234 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[June, 
Agriculture and Horticulture at the 
Centennial. 
The great exhibition opened on May 10th, with appro¬ 
priate ceremonies, ending in the selling in motion of 
eight miles of machinery, try the joint action of the chief 
officers of a Republic and of an Empire. A brief visit to 
the grounds, lias only given us an idea of the immensity 
of the exhibition, and we are sure that no one will be 
disappointed, however high may be their anticipations in 
the extent and completeness of the buildings and their 
contents. It was manifest at an early date that the princi¬ 
pal buildings would not be enough for all the exhibits, 
and numerous others have been erected ; tints the leather 
trade lias one, another is for carriages, another for 
women’s work, and soon. Besides these, many individ¬ 
uals and companies have separate buildings. Among the 
pleasant features are the buildings of the different States 
and Countries; nearly every exhibiting State has put up a 
handsome building, as headquarters for her own com¬ 
missioners, and more than this, the wants of the peo¬ 
ple of these States have been thought of, and each of 
these buildings contains rooms, furnished with ail 
conveniences for both men and women, where the 
tired can rest, parcels can be left, and the visitors from 
each State can find a temporary home. These various 
buildings together make a town the like of which was 
never before seen; from the log cabin of Canada, and 
the curious building of the Japanese, put up without nail 
or screw, through the singular structures of some of the 
States, up to tile substantial and home-like English build¬ 
ings, there is an astonishing and interesting variety. The 
readers of the American Agriculturist, those who stay at 
home, as well as those who go to the exhibition, while 
they will be interested in all departments, will be 
especially concerned as to those which include the pro¬ 
ducts of the farm and garden. The Horticultural Build¬ 
ing and the adjoining grounds, were illustrated in Dec., 
1874, soon after the plans were drawn, and what was 
then only proposed, is now a reality. Last month we gave 
on the first page a fine engraving of the Agricultural 
Building, in which the farm products of the different 
countries will be displayed. Large as the building is, 
covering ten acres, it has been found all too small, and 
additional structures are providing for the dairy products, 
for bees, for fruits, for wagons, and other departments, 
and tlie display in all that relates to agriculture and horti¬ 
culture, and the different manufactures and interests con¬ 
nected with these, is now or soon will be most complete. 
As many of the articles in these departments are only in 
season at certain times, stated periods have been fixed 
upon for exhibiting these, and perishable fruits and vege¬ 
tables will be received each Wednesday all through the 
season. No money premiums will be given by the com¬ 
mission, their awards being medals and diplomas ; but 
several individuals and societies have offered special 
prizes, to be awarded by the Board of Jurors. B. Iv. 
Bliss & Sons offer $200 for potatoes; D. Landreth & Son 
$100 for vegetables; Peter Henderson & Co., $100 for 
tomatoes. $1,000 is offered for Jersey cattle, by the Jer¬ 
sey Club; the Produce Exchange of Philadelphia $150 
for cheese; the Pa. Ag’l. Society $1,000 in special prizes; 
the Memphis Cotton Exchange $1,000 for the best bale of 
cotton, and there are money prizes for fowls and dogs, 
and State prizes for cattle and other objects. As many 
may wish to so time their visits as to see some special 
exhibition, we give the dates at which the principal 
special displays will be made. 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 
Pomologies] Products and Vegetable?.. .May 16 to 24. 
Strawberries.June 7 to 15. 
Early Grass Butter and Cheese.June 13 to 17. 
Early Summer Vegetables.June 20 to 24. 
Honey..June 20 to 24. 
Raspberries and Blackberries.July 3 to 8. 
Southern Pomological Products.July 18 to 22. 
Melons .August 22 to 26. 
Peaches..Sept. 4 to 9. 
Northern Pomological Products.Sept. 11 to 16. 
Autumn Vegetables.Sept. 19 to 23. 
Cereals.Sept. 25 to 30. 
Potatoes and Feeding Roots .Oct. 2 to 7. 
Autumn Butter and Cheese.Oct. 17 to 21. 
Nuts. .Oct. 23 to Nov. 1. 
Autumn Honey and Wax. .Oct. 23 to Nov. 1. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Mowing Machines, Tedders, and Hay Rakes. June 15 to 30. 
Reaping Machines. . .July 5 to 15. 
LIVE STOCK. 
Horses.Sept. 1 to 14. 
Dogs.Sept. 1 to 8. 
Neat Cattle.Sept. 21 to Oct. 4. 
Sheep.Oct. 10 to 18. 
Swine.Oct. 10 to 18. 
Poultry.Oct. 27 to Nov. 6. 
Applications for entry for any of the special displays 
should be made at once; proper forms must be used, 
which will be supplied upon application to the Chief of 
the Bureau of Agriculture, Burnett Landreth, Esq., whose 
office is on the grounds. 
Entries of poultry require $1 for each bird, to pay for 
coops and food, and should be made before July 1st. 
