this beautiful walk, and watch the lawn-mowers clipping short the soft Bermuda grass. It reminded one of Fairmount or Central Park in the month of June. Those majestic live-oak trees deserve more than a passing notice as ornaments for the lawn, and where given more room, attained greater proportions; one of which measured twenty-seven feet around the butt, six feet above the ground, and the ponderous limbs, covered with drooping Spanish moss, extended seventy-five feet in all directions from the trunk, making one hundred and fifty feet in cross diameter under shade of the limbs. The model nurseries planted there last fall, were generally doing well. The Oriental and hybrid pears sent from the Pomona Nurseries, Burlington county, N. J., were out in leaf, and the Kieffer in full bloom; strawberries and peach trees were also in bloom. There are more than 8,000 specimens of forest, fruit and ornamental trees planted in this park, embracing nearly every tree of value grown on the North American Continent. The California tree exhibit embraces 7,000 species of valuable timber trees. Horticultural Hall is 600 feet in length and 194 feet wide through its center. It is said to be the largest conservatory in the world. It is substantially built as a durable structure, becoming, by arrangement with the city, a permanent feature of the park. It is located on high ground, in the midst of live-oak groves. Surmounting the center is a magnificent tower, ninety feet high, roofed with glass. Beneath this tower, in constant play, is a grand fountain, over what was originally built for a cistern by Gen. Butler when looking after the interests of New Orleans. On large tables extending through the Hall are 20,000 plates of fruit, double the amount ever before displayed at any other exposition. Seldom, if ever, has Pomona poured forth, in such gorgeous quantities, the rich, golden fruits of the tropics, oranges and pomegranates, with hardy apples and pears from Northern districts, mingled with the profusion of delicious fruits grown in middle or temperate zones, all at same time in one exposition, covering up tables without number, but measured by the acre, and surrounded by rare tropical and semitropical plants, flowers and shrubbery, agaves, cactus, royal palms of Mexico, and palmettoes of historic fame. There are more than forty varieties of palms, some of them forty feet in height. This is the largest and most complete exhibition of winter apples ever gathered together, from fifty States, provinces and countries. The States seem to vie with each other in their displays. Maine and Wisconsin, Ohio and Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska and others, noted for growing fine apples, are here represented side by side, contesting for the grand prizes offered by the Exposition managers. Arkansas has 500 plates of 200 varieties of apples, remarkable for their immense size and beauty. Kansas exhibits 300 plates of 120 varieties. They are extremely large and come from all parts of the State. Missouri shows 1,000 plates, comprising 200 varieties of large, beautiful apples. Kentucky shows 300 plates of 105 varieties of apples, all of fine quality. France sends 400 varieties of apples and 260 varieties of pears. The far-off plains of Central Russia send fine specimens of hardy apples, large, bright and in good condition, having traveled 7,000 miles to reach this exhibition. England sends more than 100 varieties of apples, some of which are said to come from trees older than the American nation itself. Apples are also exhibited, of good appearance, from the table-lands of Mexico, 8,000 feet above the sea. Opportunity is there given to study interesting problems in pomology, and compare the same variety of fruit grown in a variety of climates, soils and countries. There is a tropical hot house, 250 feet long by 25 feet wide, in which the most delicate flowers from the far South are nurtured and made to bloom in brilliant perfection. Tropical fruits in the various stages of growth, fruits of every section and the productions of all seasons, have, through the process of cold storage, been preserved in all their natural beauty for this grand -occasion. Thirty-six American States and Territories, fourteen foreign nations and provinces are here represented by fruits or plants-just fifty States and countries in all-Canada and Mexico abundantly. Several provinces in South America and the West India Islands have sent some of their rich productions. New Jersey has a fine display of apples and an elegant show of pears, both raw and canned, equal to anything of the kind on exhibition. In the stables are to be seen the finest display of draught horses, sent there from the Northwestern States, ever shown at one time. Percherons, Normans and Clydesdales seemed to vie with each other in great strength and beauty. Cattle, sheep, swine and poultry were about as usual at our State fairs. The Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society being then in session, and largely represented by members from the Atlantic and Pacific Coast, the name was changed to the more appropriate and comprehensive one of American, and under that name held several meetings, and hereafter will be known as "The American Horticultural Society;" and the same excellent manager, Parker Earle, who had so long and successfully directed the affairs of the Horticultural Society under its old name, was re-elected President under the new name. The meetings were well attended, and many interesting subjects were profitably discussed. On the 19th of January about one hundred and fifty of us, at the invitation of the Shell Beach Railroad Company, John R. Elder, President, took a ride about thirty-five miles down the easterly side of the river to Lake Borgne, passing through the rich garden-lands and sugar-plantations of Louisiana, stopping at the principal points of interest. We examined a large sugar-house and heavy machinery used to crush the sugar-cane, and roll it so dry as to make good fuel as it came from the mill. We concluded that such an important industry ought to be protected by government, and we were not ready to indorse the proposed Spanish treaty yet. We also viewed the historic battle-ground and ancient plantation residence, surrounded with groves of live-oaks covered with drooping Spanish moss, waving in the breeze; the elegant magnolia grandifloras, luxuriating in the rich soil and mild climate so well adapted to growing them to perfection, and the flourishing orange groves, laden with beautiful, yellow fruit, bending. the slender branches in graceful curves. That lovely place, with grand surroundings, was the headquarters of the British General Packingham, who did not take New Orleans on the 8th of January, about seventy years ago, but wasted powder and life before the cotton bales which General Jackson had so wisely placed to protect American soldiers from English bullets. The recollections of those trying times, through which our government had to pass in its early struggle for existence, are calculated to fill our hearts with reverence for our country, and make us feel glad that we are Americans, and desirous always so to act as to be worthy of the name. Our journey to the South was full of interest. Going along near the sea coast, much of the land is not yet under cultivation, but is kind, genial soil, and susceptible of improvement, needing capital and labor for its development. The climate is so mild and pleasant as to bring early fruits and vegetables, for which there is always good markets, and if a portion of the immigrants who land at Castle Garden could be directed there, it would be better for them than to go towards the Rocky Mountains where the cold winters are so long and severe. On our return home, we came by way of Nashville and Louisville, stopping at Mammoth Cave, and took a journey of about ten miles under ground, meandering through the various halls and caverns, some of which are forty feet in height, and of greater width, beautifully ornamented by nature and wonderful to behold, far surpassing in magnitude and grandeur anything of the kind ever made artificially by the skill of man, and is well worth a journey there to see. One important consideration, that should not be forgotten, is the cost, which may vary according to the style in which the traveler moves. But for comfort and economy, each one should allow $100. We paid in Philadelphia, before starting, $43 each for excursion tickets, which was about half our necessary expenses, as board, lodging and car fare, admittance to the Exposition, and other incidentals, cost as much more, making $86 for the round trip; and those who desire to see all that can be seen in that gay city, can easily use the other $14, making the round sum of $100. |