This department comprised 27 groups and 137 classes, the group headings being:  Farm equipment—­methods of improving lands; Agricultural implements and farm machinery; Fertilizers; Tobacco; Appliances and methods used in agricultural industries; Theory of agriculture—­agricultural statistics; Vegetable food products—­agricultural seeds; Animal food products; Equipment and methods employed in the preparation of foods; Farinaceous products and their derivatives; Bread and pastry; Preserved meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit; Sugar and confectionery—­condiments and relishes; Waters; Wines and brandies; Sirups and liqueurs—­distilled spirits commercial alcohol; Fermented beverages; Inedible agricultural products; Insects and their products—­plant diseases; Live stock—­horses and mules, cattle, sheep, goats, etc.; Swine; Dogs; Cats; Ferrets, etc.; Poultry and birds.

Mrs. Bland reports as a department juror in this department: 

Our jury passed upon machinery for making drinks, refrigerators, refrigerating, Sunny Brook Distillery, ice-making plant, beer packers, and packages, etc., bottle washing and cleaning.  Bake ovens, candy and chocolate machines also came within our jurisdiction.  One special machine of French make was for making ice for families and on the farm; these were small machines and would make from 10 to 300 pounds, and were comparatively cheap and within the reach of many.

There was an interesting and unique exhibit from Germany showing canned stews and other edibles to be used in camp and on hunting and fishing trips.  The can had an interlining of tin, and between the two walls of the can was unslacked lime; by making a hole in each end of the can and placing first one end and then the other in cold water for five minutes the stew was warmed and cooked.

Mrs. Bland conducts a large farm, and in a letter states that she was awarded a bronze medal at this exposition for her exhibit of timothy hay and Grimes golden apples.

Mrs. Bland also served on the jury of awards in the women’s department of the Charleston Exposition, and it was her opinion that there is a great opening for women in house furnishings, designing wall paper, and photography.

Department J, Horticulture, Mr. Frederic W. Taylor, Chief; Mrs. Ida L. Turner, Fort Worth, Tex., Department Juror.

This department comprised 7 groups and 31 classes, the group headings being:  Appliances and methods of pomology, viticulture, floriculture, and arboriculture; Appliances and methods of viticulture; Pomology; Trees, shrubs, ornamental plants and flowers; Plants of the conservatory; Seeds and plants for garden and nurseries; Arboriculture and fruit culture.

Mrs. Turner says: