THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 



61 



to sign their names six thousand times for one display alone, 

 there was a rebellion. The jurors finally prepared a report, and 

 signed a card that would include all items. 



"It was the purpose of the Executive Committee of 

 Awards to have the exhibitors in all cases (in horticulture at 

 least) make a list showing every species and variety in their 

 display, so that in the future the records would show just what 

 varieties were displayed; this was a most excellent purpose. 

 In accomplishing this purpose the exhibitors were expected to 

 make their entries of all species and varieties on entry blanks, 

 these entries were to be copied into a book in the department 

 office, again into a book, with consecutive numbers, in the 

 office of the Executive Committee, then each item was to be 

 copied twice on a card with a number corresponding to the 

 Executive Committee's book ! One can well imagine that, in 

 going through this process, the little errors in a botanical 

 name in the original entry would be amplified until the result 

 would be unintelligible. 



" To secure just awards, more rigid lines must be assumed 

 between entries for the different departments, so that articles 

 will not come into the hands of judges who are incompetent 

 to pass upon them. A complete set of jurors, with informa- 

 tion as to the branches in which they are expert, should be 

 provided in advance, so that they may be assigned to duty at 

 an early period. Carefully prepared rules to guide jurors in 

 their findings should be prepared to cover, so far as possible, all 

 classes of exhibits. The system of entries and the directions 

 to jurors should be simple, feasible, and rigidly enforced, and 

 all unnecessary labor should be avoided. In conclusion, let me 

 suggest that if it were possible to have the Executive Com- 

 mittee of Awards of the Exposition, the heads of departments, 

 the clerks of juries, and the best experts among the judges of 

 the various groups, jointly prepare a system of entries, awards, 

 and a classification that could be referred to and studied as a 

 standard for future expositions, the result w T ould be of inesti- 

 mable value." 



Staging the Fruit Exhibits. — The general plan of showing 

 green fruits is indicated in the following rule of instruction 

 given to exhibitors : " The fruit exhibit will be made on 

 raised or terraced tables. Those next to the wall will be four 

 feet in width. They will consist of seven shelves, the first or 

 lower one being eight inches, the five succeeding ones seven, 

 and the last eleven inches in width. The upper surface of the 

 lower shelf will be three feet above the floor, and each succeed- 

 ing shelf will rise three inches. The central tables will be 

 built after the plan of the side tables, but will rise from each 



