The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-11-27

The second day of the twin-county
fair did not dawn as bright and as
promising as we remember that it did
a year ago. nor did the day find the
town decorated so gaily as to resem-
BILE a May-day festival as in former
years. There were no decorated au-
fomobiles and no elbowing ones way
through congested crowds, all of
which goes to show that the town and
county is suffering somewhat from
the shortage of crops and the depres-
sion caused by the shutting down of
our principal industries, for which
fact we are indebted to the ugly and
brutal war now furiously raging
across the seas.
But we can say truthfully that the
fair in itself is worthy of all common
dalton, and is much more attractive
than IL was the first day, because
Messrs. Crosby and Wartmann and
Mr.. J. r. Williams of Citra have filed
a missing space with a most inviting
display of citrus fruits.
To the stranger within it's gates
considering the year-the fair must
ne n revelation.
The corn display is not so abund-
ant as in former years, nor is the
corn itself so good, but there are
twenty-six Exhibits from the boys
corn clubs, which in itself is encour-
aging, and some of the ears are very
large and full, and demonstrates the
capabilities of the soil if given any
thing like fair show. Last year our
readers may remember that the corn
yield of the state footed up 100000
bushels, and of this amount Marion
and Sumter counties produced more
than their proportion. The corn yield
last year measured in dollars and
cents were worth to the farmers the
enormous sum Of ten and a quarter
million dollars.
There are several kinds of corn on
exhibition among which may be ment-
Toned broom corn, kiffir corn, pop
corn, milo miaze, and a new product
from Japan.
Besides her wonderful corn exhibit,
Marion has a revelation in her varied
samples of hay. Her sugar cane dis
play comprises all varieties. She has
also many samples of syrup made
therefrom. Put up in thin glass bot
tiesc. with fancy labels, this product
win some cay find its way into the
markets Of the world for in sweet
ness of flavor it excels honey in the
honey-comb.
We saw oats, crabgrass peanut and
peavine hay; velvet beans hulled
and unhulled, and ground into flour.
We saw rice in the sheaf, in the
hull and in the finished product. More
than two-thirds of the people of the
earth subsist on rice. The Florida
farmer has no trouble in adding it to
mis- list of side products
The seed exhibit ought to attrac
some attention. We saw watermelon
seed, okra seed, pumpkin seed, ker
shaw seed, and a number of othe
seed in quantities.
There are many samples of pecan
nuts, some of them being mammoth
In size. This is coming industry,
and in time will add immensely to
the wealth of the country.
The hickory nut display is more
varied than in any former year and
some of them are the largest nuts
we have ever seen. Hickory nut cake
and hickory nut candy are the finest
ON earth.
There are samples of arrow root,
cassava and other starch producing
products. Besides making good stock
feed the arrow root and cassava make
delicious buildings. 1T is a product
that deserves worthy place along
side of ether products.
There are several samples of moss
ON display, and the purpose for
which 1t is used are shown-Mattress-
es. buggy and automobile cushions
and furniture upholstery, showing