The display of live stock promises to be very fine; the 
entries closed May 1st, and include 150 horses and the 
same number of cattle from Canada, a large number from 
England, and there will be animals from Germany, 
France, and Spain, and of course the finest of our own 
herds. Twenty-two acres are devoted to the live stock, 
there being 770 stalls for horses, 1540 for cattle, and a cor¬ 
responding number for sheep, swine, etc. 
A special building, 1S0x200 feet, an annex to the agri¬ 
cultural building, and connected with it by a covered 
way, has been put up for the fruits and vegetables ; this 
provides room for 8,000 dishes of fruit. Those who send 
fruits and vegetables to the exhibition, must forward 
them free of charge; the Commission will provide all 
needed tables, dishes, etc. 
An interesting display, closely connected with agricul¬ 
ture, will be that of fresh and salt-water fish—and the 
process of artificial hatching, and all the apparatus used 
in fish-culture. From what we h ive seen and know of 
the exhibition as relates to Agriculture and Horticulture, 
we are sure that those who can afford the means to visit 
it, will get an ample return for the investment. Besides 
the objects we have merely hinted at as most interesting 
to our readers, there are the great displays of manu¬ 
factures and products in the main building ; the art trea¬ 
sures in Memorial Hall, and such an exhibition of mov¬ 
ing machinery, as the world never before saw in the great 
building devoted to that purpose. Although it will be 
impracticable for the American Agriculturist to make a 
full report of this immense display, it will be adequately 
represented there, and no doubt much information will 
be gathered that will be of benefit to its readers. 
—-- 
The New York Horticultural Association. 
The regular monthly meeting of the Society was held 
at their new rooms, 141 Eighth St., New York, on Wed¬ 
nesday, May 3d. Considering that this is the busiest sea¬ 
son for all horticulturists, the meeting was well attended, 
and the display of plants and flowers, though not so 
large as at the previous meeting, made up in novelty and 
interest what it wanted in quantity. John Cadness, of 
Flushing, L. I., exhibited two specimens of a new variety 
of the old and well known Garden Hydrangea, (II. Hor- 
tensia). This was sent to Mr. Cadness in March, 1875, 
from Japan, by Mr. Thomas Hogg, where he found a sin¬ 
gle plant In some old garden near Yokahoma, and in all 
kis botanical researches in Japan, extending over several 
years, this solitary plant was all lie had ever found. This 
variety is probably a “sport’’from the old Hydrangea, 
and was probably the only plant in existence, until in¬ 
creased by Mr. Cadness. We think it safe to say that no 
ornamental plant ever introduced into this country, ex¬ 
ceeds this in value. It will probably be equally hardy as 
tlie common form, and therefore as a plant for lawns, 
cemeteries, etc., in sections where the thermometer does 
not fall to zero, it will be indispensable. On a small 
plant, of little more than a foot high, the clusters meas¬ 
ured 9 inches in diameter, the “florets” 2X inches 
across, of the purest white, and so firm in texture, that 
some of our leading hoquet makers present, judged that 
it would be most useful in making up cut flowers. Mr. 
Cadness informs us that it will be ready for sale in August 
next. We are glad to know that the plant will be dis¬ 
tributed here by Mr. Cadness, and not sold in a lump to 
some European florist. 
The next most interesting exhibit was a collection of 
cut specimens of Cape Heath, grown by Edwin Simes, 
gardener to Mrs. Mitchell, Tarrytown, N. Y., they num¬ 
bered 27 species and varieties, many of them of great 
beauty, and their healthy condition showed that they had 
been grown with great care. 
From Robert Parsons & Co., Flushing L. I., were 13 
specimens of Chinese Azalea, all distinct, and mostly 
new varieties; the double variegated “Souvenir de 
Prince Albert,” was greatly admired. A collection of 
Orchids from Isaac Buchanan, Astoria, L. I., embraced 
Saccolabium guttatum , Vanda tricolor , Cattleya Skinneri 
and specio-a. Miltonia flavescens , Schoniburgkia tibicinis, 
etc., etc. Also the very interesting white-flowered Cereus 
Hookeriana , the flowers resembling some of the night 
blooming sorts. From William Bennett, Flatbush, L. I., 
some fine cut blooms of Ixora, Orchids, and a wreath of 
the beautiful white-flowering greenhouse climber, 
Stephanotis Jloribunda , four feet in length, and covered 
with its wax-like flowers. From George Thurber and 
Geo. C. Woolson, near Passaic, N. J., cut blooms of some 
interesting hardy herbaceous plants, among which were 
Epimedium dlpinum , E. macranthum., and its var., vi- 
olaceum; Jlertensia Virginica, with flowers of the most 
beautiful blue, and Cassandra calyculata. From John Hen¬ 
derson, Flushing, L. I., cut blooms of the hybrid perpetu¬ 
al Rose, “ Paul Neron,” this is the variety which, under 
the incorrect name of “ Compte de Pari.*,” has been sold 
repeatedly this season in the flower stores at $1 for a sin¬ 
gle cut bloom. Expanded flowers are 4 inches in diame¬ 
ter, of a light shade of crimson, and have the odor of the 
old English Moss Rose, all these qualities combine to 
make it a favorite variety. Peter Henderson, Jersey City, 
N. J., exhibited a cut bloom of a double Begonia Ver- 
schaffeltii. This, the first of tlie double flowered Be¬ 
gonias, originated, we believe, with Mr. A. Gilson, a 
colored gardener, in charge of Mr. Barton’s grounds at 
Barrytown, N. Y. Mr. Gilson was also the raiser of 
Achyranthes Gilsoni , that lias for some years, by its exten¬ 
sive cultivation as a massing plant,made his name famous. 
