102 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
exhibition of 1869 was the largest and most complete in all the 
departments, and during the continuance of fair weather,the best 
attended of the sixteen exhibitions hitherto held in Wis. 
consin. 
The last day was a rainy one, however; on which account 
its attendance and receipts were almost nothing, instead of the 
$2,000 reasonably expected. 
The number of entries in the several departments was 1762 ; 
489 of which were in division A., (domestic animals);/585 in 
division B., (products of the earth, the dairy and the house¬ 
hold) ; 637 in division C., (manufactures of every kind and 
works of art); and 51 in division D., (department of personal 
effort). 
The total cash receipts for the year were, $12,711,81 ; of 
expenditures, $12,032,54—the balance being $678,77. 
For a full account of the financial transactions reference is 
made to the report of the treasurer, herewith submitted. 
The attendance of Lieutenant G-eneral Sheridan, with Gen. 
G. A. Forsythe, of his staff, and Maj. Gen. Merritt, U. S. A., 
gave eclat to the occasion, and added to the number of citi¬ 
zens who would otherwise have attended. To these distin¬ 
guished men of arms, as well as to the large number of scarce¬ 
ly less distinguished civilians who served the society in the 
capacity of orators, the managing officers are under great obli¬ 
gations. 
For the speeches of those gentlemen as well as for a detailed 
account of the exhibition generally, including the list of pre¬ 
miums awarded, you are respectfully referred to the accompa¬ 
nying statement entitled “Exhibition of 1869.” 
It is now ten years since the society relinquished its former 
standing appropriation of $3,000. It was the purpose at that 
date, and has been the purpose ever since, not to ask a rein¬ 
statement of that appropriation, or any appropriafion at all, so 
long as the society could carry on its work independent of aid 
from the state. So far it has been remarkably successful ; 
though, with the constantly increasing amount of premiums of- 
