THE EDITOR'S OUTLOOK. 



625 



est of its rivals, Popular Gardenitig, as detailed in 

 our advertising pages. The American Garden 

 has no desire to enter into self-laudation, but it is 

 proud of that success which has enabled it to ar- 

 rive at so high a plane in horticultural journalism 

 as to attract to itself the brightest and best effects 

 of others. His friends and readers loved Professor 

 Bailey for his genial nature and his good work, but 

 his forced resignation on account of ill health 

 brought us more quickly to see the advantages of 

 a combination, not only of the journals, but also of 

 editor with publisher. Under Mr. Long's skillful 

 editorship, as he will give all his time and talents to 

 this work, we believe our readers will accept this 

 movement as progressive indeed, and one greatly 

 for their interests and the interests of horticulture. 

 We have no doubt that the new editor will welcome 

 criticisms, questions and suggestions in the same 

 open-handed and hearty spirit that has always char- 

 acterized The American Garden, which shall stand 

 in the future, as it has in the past, for all that is 

 highest and best in gardening and rural life. And 

 we bespeak for the editor the hearty assistance of 

 the subscribers and readers of both publications to 

 make the new magazine the more helpful and vital. 



WORLD'S 

 FAIR. 



w 



ORLD'S FAIR matters are now 

 taking on definite shape. Two 

 good men have been appointed to take 

 the horticulture in charge. It is gratifying to know 

 that the long and harassing contention over chief 

 of horticulture has been amicably and satisfactorily 

 settled. J. M. Samuels has been nominated and 

 confirmed for chief. Mr. Samuels is of middle age, 

 energetic, broad-minded, and capable. He has 

 been identified with large horticultural interests 

 from boyhood, and has studied the horticulture of 

 many countries and of every part of the United 

 States. He has orchards and other horticultural 

 interests in several states, north and south, and is 

 a successful business man. There is every reason, 

 therefore, to regard him as a cosmopolitan and rep- 

 resentative man, one who will know no sectionalism 

 and no partisanship, no devotion to a particular 

 product as the main feature. We congratulate the 

 horticultural world on this appointment, which is 

 promising for good results. 



The other officer is John Thorpe, who is to have 

 charge of the floriculture of the World's Fair, a 

 feature which is a part of the general department 

 of horticulture. Mr. Thorpe needs no introduction 

 to our readers. He is one of the representative 

 men among the florists of the country, and is 



known as the father of the Society of American 

 Florists. He possesses an intimate acquaintance 

 with all floricultural matters, and has many admirers. 

 We shall therefore look for prosperity in floricul- 

 tural interests under his management, and a broad 

 and comprehensive care for the best in plants and 

 flewers. With the ample assistance he is guaran- 

 teed by the directory, and the magnificent build- 

 ings to be erected, Mr. Thorpe will have full 

 scope to develop plans for great results. Now let 

 every horticulturist exert his utmost to make our 

 part of the Columbian Exposition a success, re- 

 membering that the time is all too short, and that 

 prompt, active immediate attention to preparations 

 is a vital prelude to a gratifying success. 



THE BOUNTIFUL CELDOM has America been so 

 HARVESTS. ^ favored with a plentiful har- 

 vest as that of i8gi, both in field 

 and orchard. The country over is flushed with the 

 great burden of wheat, which hungry Europe is 

 eagerly awaiting, and just as we close these pages 

 comes the report of the failure and collapse of a 

 great banking firm in an attempt to ' ' bull " or " cor- 

 ner " the supply of corn, because of the unexpect- 

 edly prolific crop, now safe from damage by early 

 frosts. And fruits — who has ever seen apples, 

 pears, peaches, grapes so abundant, good and 

 cheap ? Everything seems to have combined to 

 bring out the latent forces of nature, and deluge 

 the land with a glorious plenty. The farmers and 

 fruit growers of the United States have probably 

 a better showing to make than in a decade past, 

 and the effect of this condition on general prosper- 

 ity must be marked. For one thing, everybody is 

 hopeful, and believes in a great advance in material 

 prosperity the coming winter and spring, as the 

 money from crops shall begin to circulate ; and this 

 belief of itself would almost assure "good times." 

 But due heed for the possible bad harvest of next 

 year should cause a conservation of resources, and 

 prevent any foolish extravagances. As we are 

 "blessed in basket and store," let us be hopeful, 

 thankful, progressive, advancing with the spirit of 

 the times, but not careless of the future and its 

 possible scantiness. And let us remember that the 

 land which has produced so freel)' this year, the 

 trees and vines which have been fairly breaking 

 with fruit, will need a generous return in the shape 

 of intelligent feeding and care, by which the reac- 

 tion from the great yields of this season may be 

 largely avoided, and fair harvests rendered more 

 likely in the years to come. 



