THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 



83 



which the exhibitors named Samuels, in honor of the Chief of 

 the Horticultural Department. It is said to be a hybrid 

 between a Vinifera variety procured in California and some 

 native Texan species. The bunch is large and much com- 

 pounded or branched, the grapes of medium size and very 

 thickly set upon the cluster, with a skin adherent, as in the 

 true Viniferas. 



In strawberries, Sacramento county, California, made the 

 first attempt. Berries which were picked May 11th were on exhi- 

 bition in both the California and Horticultural buildings May 

 17th, and a second consignment was received May 23d. These 

 were all Triomphe de Gand. There were no subsequent dis- 

 plays from California. Illinois was early in the field with 

 strawberries. The first consignments (Gandy and Riehl's No. 

 6) were received from the southern part of the State May 15th. 

 New Jersey first had strawberries on exhibition June 7th, from 

 William H. Elvins, Hammonton, comprising Belmont, Sharp- 

 less and Bubach. The display was continued and augmented, 

 the berries being shipped in refrigerator cases and kept under 

 refrigeration at the Fair. The New Jersey show was very 

 excellent. New York began receiving strawberries from the 

 ]ower Hudson River valley June 13th. The first variety shown 

 was Bubach. On June 21st, the sixth consignment of the sea- 

 son was unpacked. Several installments w r ere received from 

 the State Experiment Station at Geneva, comprising several 

 comparatively new sorts. The long shipment from New York 

 tested the carrying qualities of strawberries. Among the best 

 shippers were Sharpless, Middlefield, Gandy, Chair's Favorite 

 and Beverly. These New York berries were shipped in egg- 

 cases, each berry occupying a compartment with cotton wadding. 

 In these cases, even Cumberland and other soft berries arrived 

 in good condition. When the berries are packed in ordinary 

 cotton batting, however, the fiber adheres to the fruit and 

 makes it look moldy. The New York exhibit also showed 

 fifty-one varieties of strawberries growing and bearing in eight- 

 inch pots. The last important collection of strawberries to 

 reach the Fair, was also the best. This was a display of 61 

 varieties from L. J. Farmer, Oswego Co., New York, which was 

 placed upon the tables June 28th. The berries were picked 

 upon the 26th, and were shipped in compartment cases with 

 cotton wadding, as already described. The condition was 

 so good upon arrival that not one berry was damaged, and 

 the fruit remained upon the plates for a week. A peculiarity 

 of these fruits was their truthfulness to the average type of the 

 variety, rather than mere size or uniformity. 



A single unnamed variety of strawberries from Idaho was 

 placed on exhibition June 16th. On June 17th, a lot of Clark's 