The Society adjourned to meet on Wednesday, June 7th, 
when the final arrangements will be made for the June 
Exhibition, which willTie announced in the daily papers. 
----—o «■ ----- 
Catalogues Received. 
The rush of spring catalogues is now over, and we give 
the few that have come in since our last, without classi¬ 
fication. 
R. H. Haines, Malden, Ulster Co., N. Y. Berry bask¬ 
ets and crates. 
Cairo Box and Basket Co.. Cairo, Ill. Illustrated 
catalogue of baskets, boxes, and crates for fruit and veg¬ 
etables of all kinds. 
A. E. Cooper & Co., Cooper's Plains, Stuben Co., N. 
Y. Balcony and otlior excellent chairs for which this 
house is famous. 
L. C. Root, Mohawk, N. Y. Bees, hives, and all ap¬ 
pliances for the apiary. Mr. R. succeeds to the business 
of the late Air. Quinby. 
E. Steiger, 22 and 24 Frankfort st., N. Y. Catalogues 
of Kindergarten matters, including books and materials. 
J. A. Vaughn, Carver, Mass., offers Cranberry plants, 
and Pond Lily roots. 
William Bull. New plant merchant, King's Road, 
Chelsea, London, S. W. (Eng). A wonderfully rich and 
abundantly illustrated catalogue of one of the leading 
establishments in the world. 
Caul H. Schultz, 860 Broadway, whose carefully pre¬ 
pared mineral waters we have known for many years, 
sends a descriptive catalogue of them. 
-- — a ■«. - - 
TT liras Sling' Msiclianes.—“ J. C.,” Clay 
Co., Minn. It is difficult to say which is tlie best thrash¬ 
ing machine. Much depends upon the man who feeds it, 
and he may, by crowding it, or by feeding too lightly, 
make tlie best machine do very poor work. Several good 
machines are mentioned in the advertising columns, and 
it would be well to procure circulars from the different 
makers, and choose the one that seems most suitable. 
r S'lie ISerksliirc ISog.—“Subscriber,” 
Owensboro, Ky. Elsewhere will be found illustrated 
articles upon the Berkshire and tlie large white breed of 
hogs, which give the desired information. A pure 
Berkshire may have a few white hairs upon the shoulder, 
but should not be spotted with white. No one should 
buy a pig with any while hairs or spots, except upon the 
face or snout, and tlie feet, if he wishes to sell animals 
for breeding. There are some Berkshires that grow 
much larger and more rapidly than others, but there is, 
so far as we are aware, only one kind of these pigs kept 
in this country. Changes of locality, and differences of 
care and feeding, have a great effect in causing variations 
in any breed of animals, and it is in this way distinct 
families or strains become established. 
Tine B’oF.irjSi Annual Convention 
of Breeders of SUort-liorns. —The proceedings 
of the Fourth Annual Convention of Short-horn Breeders, 
which was held at Toronto, (Canada), on Dec. 3d and 4th, 
1875, has been received. The report is entire, no part of 
the proceedings being expunged or omitted. It is of more 
than usual interest, as it contains the papers, hitherto 
suppressed, which were presented to the two previous 
Annual Conventions, by A. S. Matthews, of Wytheville, 
W. Va., and which criticised very severely the prevailing 
mania for fashionable pedigrees. The report is of great 
interest otherwise than for this, and very valuable to all 
breeders, whether of this or other classes of stock. 
Vwluc of Coal Aslu-s.—“ W. C.,” Sara¬ 
toga Co., N. Y., says he “ mixed half a bushel of hen ma¬ 
nure, half a bushel of loam, and two bushels of coal ash¬ 
es together, and used a pint of the mixture in the hill for 
potatoes, producing 300 bushels per acre.” He advises 
using coal ashes upon heavy, wet land. Our experience 
with coal ashes is exactly this, that they are good upon 
heavy land, not as a fertilizer, but as a mechanical help 
in loosening the soil, and making it more porous. As a 
diluent for the strong lien manure, in the above case, 
they were useful, hut in no other way. Very thorough 
experiments by Prof. Storer, at the Bussey Institution, 
show that coal ashes have no value as a fertilizer. 
