The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-08-11
OUR STATE FRUIT FAIR.


The Annual Fair of the NC. Fruit
Growers Association was held in
Fayetteville last week. Ten counties
only were represented in the exhi-
bition, yet we found in the 318 en-
tries-116 varieties Of grapes, over
100 varieties of apples, and peaches,
pears, plums, apricots, melons, etc,
in immense quantities, Of excellent
quality and almost in endless va
riety. The halls were admirably
adapted to the purpose, and were
handsomely decorated and festooned
with bunting and native vines and
flowers. The first thing that greeted
the eye on entering the first hall
was a most beautiful and unique
design of an old castle in ruins-the
huge pillars and beams of which
were disposed in attractive irregu-
larity, and were made of solid blocks
of ice, in which were imbedded
branches of apples and various other
luscious fruits, melons and lovely
bouquets of flowers and ferns. These
glistening columns rested on a mound
of evergreens, consisting of a variety
of beautiful ferns and richly colored
water plants. The necessarily hur-
ried inspection which our brief visit
allowed us, pushed us ON from one
object of interest to another too rap
idly to permit q record of what we
saw. W. were especially attracted
to the displays of pears and grapes.
New Hanover, Forsyth, Wake and
Guilford made especially fine exhib-
it's of these. Mr.. S. w. Noble, of
New Hanover, displayed serentyfve
udrieties of grapes, and such grapes !!
Mr.. Bachelor, Of Wake, fifty
eight varieties of grapes. The ex-
hibition was a credit to the mana
gers and an honor to the exhibitors
and their State. The unfavorable
season impaired the quality of many
of the fruits, particularly the peaches,
but the display was, by far, the best
that has ever been made in the State.
The evaporated fruits, and the canned
and native wines, which en-
braced an extensive list, were most
excellent. The association and it's
officers are to be congratulated on
the splendid success of the fair, and
upon the good judgment displayed
in locating it in the good old hos
pitable, patriotic town of Fayette-
vile.
We heard, as we expected to hear,
the most pleasant expressions of sat
isfaction on all hands, with the speech
of welcome Of Hon. G.. NJ. Rose and
the annual address by Capt. Oct.
Standing at the ends Of the
halls and looking down the long
aisles of tables, laden with beautiful
and luscious fruits, this question
forced itself upon us: If Australia
can fit up large vessels with refrig-
orators and ship fruits to England,
and deliver them in good market
able condition and make it remuner-
ative-if California can charter re-
cars at a cost Of $500 per
car and ship it's fruit 1920 miles to
New York and make money, why
can not North Carolina, with all her
as to seasons, climate,
adaptability to all fruits (other thar
the tropical and with her access to
the markets-why cannot this in
be made a source of great
profit to her people? And this is
just the question to the solution of
the officers and members of
association are directing their
commendable effort.
Every county in the State where
a be grown advantageously,
should follow the example Of Wake
and establish a County Association.
There is nothing like cooperative eff.
fort. Every county in North Caro-
lima should organize into clubs, and
have each year a County Fair, where
the products of the counties may be
shown. The State of Pennsylvania
will hold fifty-one local and county
fairs this year, and we trust that in
the near future the farmers clubs Of
our State will see the utility of these
Deal fairs and that We shall have an
large number annually.