690 
OCT 48 
chards are in a healthy condition and have a 
fair, but not large, crop of apples, and we 
were told that the crop was very light and 
the fruit poor all through the. Southern coun¬ 
ties bordering on Lake Erie. 
Nearly all the grapes grown in the North, do 
finely in the Ontario plateau from the Niagara 
River west, as far as Rundns. We never saw 
finer samples than were hown by the Hamil 
ton Horticultural Society. There were nearly 
all Rogers’s Hybrids, and very many of the 
newer sorts were in the collection, and if they 
were grown on vines ‘‘not wrung,” they were 
certainly remarkable, and a great credit to 
the Society and the grower. Reaches were 
formerly a leading industry in the whole of 
this region: but the yellows came and has 
made sad havoc; nearly all the orchards are 
among the things that have been. Pears 
also flourish finely and pay large profits to the 
growers; but, for some reason, the crop this 
year was said to 1 k> small aud of poor quality. 
Winter wheat was sowed and up; a medium 
acreage bos been put in, in good order, and is 
looking well. 
The farmers are largely of Scotch and Eng¬ 
lish origin, are good cultivators, close calcu¬ 
lators, and many are quite wealthy, though 
few work their soils so as to secure the largest 
crops, and, of course, the highest profit. We 
were surprised to find the Canadians so much 
interested in politfes. supposing the Yankees 
monopolized this business; but, if it be possi¬ 
ble. the Canadiuu is more engrossed and car¬ 
ries his political feelings further than we on 
thiB side of the lakes and rivers—Altogether, 
however, the Canadians area line people, and 
we like them. “w,” 
INDIANA STATE FAIR. 
[RURAL SPECIAL REPORT.] 
The 23d annual fair of the Indiana State 
Agricultural Society was held in the City of 
Indianapolis, Sept. 29-Oet. 4. On the first two 
days the fair was literally stuck in the mud. as 
a heavy rain prevailed on Monday and Tues¬ 
day. On Wednesday, however, the weather 
was fair, and the mud soon dried up. i^ine 
weather prevailed during the rest, of the week, 
and the attendance was good. In fact, the 
society never felt more encouraged than they 
do this year over the very generous patronage 
they have received. In nearly every depart¬ 
ment the exhibits outnumbered those of pre¬ 
vious years, and it taxed the skill of the heads 
of the different departments to find where to 
put the goods, Waut of room was felt in all 
directions, especially among the livestock. In 
fact, in the latter department it became a 
serious question as to what should be done 
with the animals that were unprovided with 
stalls. The officer* set carpenters to work 
erecting new buildings and remodeling others, 
and after all the society's resources were ex¬ 
hausted, there were many exhibitors who had to 
stable their horses in private stall* in the city. 
There were 890 head of cattle, 487 horses, 550 
hogs, 850 sheep, as shown by the entry books; a 
very large increase over last year. 
The poultry department was small and not 
up to former v ears, * either in numhers or the 
quality of the birds shown. Agricultural Hall 
was well filled, but ft did not appear to con¬ 
tain vegetables of as fine a quality as the State 
of Indiana is capable of producing. The ag¬ 
ricultural implement department here, as at 
all other Western fairs, was well stocked, aud 
it covered an immense amount of space. 
Nearly all the machinery was shown in oper¬ 
ation. and, of course, was an interesting fea¬ 
ture of the fair. 
The usual number of side-shows, bogus jew¬ 
elry, sharpers, etc., etc., were here, working 
briskly and profitably- Some of them had 
evidently been practicing lung power for a 
year past, and were in a robust condition to 
make everything hideous around them. It 
seems strange that a fair with so many rcallv 
meritorious and praiseworthy things, should 
be disgraced by these side-shows. The great 
State of Indiana, with all her agricultural 
and live-stock interests, is surely able to bold a 
fair that shall be purely agricultural. Why 
then not elect officers who will pledge them¬ 
selves not to lease any part of the grounds to 
any catch-penny affairs? One commendable 
feature in the management was the abolishing 
of the sale of liquor on the ground, anti when 
the disreputable side-shows and fakirs are re¬ 
fused admission, the Indiana State Fair will 
rank among the first. G. b. b. 
The Wisconsin State Fair. 
Our State Fair was a success again this 
year. The exhibits in Agricultural Hall were 
fine, especially that of our State experiment 
farm, which bad a large show of winter and 
spring w heats that were very good in quality, 
as were the other varieties of grain shown by 
the farm, which had also a very fiue display 
of the different varieties of vegetables—alto¬ 
gether the best exhibition it has ever made, so 
far as I have seen. It carried off a consider¬ 
THE BUBAL NEW-YOBKEB. 
able number of the premiums offered by the 
society. I also received my share of these, 
having been awarded the special premium 
offered by H. Sibley & Co. for the best acre of 
Pride of the North Com. My yield was 109 
bushels to the acre (weighed and measured). 
