now on display are Quackenbos, Guii, 

 Pond, Lombard, Smith's Orleans, Yellow Egg, General Hand, 

 Union Purple, and others of similar type. It is evident, from 

 a general study of the plum exhibits, that Lombard is more 

 commonly grown in the east than any other variety. Consid- 

 ering the poor quality of this plum, this popularity is to be re- 

 gretted ; and although the tree bears well, the fruit is very lia- 

 ble to rot. 



One of the novel features of the plum exhibit is the large va- 

 riety of native plums now shown by the states of the Upper 

 Mississippi basin. As one sees these plums beside varieties 

 of Prunus domestica grown in the same regions, he is ready 

 to confess that these natives are destined to play a very large 

 part in the pomological development of much of our interior 

 country. Something like fifty varieties have now been shown, 

 mostly of the Prunus Americana type, although the Miner, or 

 northern type of Prunus hortulana, is well represented. Iowa 

 has a large collection, among which the leading varieties are 

 Waif, Miner, Wyant, Hawkeye, Pottawattamie and Galena. In 

 the Minnesota section many varieties are shown, all conspicu- 

 ous for the beauty of their coloring. Here leading sorts are 

 Forest Garden, Early Sweet, De Soto, Harrison's Peach. South 

 Dakota has a large and varied collection, among which Barns- 

 beck, a new seedling Americana, is conspicuous. 



The Japanese plums have made some impression upon the 

 fruit displays, especially the Kelsey, which is now shown in 

 enormous specimens from California. Ogon and Abundance 

 were sent from several localities earlier in the season, and a 

 few other varieties appeared. I should not forget to say that 

 Prunus Simoni has been sent in from a wide range of coun- 

 try — from Canada to Oregon. Although this fruit is often very 

 bitter and acerb, most of the specimens on exhibition have 

 been nearly free from these qualities, and enormous and 

 bright-colored samples from Oregon are positively delicious. 

 I have tested good fruits from Canada, New York, Colorado 

 and Nebraska, while some samples from Iowa were bitter, dif- 

 ferences for which I cannot account. 



BREVITIES. 



Vegetable exhibits continue to be very few. This is a branch 

 of horticulture which seems to have been neglected on all 

 sides. The only attempt to grow a garden vegetable upon the 

 Fairgrounds, so far as we have been able to learn, is a few 

 vines of the new Japanese Climbing Cucumber, shown in the 

 German section upon the island. Canada still maintains the 

 early display of last year's vegetables, and fresh ones are now 

 coming in freely. Those from the new north-west territories 

 naturally attract the most attention. New York has had the 

 most varied and most interesting display throughout the Fair. 



It is supplied by the State Experiment Station at Geneva, 

 which certainly deserves great praise for its continued supplies 

 of vegetables and fruits. It should be said that a statement 

 made in this correspondence last June, that New York 

 state gave the station a specific appropriation to enable it to 

 make this display, was an error. The appropriation was not 

 made. When the Fair closes the station will have contributed 

 about five hundred species and varieties of vegetables to the 

 state display. Michigan is now making a good show of vege- 

 tables, and New Jersey still has a remnant of potatoes and 

 beans. 



The best display of bloom now under glass is the Griffin 

 strain of Tuberous Begonias, shown in the Lord & Burnham 

 greenhouses, by the New York Florists' Club. The flowers are 

 uncommonly large and bright, and they comprise a great va- 

 riety of colors. In the same series of houses is a Rosecompart- 

 ment, in which are now growing the following new varieties : 

 Senator McNaughton, exhibited by Robert Craig, a deli- 

 cate creamy-white sport of Perle des Jardins ; Kaiserin Au- 

 gusta Victoria and Madame Caroline Testout, by Ernst Asmus ; 

 and two benches of Mrs. W. C. Whitney, by John N. May. 

 Another offshoot of the Lord & Burnham houses has an ex- 

 cellent small collection of Ferns and Orchids from Frederick 

 Sholes. The main house of the series has a tank in which 

 various rare Nymphaeas and Victoria regia are growing. This 

 house has an excellent lot of Crotons from the Jay Gould 

 estate and from William Bayard Cutting. There is also a good 

 plant each of Aristolochia ornithocephala and A. Sturte- 

 vantii, the former in abundant bloom. These various collec- 

 tions are made under the auspices of the New York Florists' 

 Club. 



The third display of cut or seasonal flowers is now showing 

 by the New York Florists' Club in the Horticultural Building. 

 The display comprises twelve flats of Lily-of-the-valley from 

 Ernst Asmus. "The flats are about sixteen by twenty-four 

 inches, and each one contains about 150 plants, all in full 

 bloom. The first flower-show by the club comprised Gladioli, 

 from C. H. Allen, during the meeting of the Society of Ameri- 

 can Florists. On New York Day, September 4th, a good col- 

 lection of Meteor Roses, from F. R. Pierson & Co., was put on 

 the table. A show of Carnations is booked for October, with 

 Chrysanthemums for a closing effort. It is hoped, also, that 

 another Gladiolus display may be secured, although recent 

 storms have seriously injured the plants in the east. 



The kaki, or Japanese persimmon, is now attracting much 

 attention. Several varieties are shown by Mr. P. J. Berck- 

 mans, who also has pomegranates and enormous Kieffer 

 pears. The kakis shown are named Hiyakume, Yiami-Gata, 

 Among, Die-Die-Maru, Ko-tsura, Togarii-Gata, Yedo-Ichi, 

 Myotan, Zengi, Hachega, Masu-Gata, Kerro-kume and 

 Tsuru-noko. Some of these are now ripe, while the last two 

 named are still very green, showing that this fruit covers a 

 long season. The differences in color, shape and size in the 

 varieties on exhibition indicate that there is sufficient variation 

 in the fruit to adapt it to many uses and demands. 



The most notable plant in flower during the first and 

 second weeks in September is a magnificent specimen of Fur- 

 crasa gigantea, better known as Fourcroya, which stands in an 

 immense vase on the lawn in front of the New York State 

 Building. The flower-stalk is over thirty feet high, and throws 

 out a large, light, symmetrical panicle of drooping creamy 

 flowers. The bottom of the plant is as good as the top, the 

 long yellow-bordered leaves being numerous and per- 

 fect and symmetrically disposed. The plant belongs to 

 Siebrecht & Wadley, and was brought from their Trinidad 

 nurseries. 



September 9th was California Day, and the California people 

 gave away about six car-loads of fruit. A large platform was 

 erected in front of the State Building, upon which peaches, 

 grapes, plums, pears and oranges were piled in profusion, and 

 were given without stint to the crowds. California has from 

 the first shown a liberality in her displays at the Fair which 

 should put many of the older states to shame. 



Probably the finest single display of Cannas is that just now 

 in its prime about the Pennsylvania State Building. A heavy 

 belt of Madame Crozy, shown by Robert Craig, stands against 

 the long circular porch ; the plants are very free in bloom and 

 perfect in form and color. None of the new Cannas seem to 

 be equal to this variety for all purposes. 



Chicago, 111. L. H. Bailey. 



