The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-01-05
Fruit Exhibit at ST. LonIs.

Worlds Fair, st. Louis.--I have beer
here three weeks; have met many
friends, among whom was Hon. w. II
Regan of Washington, ID. G. The last
time / met him was on the trip with
the American Pathological Society in
1887. Mr.. Parker Earle was the presi-
dent and Mr.. Regan secretary. Some
200 OF the advanced horticulturists were
Of the party. OF the party there was
Ridpath, the historian, Hale of Con
necticut, Munson OF Texas, Barnard OF
Nebraska, Buckman of Illinois, Professor
Budd OF Iowa, Furnas of Nebraska, Hub
bard OF New York, Dinner OF Wisconsin
J. M. Smith OF Wisconsin, Van Deman
Of Washington, d. c., Veal of Texas,
Watrous OF Iowa. These are some OF
illustrious, who formed part of the
organization in 1887, and of whom can
remember. 1t was real pleasure, then
to meet secretary Ragan after so long q
time and talk over the pleasant times
had in California. Mr.. Ragan is quite
we'll preserved. He acted as a Juror in
the fruit department.
The last days OF the fair were quite a
surprise In the fresh fruits shown. Iowa
had great show of 265 named varieties
OF apples and Ia faultless show they were
The varieties were not only faultless as
show fruit, but all upon plates 80 that
they could be inspected. | think the
time OF picked and preserved fruits
should pass, Some states had at great
expense large collection of fruits in
jars that magnifed. Then there were
representation OF fruits in plaster, that
like Dead Sea fruits were pleasing "a
look upon but alas when examined were
ashes. / noticed one man looking upon
them admiringly. The usual cards Of
Hands OFF" were in evidence, yet the
temptation TO handle was 80 great he
picked II up. "The blamed thing is as
light as feather" He shook It to his
ear, "and 1t rattles." A more disgusted
individual | did not see at the fair.
My impression was that Iowa had
the cleanest show of all until Oregon
unloaded a car of apples in bushel
boxes. doubt If the world ever saw
such show, Every apple was simply
perfection. All Joined in singing the
praise of Oregon fruit.
Colorado and Washington, too, had
wonderful collection. In the Wash
ington collection there was possibly the
largest apples ever shown, one of which
weighed 40 ounces, another 80 and sew
eral S2. The variety, Spokane Beauty,
while large, was withall fairly edible. A
seedless apple was in evidence, but
think of little or no value except as a
curio.
This reminds me that have a crab
that is quite long. Bycutting it through
the middle there are no seeds visible,
but still II contains seeds at the base of
the stem The committee on examining
specimen found one seed in those
shown.
The Black Bens shown by Colorado
and Washington attracted considerable
attention for, uniformity and high color
As an object lesson Iowa had Ben Davis,
Gano and Black Ben all grown by the
same party and side by side. / heard
many say; "Well that settles it with
me. There is decided difference"
1t was my intention to remain until
the close of the show, but coming home
to vote took severe cold and have been
laid up for repairs much of the time
since. One thing that was unsatsfac.
tory to some of the states, was in the
selection of the jurors. Many of the
states had three, while the West, Mis-
souri, excepted, had a single representa-
tive - many states none. 1t shall,
while memory lasts be a bright spot
in my memory that could enjoy this
the greatest fair ever held.-Frank Hol-
singer, in the Western Fruit Grower.