The same variety was also awarded the first 
aud second premiums as the best, yellow dent 
corn. The stock department was well filled 
in all department*, a.id some very fiue animals 
of the different breeds were shown. There 
was a larger display of Holsteins than ever 
before; some of the animals were valued at 
high figures. Aberdeen-Angus were represent¬ 
ed by a small herd in excellent condition and 
of superior quality. 
There were also shown an imported bull, 
cow and heifer calf of the Red Norfolk Polled 
breed—the first, I believe, shown in this State. 
The attendance and financial results were 
about the same as at last year’s fair, which was 
considered a success. w. H. c. 
THE COMET PEAR. 
I was surprised to see iu the last number of 
the Rural a picture of the Comet Pear, with 
the words “ Lawson Pear” under it. I never 
before saw the word Lawson in print in any 
paper in connection with this pear, although 
samples of the fruit have been sent to the 
Rural, to William Party, and others, as the 
Cornet Pear, and it has been advertised as 
such in the Rural and numerous other horti¬ 
cultural und agricultural papers. I look upon 
the Rural New-Yorker as a paper that we 
can look up to as authority, and I would ask 
what right a person, or a family, has to re¬ 
name a pear that has been in their possession, 
unnamed, for 100 years? I admit the right of 
a person to name any new fruit he may grow 
or originate; lint I consider that at the end of 
07 years hi* claim to name it is so weak as not 
to supersede a name that has been used ex¬ 
clusively and extensively for the rest of the 
century. We should all join to do honor and 
justice to a family or an inventor of a good 
machine, or a good fruit; but no just govern¬ 
ment would protect by patents a monopoly 
for 10(1 years: neither will public opinion, or 
justice, give the grower of a new fruit the 
monopoly of it for 100 years. If such were 
the case, iu what, light would fruit growers 
and fruit entem, too—be placed at lids time in 
reference to the Bartlett Pear, Baldwin Ap¬ 
ple, Concord Grape, Wilson Strawberry, etc ? 
With all due respect for the “honor of the 
family upon whose farm it originated,” I 
submit that if they desired to name this valu¬ 
able pear, they should have done so ere this, 
and the name should have been published ill 
the Rural years ago. so we eould have seen 
the name, and been enjoying the fruit since. 
It is well-known that the American Pomologi- 
cal Society, in session at. Philadelphia last 
year, passed a resolution condemnatory of the 
Niagara Grape Company, because they placed 
too much restriction on the sale of their new 
grape. 
Resolution,—“That the withholding of new 
and valuable fruits from the general public, 
or the placing of them under close restrictions 
for an unreasonably long period, is contrary 
to the spirit of true philanthropy and the 
genius of this association.” J. s. collinh. 
MoorftStown, N. J. 
A CORRECTION FROM PROF. w. W, TRACY. 
In an article on cross-fertilization of peas, 
in the Rural of October 4,1 speak of the ex¬ 
periments of Prof. Lazenby as tending to show 
that the fruit was not affected by the pollen 
used iu fertilization. I did this on the. strength 
of reports of tests with corn and of conversa¬ 
tions I have had with several parties, from 
which 1 received the impression that the trend 
of all the experiments was iu the direction 
named, I have since received from Prof, 
Lazenby a report of his experiments with 
strawberries, the result of which may be 
summed up Iu the closing sentence of the re¬ 
port, as follows: “ In all of our 00 varieties 
growing side by side,about two-thirds of which 
are pistillate, the characteristics of the fruit 
of each were preserved, and no one could tell 
by an examination of the fruit alone by what 
pollen any one variety had been fertilized. 
Yet, in every case where a variety waskuown 
to be fertilized by the pollen from just one 
variety, the influence was marked and de¬ 
cisive.” In this it will be seen that I misrep¬ 
resented Prof. Lnzenby’s work, for which I 
ought to apologize not only to him but to the 
readers of the Rural. 
Lituunj. 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
N. W. Ayer & Son's American Newspa¬ 
per Annual for 1884. 
Contains a carefully prepared list of all 
newspapers aud periodicals in the United 
States and Canada, arranged by States in 
geographical sections, and by towns in alpha¬ 
betical order. It furnishes a complete list of 
Religious, Agricultural, Medical, Scientific, 
Educational, and every other class of publica¬ 
tions m the United States and Canada. From 
it you can learn the character of the surface, 
the nature of the soil, and its adaptability to 
the growth of the various agricultural staples, 
of every State, Territory, and County in the 
United States, and of each of the Canadian 
Provinces, In fact, it is unequalled for full¬ 
ness, correctness, compactness of statement, 
variety, and value of contents, and freedom 
from favoritism or prejudice. Price $8.00, 
carriage paid. Philadelphia Pa. 
