THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 



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The exhibit, because of its obscured condition, attracted little 

 attention. Its method of displaying fruits was wholly unlike 

 that of any other exhibit in the entire Department of Horticul- 

 ture, and for this reason it was interesting as representing a dis- 

 tinct theory of fruit exhibition. 



New South Wales showed a quantity of lemons and 

 oranges on tables adjoining the Italian exhibit in the south 

 curtain. The lemons were Eureka and Lisbon mostly, and 

 they compared tolerably well with the average run of California 

 specimens, although they were less attractive than the better 

 samples of the domestic product. The oranges were all one 

 variety, the Parramatta, a small flat, very sour fruit. New 

 South Wales made the most commendable efforts, in every 

 department of the Exposition, and its shows of pomaceous and 

 citrous fruits excited much admiration from the first. 



There seems to be an unwritten law tkat citrous fruits 

 must be shown in profusion and in bold designs in order to 

 express exhibitive merit, while apples and all other fruits should 

 be arranged on plates in definite numbers. In many respects 

 this method of displaying citrous fruits is unfortunate. It 

 results in a mere display, which is largely devoid of educational 

 interest. One could scarcely learn from the profuse exhibitions 

 of California oranges and lemons what are the* best varieties, 

 or what their peculiarities or adaptabilities. The importance 

 of varieties and methods of treatment is obscured by the merely 

 decorative features of the display. New South W ales, alone, 

 showed all its citrous fruits on plates, although California had 

 plate fruit in small amount on some of the tables. It is true 

 that decorative displays add greatly to the attractions of expo- 

 sition, but it is doubtful if they are in all ways the best; 

 although every visitor must have felt grateful to the enterprise 

 of California, whose almost reckless profusion of fruits and 

 designs rescued the early pomological displays from monotony, 

 and included an horticultural show in one of the seven wonders 

 of the Fair. 



The June Exhibits of Fresh Fruits. — The first American 

 fresh fruits to arrive at the Fair were Peen-to peaches 

 from Florida, received early in May. But there was no sub- 

 sequent attempt to show Florida peaches. In fact, no new 

 Florida fruits were shown, save a small collection of pine- 

 apples from the Indian River region, owing to the lack of any 

 appropriation by the Legislature to defray the expenses of an 

 exhibit. The oranges and cocoanuts placed on exhibition at 

 the opening of the Fair still attracted much attention, however. 

 The second lot of peaches arrived on June 12th from Kentucky. 

 These were a new variety, the Sneed, sent by W. J. McPheters, 

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