190 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
for receiving several first prizes after expressing by heavy wagon,, 
her pets a day’s ride. 
Mrs. Alex. Mitchell, by her gardener, J. Pollard, brought out 
and occupied the usual amount of space with choice specimen 
plants which attracted much attention, also a case of floral de¬ 
signs, bouquets and cut flowers. 
Among the amateurs, H. W. Roby excelled them all with pot 
plauts. Of these we-may say, we seldom see a better private col¬ 
lection, and they received their full share of attention and pre¬ 
miums. 
Mrs. Yale excelled in the culture of balsams; her show was fine. 
Mrs. Parks and Mrs. Thomas, both are entitled to much praise 
for their efforts to please the people. As Wednesday, September 
•5, was a terrible day, yet with enthusiasm and cburage these two 
ladies, up with, or far ahead of the lark, drove twenty miles, and 
were ready for duty on the fair ground by six o’clock in the 
morning. With fingers stiffened with cold, they arranged their 
flowers in fine order and carried off their full share of prizes. 
H. Gr. Roberts’ gladiolus, and Mrs. Plum’s dahlias looked well 
and were creditable to the growers. 
A very attractive floral design was placed on the table by Miss. 
S. B. Bodtker, of Milwaukee, consisting of a rustic rural house r 
with twining vines overhead. The house was not of an elaborate 
architecture, but square in form, sided up with Lima beans. The- 
internal arrangements we did not examine, but presume it to have 
bp.en of the most modern style. In front, with rake, hoe an d 
spade by his side, sat the venerable sage of Chappaqua, at¬ 
tired in corn husks, as if he had sought a little shade and rest- 
while he wrote “What I Know about Farming.” The design, 
was original and well executed. 
Altogether, we may say, this portion of the exhibition was a' 
success, and satisfactory to exhibitors and people, for the public 
were permitted to look upon a better class of plants and flowers 
than of any previous year. It has not been my purpose to ex¬ 
tol one exhibitor over another — all did well. Far less grumbling 
was heard over award of premiums than ever before, either credit¬ 
able to the good judgment of the committees, or the common 
sense of the exhibitors. 