New National Fifth Reader. A. S. Barnes 
& Co., publishers, 
The last of this series of school readers is 
completed in number five. Too much cannot 
lie said in their favor, for they are the best we 
know of. Clear, large type, on the host, paper, 
fully illustrated, and the reading matter of 
the choicest. As we have before said, they 
will inspire the young to read the best litera¬ 
ture. 
A Modern Quixote: or, My Wife’s Fool 
of a Husband. By August Berkely. Ameri¬ 
can Publishing Co., Hartford, Conn. 
As- the title indicates, it is a story of a hus¬ 
band who, by his comical blunders and mis¬ 
takes, is always doing something to mortify 
and shame his wife, who bears patiently up to 
a certain point and then rebels, only to “make 
up” again and again. It is humorous, witty, 
full of fun, jokes, and profusely illustrated. 
Singing on the Way. Compiled by Mrs. 
Belle Jewett and Dr. J. P. Holbrook. 
A collection of hymns and tunes for Sunday 
schools and social worship. 
The Man Wonderful in the House Beau¬ 
tiful. An allegory teaching the principles 
of Physiology and Hygiene. By Chilion 
B. Allen, A.M.. M D-, and Mary L. Allen. 
A.B., M.D. Price. $1.50. Fowler & Wells 
Co , publishers, N. Y. City. 
The book is an allegory in which the body 
is the “House Beautiful” and its inhabitant 
tbe “Man Wonderful.” The building of the 
house is shown from foundation to roof, aud 
then we arc taken through the different 
rooms, and their wonders and beauties dis¬ 
played to us. We are then introduced to the 
inhabitant of the house, “The Man Wonder¬ 
ful,” and learn of his growth, development 
and habits. We also become acquainted with 
the guests whom he entertains, and find that 
some of them are doubtful acquaintances, 
some bad, and some decidedly wicked, while 
others are very good company. The authors 
—husband and wife—are both regular physi¬ 
cians. 
Captains ok Industry, or Men of Business 
who did Something besides Making Money. 
By James Parton. Houghton, Mifflin & 
Co., publishers. Price $1.50. 
A work showing what men of small means 
and large capabilities can do, and have al¬ 
ready accomplished. Men like Gerritt Smith, 
Peter Faueuil. Klihu Burritt, Richard Cobden, 
Peter Cooper, Sir Rowland llill, etc., etc. 
The Viking Bodlkys. By Horace E. Send* 
der. Houghton, Mifflin A, Co., publishers, 
Boston, Price $1.50. 
This is the last of the well-known Bodley 
Books, and, as its name indicates, is a de¬ 
scription of what they saw in Norway and 
Sweden. There is an exceedingly fine en¬ 
graving of Ole Bull, Hans Christian Ander¬ 
sen, and also one of Thorwalsdon, the sculp¬ 
tor. These books should be a part of every 
child’s library. 
Evening Rest. By J. L. Pratt. Lothrop & 
Co., pub., Boston. Px*ice 25 cents. 
This is No. 5 of the “Young Folks Li¬ 
brary” edition, and they are safe books to put 
into the hands of the young, which wo con¬ 
sider a great thing to say. tor as much as we 
wish young people to prefer solid literature, 
they have an age of preferring such as will 
amuse and interest. 
Shoppkl’s Building Plans for Modern 
Low- cost Houses. Co-operative Building 
Plan Association, pub. N. Y. City. Price 
50 cents. 
This is a large quarto, containing 40 plans 
for building houses cheap. Plans, with speci¬ 
fications, are for sale, at a moderate price. 
for IP omen. 
CONDUCTED BY MIS? RAY CLARK. 
A WOMAN’S REPORT OF “OUR FAIR.” 
As talks about fairs seem the order of the 
Rural now, I thought to give a glimpse of 
our social life iu a short review of the Shelby 
Co. Fair. Our Fair has always beeu one of 
the most popular iu the State, though of late 
years the interest has been declining, until 
this year, when the stockholders realized that 
greater inducement must be offered, aud more 
attractions secured, to regain the place their 
lack of interest had lost, to the great annual 
County social. Their efforts proved effectual, 
as the crowd was the largest ever^kuowu. 
Last year there were not enough ladies pres¬ 
ent the first day to secure judges for their 
exhibits iu Floral Hall, and to avoid that, this 
year “white” ladies and children were ad¬ 
mitted free. The first day has always been 
devoted to the display of fancy work, agricul¬ 
tural productions and sheep. One soon tires 
of the endless entries of sheep; they all seem 
alike, so meek, that we were glad to have the 
programme varied by entries of horses—we 
have very fine horses—and the turnouts were 
quite stylish. 
