Imperial Valley press., 1910-12-17

Imperial county's third annual fair, the first held under the management of the regularly organized District As sociation, opened in El Centro last Tuesday and will close tonight. No therefore the expense of putting the grounds in shape, erecting buildings and constructing the race track was met by private subscription and gate receipts and but little money was available for premiums. Next year the district will have State aid and sub- stantial premium fund.
 The directors have put up an ex- hibition building and stock sheds, built half mile track that is said to be one of the best in the Southwest and established the association upon ba- sis that should make the annual fair of Imperial county big event in the future.
 Judged by attendance, gate receipts aadN interest in the races, this years khir is a success. The receipts on the lopening day were about $200; on the second day $500 and on Thursday $T50, and much larger attendance is eX- pected today. Because of the lack of funds for attractive premiums for gen. eral exhibits, the show of farm pro ducts does not do full justice to I'm perial county and the race feature of the fair seems to be over-emphasiZed, but the races have attracted horse men from all parts of the Southwest and have been very interesting. An excellent program of harness and run ming races has been carried out every afternoon, and baseball game and automobile and motorcycle races have added to the attractions of the fair.
 Excursions from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino and other cities of Southern California were promised, but no organized parties arrived, al- though there were many visitors from the Coast and from Arizona.
 THE EXHIBITS.
 t. kMhle the citrus fruit exhibit is not Extensive, it shows high quality Wash ington navels, highly colored and with clear thin skins are shown from vari- ous valley ranches. One fine exhibit is shown from two-year- old trees. Villa Franca and Eureka lemons, as fine as can be found in the old citrus fruit districts have prominent place, and mammoth lemons, grown on Ei Centro townsite by Earl Hartzler, at tract much attention. Smooth-skinned and deeply colored tangerines also make fine display.
 Fine ripe strawberries grown on the. town property of Mrs. Mary Bower are shown, and strawberry plants with berries on them form a novel feature of this exhibit. Mrs. Bower is also exhibiting fine specimens of Luther Burbank's wonderberry
 In the floral department chrysanthe- nuns of gorgeous coloring and roses of many varieties show what the val ley can do in Horticulture Earl Harts-
 N,El Centro, has kept daily sup
 Almost perfect roses on exhibi- Aha.Ind chrysanthemums have come from various valley towns.
 Imperial county cereals present a goodly array. Some genius has ere ated mammoth head of Milo maize that would scarcely go into half bushel measure, and around it are grouped fine displays of maize, Egyp- tian and Kafiir corn.
 The place of honor in the main eX- hibition hall is accorded to a cotton display. The booth has base of the cotton lint, crowned by frieze of cotton blossoms, bolls and foliage. Within the booth are displayed manu- factured products, from Imperial Val ley cotton and views of the California Cotton Mills, which plan to use the valley product almost exclusively here after.
 Cotton varieties are also exhibited at the east end of the exhibition hall. whefe Ane specimens of the Egyptian