Idaho semi-weekly world., 1893-05-26

Especial correspondence
lnAHo STATE BUILDING, JACKSON !
PARK, CHICAGO, ILL.

AZ Will uo iHoSt RIhuiJiHB W WY
people at home to know that Idaho's
fruit exhibit ranks among the very
first in the Horticultural Department:
at the Columbian Exposition. This
is not an individual opinion, for it is
the verdict OF thousands OF visitors
that idaho fruit is excelled by no 9th
er country in the world. These visi.
tors, too, come from every quarter OF
the globe. 4 gentleman from Lon
don,' looking At a cluster OF Idaho
plums the other day, said: II have
traveed all around the world, and !
never before have seen anything to
equal that" But the greatest sur
prise is not that Idaho raises such fine
fruit, bat that she grows any fruit At
eli. Not more than one in hundred
thinks of Idaho except as cold, bar
rem country, and people cxn hardly
believe that such semi-tropical fruits
come from State 90 far north.
Last week Judge Babcock, under
the auspices Of the Horticultural De-
partment commenced the examina-
tion Of winter apples, fer the purpose
Of giving awards. Idaho Was the SEQ
ond on the list to be judged, Oregon
being first. This order was probably
tsken because Oregon and Idaho were
the first two to have their exhibits in
place, and were the only two that
were anywhere near ready for the
opening day. There was = great
deal Of expectancy on tho part Of the
exhibitors for tho winter apple test.
II was the first examination OF the
Fair, and those with poor exhibits
dreaded the result, while those with
fair displays thought partiality would
be shown, and many rumors were set
afioat. Idaho had kept her best ap-
Piles for this test. After the close Of
the Fair At 8 O'Clock for the day, our
men worked till midnight taking the
apples from their paper wrappers, and
arranging them for the judges COM
ing next day. President Blalock, Of
the Washington State Commission,
asked NEXT morning when he beheld
the new lot: "When are you fellows
going to quit running in surprises on
us?" Indeed, he could well ask the
question, for before him was = beau
tiful display that sxcelled anything
else in the Horticultural Hall. Ar
ranged on shelves, making 6rst tri-
angle Of light apples, and next dark
one, were three or four hundred plates,
four apples to plate, the Blue Pear
main, the Winesap, the Rcd-cheeksd
Pippin and score Of other varieties,
looking as fresh as when picked from
the trees in Idaho last autumn. 1t
was truly tempting sight, and dss-
pite the vigilance Of attendants and
guards, handsome specimen would
now and then disappear, some visitor
getting the credit OF being unable to
withstand the temptation. They GER
tainly found they tasted as good as
they looked, for the few that have
been permitted to try the apples have
never eaten better.
Idaho is sure to get = medal for
her apples. Judge habcock said 80
himself. His words were, while talk
ing with friends before entering upon
his duties: "Idaho, Washington and
Oregon each ought to have a gold
medal" There are no competitive
awards made at the Columbian Ex-
position. Each exhibit is judged on
its own merits, not compared with
any other, and every one that is
found worthy is given a medal.
So Commissioner Wells is certain
to bring home next fall, for no awards
will be made till the close of the Ex-
position, medal for Idaho winter
apples. Each fruit will be examined
in its season, and Idaho may obtain
many medals, for her peaches and
pears and plums and many other
fruits are just as good as her apples.
There are three aisles in the Hor-
ticultural hall. This allows two wall
exhibits, and also two nearer the
center OF the floor. Idaho's space is
in the north hall Of the hall. Canada
comes first and occupies the floor
from wall to wall. idaho has the
west wall and one of tho center aislss.
Across from Idaho is New Mexico
and Montsna. Next to Idaho on the
other end is Washington, and next
Colorado, with Oregon opposite Col
orado. This brings the Northwest
States very near together, and they