io6 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
THE STATE FAIRS. 
Splendid Exhibit of Fruit at the New York Meeting—Nearly Six 
Thousand Plates—Western New York Society Wins First Prize 
for Ninth Consecutive Time — Nurserymen’s Displays — 
Great Display of Plums at Iowa State Fair. 
For the first time in several years, says the Country Gentle¬ 
man, the fruit exhibit at the New York State Fair at Syracuse 
in August was a delight to the eye, being ripe or ripening, and 
not a green fruit show, with the varying colors of varieties 
contrasting or blending along the rows of heaped-up plates. 
This was due to the fair being one week later and the ripening 
of fruit one or two weeks earlier, owing to the dry season. 
To this latter also was due the greater exemption from insect 
and fungus attack, the apple exhibit being remarkably free 
from blemish of any kind. The total exhibits were 5,935 
plates—apples, 2,565 ; pears, 962 ; plums, 916 ; peaches, 332 ; 
quinces, 27 ; grapes 1,133 1 beside 400 to 500 plates not tabled- 
The largest general collection, winning first prize for the 
ninth consecutive time, was that of the Western New York 
Horticultural Society, which showed 1,200 plates—apples, 154 
varieties ; pears, 85 ; plums, 35 ; peaches, 8 ; grapes, 63. The 
quality of this fruit was superb and worthy of hours of study. 
The same may be said of the exhibit of its younger rival, the 
Eastern New York Horticultural Society, which embraced 630 
plates ; apples, 415 ; pears, 68 ; plums, 68 ; peaches, 2 ; grapes, 
92. The exhibit of the Geneva Experiment Station was 
slightly larger than the last—709 plates : apples, 307 varieties; 
plums, 125 ; pears, 53 ; peaches, 22 ; quinces, 7 ; grapes, i95 ; 
and afforded fine opportunity for a study of fruit. 
Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry of Rochester had their usual 
fine assortment of fruits—573 plates, including 60 varieties of 
apples, 140 of pears, 58 of plums and 71 of grapes. A pyra¬ 
midal frame supporting part of their grape exhibit was much 
admired, and on Thursday was photographed for the fair 
officers. S. D. Willard of Geneva led off again in plum ex¬ 
hibits—235 plates, including the new Burbank introductions, 
October Purple and Wickson, the latter probably the first to be 
fruited this side of the Rocky mountains. It is a large bril¬ 
liant red plum (coloring up since picking), very juicy, sweet, 
pleasant flavor. Mr. Willard also showed 25 plates of peaches 
and a few apples, including Longfield and Arabkoe. Other 
noteworthy collections were shown by C. H. Darrow of 
Geneva, W. P. Rupert & Sons of Seneca Castle, H. S. Wiley 
of Cayuga, O. S. Jacques of Wright’s Corners, Luther Colla- 
mer of Hilton, E. VanAlstyne of Poughkeepsie, Jas. E. Rice 
of Westchester County, D. O. Lincoln of Newark, W. Field of 
Niagara on the Lake, Ont., and others. 
In amateur grapes, C. C. Corby of Montclair N. J., easily 
led, as in the past, taking first premium on all collections, 
while his 40 single plates all took first, second or third prem¬ 
iums, a remarkable sight. His grapes excel in size of bunch 
and berry and in compactness of cluster, resembling rather the 
products of a cold grapery than the usual growth on out-door 
vines. In addition to a good soil and judicious fertilizing, 
Mr. Corby believes that his success is largely due to growing 
many varieties together, so that fertilization is perfect. W. F- 
Taber of Poughkeepsie showed some fine Wordens, Moore’s 
Early, Niagara and Concords ; also some Smokehouse apples. 
The usual exhibit of hothouse grapes from D. M. Dunning 
of Auburn was absent this year, to the regret of all admirers 
of fine grapes. In their place, however, was an excellent col¬ 
lection from Mrs. Patrick Barry of Rochester, including Black 
Morocco, Duke of Buccleugh, Black Hamburgh, Gronier du 
Cantal, Mill Hill Hamburgh, Trentham Black, Chasselas 
Napoleon, Muscat Troveren and Black Frontignan. 
IOWA STATE FAIR EXHIBIT. 
Regarding the exhibit of fruit at the Iowa State fair the 
Iowa State Register says : “ The show of plums has never 
been equalled in the West. In size, beauty and number of 
varieties, the collections of native plums was never equalled 
and the same was true of the Russian and Japan varieties. 
To add to the plum interest, dozens of amateurs brought 
native and Russian plums for identification. The show of 
grapes was also a surprise, so early in the season following the 
hard winter. The apple exhibit was about as fine as usual 
and far more educational, as it gave a better opportunity 
than ever to study the new ironclad varieties from the 
north half of the state. The display by R. P. Speer, of Cedar 
Falls, of Russian and other hardy varieties was never equalled 
by northern exhibitors, and those of J. B. Mitchell, of Cresco, 
and J. C. Ferris, of Hampton were very fine. The drawing 
out of such an exhibit in an off fruit year, and such an artistic 
arrangement in placing and decorating, is no small task, and 
Superintendent Wragg and his able assistants Secretary Green 
and Elmer Reeves, cannot be given too much credit. 
Hmong (Browers anb dealers. 
J. D. Durksen has started a nursery business at Seger, Oklahoma 
Territory. 
William Scott, the well-known florist of Buffalo, is starting a nursery 
at Corfu. N. Y. 
W. C. Zimmer has removed from Fort Scott, Kan , to Eve., Mo., and 
entered the nursery business. 
Geneva, N. Y., nurserymen report good sales during the summer. 
R. G. Chase was in Philadelphia last month. 
John Watson, manager of the Rosedale Nurseries, Brenham, Tex:, 
called on Western New York nurserymen last month. 
C. R. Burr & Co., Hartford, Conn., has started in the nursery busi¬ 
ness. Mr. Burr called on Rochester nurserymen last month. 
William C. Barry, Rochester, N. Y., was the only member named 
for the committee on nomenclature at the Philadelphia meeting of the 
American Pomological Society. 
Thirty-seven varieties of apples and twelve of peaches were awarded 
premiums at the Minnesota state fair. The Jewell Nursery Co. and 
Clarence Wedge were leading exhibitors . 
N. W. Hale, Knoxville, Tenn , writes: “Trade seems to be very 
good in this territory. Wholesale prices are greatly in advance of last 
year and I think the demand is going to be good.” 
W. A. Watson, who has been conducting the McLean County Nur¬ 
sery Co., has sold the stock to William E. Rossney, Bloomington, Ill., 
who will continue to operate the nursery. Mr. Watson will conduct a 
fruit farm. 
The following firms supplied plants for the seven beds in the esplan¬ 
ade at the National Export Exposition which opened in Philadelphia 
September 14: Thomas Meehan A Sons, William Warner Harper, Wil¬ 
liam H. Moon Co., and State Pogis Nurseries. 
C. C. Elwell, who has for the last six years been connected with the 
Empire State Nursery Co., of Waterloo, N. Y., has disposed of his in. 
terest therein and accepted a position as agency manager at Lawrence, 
Kan., with C. W. Carman, successor to the Lawrence Nursery Com¬ 
pany. 
