In collecting and installing this exhibit, the aim was to gather these varied products and arrange them so as to show the real grain or vegetable to the best advantage rather than to show a fancifully arranged display of such products as would be of little or no value to those interested in practical agriculture. With this end in view, each section of the State was drawn upon for the best samples of the staple crops of that section. These samples were carefully inspected by competent judges, and only those of real merit were placed in the collection for exhibit. So thoroughly was this work of selection done that a large proportion of the samples received an award. LABELING EACH SPECIMEN That the exhibit might be of the greatest value to those most interested in agricultural pursuits, on each sample was placed a card giving the name and variety of the sample, also the name and post office address of the grower. Every day men could be seen with pencil and paper in hand taking names and addresses for future correspondence. CONTINUOUS DISPLAY OF VEGETABLES New York was one of the few States that had its exhibit complete at the opening of the Exposition, and was the only State that made a large and continuous display of fresh vegetables. Its display was greatly admired and favorably commented upon by the press, as well as by individuals. From the opening of the Exposition until the crop of 1904 was ready, the tables of the New York exhibit were kept filled with the standard vegetables of 1903, which had been placed in cold storage and were brought out as needed. At the close of the Exposition, December 1, 1904, New York had over forty varieties of potatoes as well as many other vegetables on exhibition that were gathered in 1903, having been out of the ground over fifteen months. To the inexperienced eye, they could not be distinguished from the crop of 1904. In October and November, New York's vegetable display was unusually fine. The judges who passed upon it said it was the finest collection of vegetables they had ever seen. AWARDS The catalogue of exhibitors which follows shows conclusively that New York is truly the Empire State so far as agricultural products are concerned. It was the only State that was awarded a grand prize on fresh vegetables alone. J. M. Thorburn & Co., of New York, Glendale Stock Farm, Glens Falls, and Cornell University, Ithaca, also received grand prizes on vegetables. _Catalogue of the Exhibitors in the Department of Agriculture, with the Award, if Any, Received by Each_ GROUP EIGHTY-FOUR _Vegetable Food Products--Agricultural Seeds_