The Superintendent of Horticultural Hall, E. F. Nelson, is constant in his exertions to improve the already beautiful winter garden. Its beds of tropical and semi-tropical plants have made it the centre of attraction for lovers of the beautiful.

The latest additions are from the nurseries of Mr. John Rock, San Jose, Cal. Plants from these nurseries were much admired in plant displays in the exhibits at the World's Cotton Centennial last year. The present contributions from these nurseries are mostly evergreens. They make a splendid addition to the winter garden. Magnificent specimens of Date Palm, California Fan Palm, the famous big trees of California, a collection of Eucalyptus, the Japan Cypress, the famous Red Wood tree, also Cedus Deodora and many other attractive plants. The changes in the greenhouse have not been great, although it is expected there will be next month.

The Government Building if not the most attractive portion of the Exposition is certainly very instructive, affording as it does grand and exhaus tive displays of the industries and resources of the States and Territories of the Union. These displays far exceed those of last year. The government displays of last year are missing, but it is a question if the elaborate State displays do not compensate for their absence, especially as the wish is to show to our Southern neighbors what we can offer them in exchange for their productions and thus inaugurate a more extended trade with them.

The fruit displays in the State exhibits are certainly creditable. It seems to me that Arkansas leads them all; its present exhibits I think superior to any individual State display in either Exposition. Apples in the green state embrace near two hundred varieties, all splendid specimens, mostly from the northwestern portion of the State. In jars she has near one hundred varieties of summer apples, also pears, Japan persimmons, grapes, peaches, and a great variety of berries. To me it is a great surprise to look at the magnificent displays of fruits by all the newer States and Territories. It truly seems that the older States will have to look out for their laurels in the fruit line.

Mr. I. Innenat has on exhibition in Machinery Hall a machine for cleaning and preparing for use Jute and Ramie taken in their rough state from the fields where grown. It would seem that he has perfected his machine; if so he will really be a second Whitney to the Southern States. The cotton States use millions upon millions of yards of jute bagging every year. The jute can be made a very successful crop in the Southern States - the only difficulty is to sufficiently cheaply prepare it for use. With a machine that will properly and cheaply do its work the South will have a new paying crop and millions of dollars that now go abroad can be kept in the country. What it would do for jute it would do for ramie cloth firms which nearly rivals silk.

It is fifty-eight years since I first came to New Orleans. I have no recollection of seeing in that time such intensely cold weather as we have been having for the last few days. Ice in gutters, ice everywhere. I fear for the orange trees and cane.

Jan. 12th, 1886.