122 
STATE AGRICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 
The first trial was that of “ Babcock’s Fire Extinguisher.” A pile of kero¬ 
sene barrels and other inflammable matter was set on fire, and after it had got 
well going the agent set bis machine to work, and put it out readily. 
Shortly after Mr. J. R. Smith, the agent of the “ U. S. Chemical Fire 
Engine Company” of Chicago, set on fire quite a good sized shanty, with 
ridge roof, which he had put up, with a quantity of inflammable matter 
piled in and around it, and it was soon burning with great fury, attracting a 
great crowd, who were kept at a distance, however, by the intense heat. 
The agent then charged a little garden engine, having an inch pipe, with his 
preparation, and in less than two minutes had the flames subdued and with 
the use of less than forty gallons of water, quickly caused the last vestige of 
fire or smoke to disappear from the badly charred wood. A committee con¬ 
sisting of Prof. Daniells of the University, Prof. Mason of Appleton, D. Wil¬ 
liams and ex-Gov. Dewey, examined the apparatus and inquired into its 
working with much interest. It was claimed that some half dozen pounds of 
the preparation used, (sulphite of coda), costing less than $2, was sufficient 
to extinguish such a flame as just put out: that the small engine used with 
this preparation was equal to any ordinary $2,000 hand engine, and that the 
“Fire King,” a larger kind, w^as equal to any $4,500 steam fire engine. 
The test was eminently satisfactory. 
DR. warder’s horticultural address. 
The farmers of the state, assembled here, and others interested, were last 
evening addressed upon the subject of horticulture, at the assembly cham¬ 
ber, by Dr. John A. Warder, of Cincinnati, a favoritp authority on gardening 
and fruit, and the author of an excellent volume on “Hedges and Ever¬ 
greens,” and other books having a direct or an oblique bearing on rural 
affairs. Dr. Warder has long been a popular feature of western horticultural 
gatherings, and the assembly last evening bore witness to his fame, for, 
after a fatiguing day at the park, the farmers turned out en masse, and the 
chamber was crowded in every part, by an appreciative audience. 
[For address, see Report of State Horticultural Society at the end of this 
volume.] 
ELECTION OF OFFICERS. 
At 7 o’clock, P. M., the annual election of officers took place in the rooms 
of the State Agricultural Society, in the capitol, where the fine collection of 
cereals, minerals, birds, etc,, was examined with much interest. 
[For list of officers see official account on a preceding page.] 
Friday, the last day, treated the fair-goers to dark threatening clouds early 
in the morning and drenching rains during a good part of the day. Never¬ 
theless, the programme was carried through, except that the grand caval¬ 
cade of premium animals on the track—usually a very attractive feature— 
was omitted. 
THE ANNUAL ADDRESSES 
« 
Were several in number and highly interesting in character, as will appear 
from a report of them on subsequent pages, under the general heading 
“ Addresses.” 
