THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 



75 



had from the fact that Mr. Olberg showed 178, and Mr. Vuyl- 

 steke 78 named kinds. 



Opposite the Ontario exhibit, Mexico (7) had an excellent 

 collection of cacti which was particularly rich in giant 

 echinocacti. 



Altogether, aside from the center piece of the dome, the 

 plant effects were good ; and even under the dome the flanking 

 groups upon the floor were for the most part excellent. 

 Cobcea seandens was used to cover the trusses and balconies with 

 verdurous festoons, — a vine which was also used to good effect 

 upon the walls of the curtains. The display, as a whole, can 

 not be said to have been representative of American floriculture, 

 inasmuch as so few firms and individuals participated in it ; 

 and the foreign representation was sporadic. One of the most 

 pleasing features of the exhibition was the perspective in the 

 curtains, in consequence of the length being four times the 

 breadth. This proportion greatly increased the apparent 

 extent of the display, and gave it a spirited interest which could 

 not have been obtained by square rooms of even greater areas. 



3b. The Fruit Curtains. — Lying in the rear of the 

 plant curtains, just described, were the two wings devoted to 

 the pomological displays. These were much like the plant 

 wings in style, except that less glass was used in the sides and 

 roofs, and the floors were laid with boards. Each of them was 

 46 feet wide by 346 feet long. Entering the short passage 

 leading west from the great dome, one found the fruit displays 

 extending away upon either hand. The early displays in these 

 wings were composed largely of apples from cold storage, 

 citrous fruits from California and Florida, and miscellaneous 

 collections of fruits in preservative liquids. During June and 

 July the berries became attractive features of the displays of a 

 few States, especially of Illinois, New York, Wisconsin, and New 

 Jersey. By the middle of August, the new tree fruits of the 

 season introduced fresh interest, and thenceforth all the wealth 

 of an American autumn was bestowed upon the show. The 

 season was generally unfavorable for tree fruits of first quality, 

 yet the country has never known such a bountiful and varied 

 display as loaded the tables to their greatest capacity in the 

 closing days of September and the entire month of October. 

 If North America has not yet attained the development in mat- 

 ters of floriculture and scientific and experimental gardening 

 which the European countries enjoy, it stands preeminently 

 above all other lands in the abundance, variety and excellence 

 of its fruits. This is America's great contribution to the pro- 

 gress of the World's horticulture, and the later days of the 

 Exposition must have convinced all experienced persons of this 

 fact. 



