70 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



At the annual meeting of this Board, President Mntz, in his addrees, after hi& 

 respects to the press, sajs : " Espt cially will 1 mention the State Hotticultural 

 Society, whose members have been present in force, joining with us in making an 

 attractive display of horticultural products, and notwithstanding the adverse cir- 

 cumstances of a bad fruit seuf^on, made a show of native fruits that would be a 

 credit to the State at any fair." 



It is to be regretted that since 1877 the existence of a State Horticultural 

 Society has Ijeen entirely unknown at the State Fair. But I may be digressing. 



In the Floral Division the .space was all occupied that could be obtained. The 

 contributors arranged their plants so as to produce a very line effect, which added 

 much to the attractions of the exhibition. The floral displays made by Messrs. 

 Chtiries Reiman & Go. and Berterman Brothers were of wonderful beauty, and a 

 very close examination was necessary to enable the committee to decide betjveen 

 them. 



Among the amateur exhibitors were Mrs. Frank Williamson, Zionsville ; Mrs. 

 Mary B. Dauley, M. C. Stewart, and Ely M. Bronson, of Indianapolis, all of whom, 

 made very attractive exhibits. 



MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



SAMUEL HARGROVE, SUPERINTENDEMT. 



Mr. President: 



As Superintendent of the Mechanical Department, I beg leave to submit ihe- 

 following report : 



I arrived on the grounds on Friday morning preceding the fair, and found 

 things in this department in good shape, the General Superintendent having had 

 charge o!' the same up to this lime. 



For the next two days the arrival of machinery and other articles for exhibition 

 in this department was immense; and the space allotted to this show was full to 

 overflowing. 



Rule 15, as made by the Board, would have been strictly adhered to, had the 

 weather permitted; but owing to the constant rain for two days, the time for 

 making entries had to be extended until Tuesday evening. 



Both power halls were very much crowded, and we would suggest the building 

 of additional halls. 



The building erected for headquarters of this department and express office, wa& 

 found to be just the thing needed, and of great convenience both to the Sujierin- 

 tendents and exhibitors. 



The ticket system, adopted for exhibitors in this department, was found to work 

 admirably, there being no confusion in the distribution, and so far as we could 

 learn, no advantage taken in their use, the number of tickets issued being 571. 



It was the general expr&^sion of both exhibitors and visitors, that this was by 

 far the best show in this department ever had at this State Fair. 



