HORTICULTURE AT THE WORLDS FAIR. 



355 



sand of which came from abroad. These have been 

 transplanted on the island. 



The Australian exhibit at the Fair will include some 

 tree-ferns from Sidney, New South Wales. These have 

 always been a popular exhibit at London expositions. 

 Chief Samuels has been assured by Arthur Renwick, 

 commissioner for New South Wales, that a number of 

 rare specimens will be sent. The ferns vary in height 

 from eight to fourteen feet. At the close of the Exposi- 

 tion many of them will be given to the park commis- 

 sioners of Chicago. 



From the Royal nurseries for Ireland information has 

 been received that two cases containing 1,550 plants have 

 been shipped to the World's Fair. The announcement 

 came through Alexander Dixon & Co., who maintain the 

 nurseries. It is also stated that H. Cannell & Son of 

 Swanley, England, have sent one hundred varieties of her- 

 baceous peonies and a large num- 

 ber of perennial phloxes to the fair. 



Idaho's exhibit at the Fair will 

 include a practical illustration of 

 the system and benefits of irriga- 

 tion. A large section of sage-brush 

 soil will be transported to Chicago. 

 Through this ditches will be run, 

 and trees, fruits and flowers will be 

 grown in the soil by the irrigation 

 system. 



A "big tree" (Sequoia giffan- 

 tea) has been selected in Tulare 

 county, California, for exhibition 

 at the Fair. A committee of the 

 board of trade, after an extended 

 tour of inspection, chose a tree 

 measuring 87 feet 9 inches in cir- 

 cumference at the base, 85 feet at 5 

 feet above the ground, and 65 feet 

 at a height of 16 feet. A loo-year- 

 old bearing orange tree, from San 

 Gabriel, is one of the exhibits an- 

 nounced from California. 



The chief of the horticultural department gives the 

 following information for intended exhibitions : There 

 will be eight large propagating houses, covering a space 

 of 20,000 square feet. Limited room in these houses 

 will be assigned to exhibitors who will propagate plants 

 of unusual merit, which cannot be transported from 

 their distant homes, and the remaining space will be de- 

 voted by the department to growing a reserve collection 

 of plants with which to replace specimens that have 

 ceased to be attractive, and for storing those whose sea- 

 son of beauty has passed. A large number of cold- 

 frames will occupy adjacent grounds, to be used for cul- 

 tivating pansies, various annuals and bulbs, and for the 



storage of half-hardy plants. The classitication provides 

 for complete exhibits of greenhouses, hothouses and con- 

 servatories, with best methods of heating and ventilating 

 them ; and it is expected that many of these will be 

 arranged in a suitable manner for exhibiting and develop- 

 ing the growth of various select plants. 



The space assigned to the department for exhibits of 

 trees, shrubs and plants that will be hardy in the open 

 ground during the time of the exposition, embraces about 

 25 acres, and includes the greater part of a beautiful 

 island that is centrally located, artistically laid out in 

 beautiful walks, and the choicest part of the Fair grounds. 

 Through this entire area will be placed a complete net- 

 work of pipes to supply all the water necessary to insure 

 vigorous and healthy growth of all trees, shrubs and 

 plants. 



Exhibitors in different classes should, when possible. 



ROSE Garden at the Columbian Fajr. 



combine their interests, and thereby show not only the 

 articles exhibited but the various ways in which they v/ill 

 be used ; thus, heating apparatus in connection with 

 hothouses, vase plants in artistic vases, climbing plants 

 on wire trellises, etc. 



For the purpose of preserving a uniform manner of 

 mounting dried specimens of plants, circulars giving 

 illustrations of cards and other information will be 

 mailed to all who apply for them. All exhibits intended 

 for competition must be placed in the horticultural build- 

 ing or upon the grounds assigned to the department. 

 Premiums will not be awarded by the Exposition to dis- 

 plays made in the state buildings. 



