ay such products as were
considered most valuable to the different sections of the State. Only
the leading standard varieties were installed and such valuable
varieties were exhibited in such proportion and in such profusion as to
demonstrate their value in different sections of the State. Large
displays of wheat, oats, grasses, and grains of all kinds, in sheaf and
thrashed, were exhibited, and it was intended to show both the growth of
the root and the stalk, as well as the grain. As an example, more than
thirty varieties of oats were exhibited, showing root growth, stalk
growth, size and length of head, and beside each variety was 1 peck of
the oats thrashed.

In one corner of our exhibit was erected a triangle of grain pictures,
three in number, each 8 by 10 feet, and made entirely of seeds. One
picture was that of Abraham Lincoln, another Governor Richard Yates, and
a third represented the State seal.

Upon seven large tables were displayed more than 500 glass bottles of
seeds, ranging from 8 ounces to 1 gallon each.

But the feature of the agricultural display that attracted more
attention than anything else was the immense display of corn grown by
the farmer boys of Illinois. The commission from the very start
determined to make this display by the farmer boys a strong feature of
the exhibit, and how well their efforts were rewarded is now known by
millions of people who visited the Agricultural Building. The
superintendent solicited special premiums to the amount of $3,500.
Circulars describing the farmers boys' corn contest were placed in the
hands of 120,000 farmer boys in Illinois. Eight thousand entered the
contest.

Above the two vast pyramids of white and yellow corn, each 20 by 30
feet, was a handsome banner inscribed "Grown by the farmer boys of
Illinois."

One of the most attractive and interesting sections of the dairy exhibit
was that installed by the Illinois commission. The statuary in this
exhibit consisted of a full-length ideal statue representing "Illinois,"
holding the shield of State with one hand, while the other grasps the
shaft holding the streamer reading "Illinois" in large, clear, golden
letters. On either side of this figure were large busts of Lincoln and
Grant. These busts and the full-length figure were made of pure Illinois
creamery butter.

The background for the statuary was arranged with the banner won by the
Illinois creameries and two large United States flags, which we