Vernon, Rutter and Vergalieu.

On April twenty-fifth, when the boxes were examined and a selection made for the opening day, the d.u.c.h.ess was found in poorer condition than any of the other varieties. Notwithstanding this fact, a continuous exhibit of d.u.c.h.ess pears was made until May thirtieth. All the other varieties were in prime condition, and were displayed in lots of fifty plates until May twenty-sixth, when one grand exhibit was made, consisting of four hundred plates of fifteen varieties. This display continued in good condition until the sixteenth of June, in spite of the extreme hot weather at that time, the Anjou, Angouleme, Bosc, Clairgeau, Columbia, Howell and Kieffer keeping extremely well until that date.

The display in the fall of 1904 attracted a great deal of attention, not alone from visitors, but also from the superintendents of horticulture from the other States and from fruit growers in general. On September nineteenth, one hundred and forty-two varieties were exhibited from Ellw.a.n.ger & Barry, of Rochester; on September twenty-first, twenty varieties were exhibited from David K. Bell, of Brighton, in addition to the general display from almost every section of the State, making an exhibit of pears never before equaled.

A complete list of the one hundred and fifty-two varieties of pears exhibited will be found following the list of exhibitors.

PLUMS

As the result of a bountiful plum crop, the display of this luscious and popular fruit was unusually large and fine. The first shipment, consisting of Early Red June, was received from F. E. Dawley, of Fayetteville, on August fifth, and from that time until September twenty-sixth, additions were made almost daily. One hundred and twenty-eight varieties, arrayed on hundreds of plates, and occupying nearly a third of the New York s.p.a.ce, compelled the attention and admiration of every pa.s.ser-by. And indeed, it was an attractive sight, from the stand-point of color alone, comprising, as it did, nearly every shade of green, yellow, purple, blue, orange and red.

The varieties attracting the most attention were Abundance, Arch Duke, Burbank, Coe's Golden Drop, Grand Duke, Quackenboss and St. Lawrence.

The display of Burbank was the largest and finest ever shown, the best two lots coming from Fred H. Teats, of Williamson, and T. H. King, of Trumansburg.

Splendid collections were also received from F. E. Dawley, of Fayetteville, consisting of eleven varieties; S. D. Willard, of Geneva, twenty-three varieties; New York Agricultural Experiment Station, at Geneva, one hundred and five varieties.

A total of one hundred and twenty-eight varieties were exhibited; all of the varieties are listed following the list of exhibitors.

CHERRIES

Thirty-one varieties of cherries were exhibited, the largest exhibit coming from the New York Agricultural Experiment Station. No other State excelled in number of varieties.

See the list following the list of exhibitors.

PEACHES

New York's peach crop was not up to the usual standard, being more or less infected with rust and lacking in color. It was also found to be a difficult matter to get shipments to St. Louis in good condition.

There were liberal quant.i.ties of such varieties as were shown, a list of which appears following the list of exhibitors.

QUINCES

The crop of 1904 was unusually small and inferior in quality.

Nevertheless a fairly good exhibit was made.

The varieties shown appear following the list of exhibitors.

CURRANTS

It was impossible to make a general display of small fruits, owing to the distance from New York to St. Louis. Four varieties of currants were shown, however, the Perfection Currant, from C. G. Hooker, of Rochester, excelling in size, quality and flavor any currant exhibited.

A list of varieties appears following the list of exhibitors.

GOOSEBERRIES

The gooseberry crop was a total failure in New York, and only one small exhibit was made of the Downing.

STRAWBERRIES

It was the intention to make a large exhibit of strawberries, and arrangements were partially made with Mr. L. J. Farmer, of Pulaski, to collect this exhibit, but owing to the very poor condition of shipments received from Illinois, Missouri and other nearby States, the plan was abandoned, as it was feared that the berries would be spoiled in transit. One exhibit, however, was made. This was the Ryckman strawberry and came from G. E. Ryckman, of Brocton. Owing to extreme care in packing, this small exhibit came in fairly good condition, and excited much comment on account of its size, color, fine flavor and prolific production.

PLANTS AND FLOWERS

The exhibit of plants and flowers was, for the most part, made out of doors in beds, which were attractively laid out in the grounds surrounding the Horticulture and Agriculture buildings. The extent of the grounds afforded opportunity for the ma.s.sing of the different varieties of hardy plants, such as roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and also of the newer varieties of cannas and geraniums. In the conservatory adjoining the Horticulture building proper were exhibited fine collections of ferns and a large display of gladiolas, and also one of peonies.

SOME GRATIFYING COMPARISONS

The following statistics from the United States census of 1903 may be of interest:

New York leads in the production of fruit, exclusive of subtropical fruits. Twelve and one-tenth per cent of the fruit production of the United States is in New York.

Orchard fruit of 1903 was valued at $10,542,272 Grapes of 1903 were valued at 2,763,711 Small fruits of 1903 were valued at 2,538,363

The following table will give an idea of the extensive cultivation of small fruits: Acres Product-quarts

Raspberries 12,376 17,575,530 Strawberries 7,311 13,846,860 Currants 2,594 4,584,080 Blackberries 2,060 3,167,090 Other berries 710 862,107

Number of vines Product-pounds

Grapes 29,636,316 247,689,056

From the following a comparison may be drawn between the number of trees and apple product of the two leading apple states:

Number of trees Product-bushels

New York 15,054,832 24,111,257 Missouri 20,040,399 6,496,436

The average number of apple trees per farm in the United States was 74.5; the same for New York was 86.2. The average production in bushels per farm in the United States was 64.8; the same for New York was 138.1.

A considerable proportion of the trees in Missouri, quoted above, are young trees, and the relative products will soon show far different results unless New York fruit growers awake to the situation. In all of the western fruit growing states the annual planting of young trees is rapidly increasing, a precaution which our fruit growers are not taking to any great extent. Moreover, the lack of interest on the part of New York growers in expositions and the opportunity there afforded for advertising the superiority of New York products is a subject for comment. It is in marked contrast to the interest and progressive spirit of the growers in the western states who never lose such an opportunity, and are gradually working into the front ranks of fruit production. In many of the western states no public funds nor machinery were provided for a horticultural exhibit at St. Louis, but very creditable exhibits were prepared, the entire expense of the same being borne by fruit growers' a.s.sociations. In marked contrast is a rather unfortunate precedent heretofore adopted in the State of New York, and of necessity followed at St. Louis, viz.: That the State, in order to obtain a creditable exhibit, must pay a fancy price for fruit for exhibition purposes and allow the seller to receive the award upon fruit which is no longer his own property.

THE STAFF

In addition to the superintendent the staff connected with the department consisted of James G. Patterson, of Sheridan, a.s.sistant superintendent; John W. Coughtry, of New Scotland, and Sherman T. Lewis, of Johnsonburg, a.s.sistants in charge of fruit exhibit; A. M. Loomis, of Fredonia, a.s.sistant in charge of viticulture, and Miss Bessie J.

Hutchinson, of Rochester, stenographer. One and all they served the Commission and the State faithfully and efficiently.

AWARDS