THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 



95 



what was to have been expected of it, even in a comparatively 

 poor year. 



This was equally true of individual fruits. One expected 

 a complete representation of those important fruits which have 

 been developed within two generations from our native species. 

 But not only were the raspberries, blackberries, native goose- 

 berries, and even strawberries, sporadic in their representation, 

 but there was no definite effort to show our native plums. 

 Some table might have been devoted, the season through, to 

 showing these fruits in all their variety, and from all parts of 

 the country, for purposes of easy comparison. The visitor was 

 impressed with the feeling that certain States are capable of 

 making great exhibits ; but there was little to show the relative 

 importance of the various fruits in our national economy, and 

 to illustrate their comparative peculiarities and variations. In 

 other words, the proper basis for a comprehensive pomological 

 display undoubtedly is fruit, and not States. Perhaps it would 

 be difficult to interest the public without appealing to State 

 pride, but it might have been possible to have secured sufficient 

 overplus of special fruits to have made supplementary exhibits 

 for the purpose of showing the whole progress and evolution 

 and distribution of any one species or type. It would be worth 

 considering, in future Expositions, if all the apples, for 

 instance, should not be placed together, each State or country 

 to have its own allotment of space. If this Were accomplished 

 with the leading fruits, the educational features of the show 

 would be immeasurably increased, while the decorative fea- 

 tures and State reputation would probably be augmented at the 

 same time. 



The viticultural displays were amongst the most decorative 

 in the horticultural department; but, unfortunately, there was 

 much beside genuine horticulture in them. They were made 

 up largely of wines and brandies, subjects which belong to 

 manufacture. Perhaps it would be well, in future shows, to 

 divide grape interests into two parts, as is done by the Italians 

 and others — viticulture, or grape-growing, and viniculture, or 

 w^ine-making. There is certainly little more reason for includ- 

 ing the manufacture of spirits under grape-culture than to 

 group beer-making with hop-culture. All this, however, was a 

 fault of the original classification, and it must be said that, in 

 its way, the viticultural display was one of the best at the Fair. 

 The autumn display of fresh grapes must certainly be numbered 

 amongst the leading features of the Exposition. 



3c. Environs of the Horticultural Building-. — 

 Areas with an average width of something over one hundred 

 feet lay upon either side of the Horticultural Building. (See 