Floral Hall is devoted to the display of fruit, 
(lowers, vegetables, paintings, embroideries, 
pickles, jellies, cakes, etc. I reached the Hall 
early aud sat in a window over the entrance 
to watch people come and go, while I gossiptd 
with a school-girl, every now and then lend¬ 
ing a helping hand to the director, who was 
busy hanging quilts, pictures, etc., aud won¬ 
dering “what this thiug was, and where it 
belonged?" It was easy for feminine eyes to 
poreeive the difference between a cushion and 
a mat, but to him—unfathomable mystery! I 
heard my school girl exclaim: “If there isn’t 
Jouoie! She has ridden out in the mill wagon 
with her pictures, isn’tshe independent!" And 
soon we saw a fresh lookiug girl, in white mus¬ 
lin, coming up the stairway, her father follow¬ 
ing with her pictures. She is one of the village 
belles that, after exhausting all the art facili¬ 
ties of our town, studied a year iu Boston, 
came home with her beautiful pictures, fitted 
up a cozy studio, and gave lessons with suc¬ 
cess. Mooting her several hours afterwards, 
she told <ue she had won six blue ribbous. The 
embroideries were very pretty aud nicely 
done; but why do women consume so much 
time aud skill in kuitting bedspreads, that are 
so ugly and cumbersome, when prettier ones 
can be bought for 75cents? From the number of 
quilts displayed my school-girl thought “there 
were lots of people crazy!” The premium 
hanging basket—home made—was a paint 
keg, painted red, with holes bored around, out 
of which grew a wax plaut which was covered 
with bloom and a thing of beauty. Cakes of 
all kinds, flakey-boateu biscuit, elegant light 
broad, fine apples, grapes, but not a poach; 
water-melons— immense-and having the privi¬ 
lege of a taste, being as good as they looked. 
The mammoth pumpkins aud beets were there 
also. 
Ladies are judges of most of the displays in 
Floral Hall. Their judgmeuts are not always 
without prejudice, for I heard in the cut-flower 
display some one remark to one of the judges, 
“I thought you gave the premium to Mrs. G,” 
Innocently replied the wearer ol’ the ermine, 
“Didn't we? We thought that was hers.” 
After seeing the beautiful iu Floral Hall, we 
peeped into the coops of poultry, saw the big 
geese and the “small boy” pulling at their tails, 
for the fun of heariug their “quack, quack.” 
Then over to the amphitheater to watch the 
ring and the cro wd of young couples that 
walked round and round, as if paid so much 
a mile. Near me was a girl lamenting to 
her lover the lack of excitement, wishing 
for a “smash up;” her lover adding, “one or 
two killed and wounded.” As if in answer to 
her wish in one of the swift dashes around 
the ring, tbe front wheel of a sulky came off; 
the driver, with admirable presence of mind, 
alighted on his feet, held the reins firmly un¬ 
til his beautiful bays were stopped by a uegro 
man. A new sulky was brought in the ring, 
aud the pair harnessed to it, going off again 
in a spirited way, when a sudden turn of one 
of the contestants smashed both bind wheels 
of the new sulky, throwing the driver full 
length on hi* back. He hold on bravely to tbe 
reins, aud a thrill of horror, expectant of a tra¬ 
gedy, passed through the cro wd, as he was being 
dragged, but several men rushed forward aud 
seized the horses, while others assisted the mau, 
who was not hurt. The girl uud her beau 
were quit© excited, he saying it was done pur¬ 
posely; the same man had “smashed him up 
twice at the Ban Is town fair.” Our damaged 
hero seetned to fully forgive, wheu hL> beau¬ 
ties prauced around the ring, weariug the 
’•blue.” 
Our mills have new machinery for making 
roller fiour, aud there was some auxiety as to 
which would win the premium. The Banner 
Mills had wou the prize at other fairs, where 
it came iu competition with Minneapolis mills, 
aud others. They were glad to feel they were 
not without honor at home, the judges decid¬ 
ing their flour the best, aud to show their ap¬ 
preciation of the award, they sent to the mem¬ 
bers of the association a tray of cake aud 
wine. It was carried around the ring by one of 
their mill hands, a fat colored boy, who wore 
a big placard on his back, which read: “I eat 
Logan’s flour”—the name of the owner of the 
mill. He was followed by a slim cadaverous 
negro boy, on whose back was written: “I 
don’t.” The place enclosed over the entrance 
to the ring is called the courting box; the 
belles and heaux find it a delightful camping 
ground. Within its limits mauy a pair 
have discovered that their “hearts beat as 
one.” Younger ones delight in riding on the 
