What part have the horticulturists and florists had in preparing this grand display ? The ground on which this Exposition is spread out was once a plantation. Till within a few years it was not open to occupation for residences; hence the city is built all around it, except the river front. It was a tract of 249 acres, extending from the river to St. Charles Avenue. About ten years ago the city bought it for a city park, but had done nothing towards its improvement for want of funds, allowing it to be used as a stock pasture. Nothing on it or about it to remind one of a park, unless it might be the majestic old live oaks, planted in avenues and draped in Spanish moss, spreading out their immense arms over large areas of ground. Who planted these live oak avenues, now so magnificent, I have found no one to tell me. But any one seeing them can but believe they were planted by man, and not less than a century ago, to have acquired such immense growth. This was the locality selected but a little more than a year since, as the site for the World's Exposition. Within that time the general management has covered about seventy acres of this ground with roofs of the several buildings for various exhibits. The main building covers 33 acres; the Government building over 10 acres.

The other buildings are for machinery, live stock, art gallery, etc. All are filled, - not only on the floors, but in the galleries, with the goods of a thousand exhibitors.

To the horticulturists and florists, under direction of Mr. Parker Earle, President of the Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society, was given the preparation of these rough 249 acres, and to properly drain and level the surface; to lay out miles of walks, some shelled and some covered with asphalt; to plant several thousand trees and shrubs; to grass over grounds not otherwise occupied. On a slight elevation about half way between the Main Building and the river front, at one end of an avenue of these magnificent live oaks, they have erected, perhaps, the largest Horticultural hall on the continent. The building is 600 feet long and 194 feet wide, with a dome and tower 90 feet in height. In the centre of this building beneath the dome, is a large reservoir of water, with a jet of water constantly in play. The whole structure of the building is mainly of glass. The extension of the building on each side of the dome is nearly 300 feet, the centres of which are filled with tables for the display of fruits, and the sides for the display of plants.

On the south-west side of the building is an extensive greenhouse for the display of tropical shrubs and plants.