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TRANSACTIONS

OF TIIK

WISCONSIN STATE AGRICIILTlfRAL SOCIETY,

WITH AN ABSTRACT

OF THn

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE SECRETARY.

LIBRARY

VOLUME I.-1851. NEW YORK
BOTANICAL

GARt>eW-

MADISON:
BERIAH BROWN, STATE PRINTER.

1852. '

ADVERTISEMENT.

. The Report of the Transactions of the Wisconsin State Agi'icultural Society
for the Year 1851, together with the Abstract of the Correspondence of the
Secretary for the same time, will, it is beheved, be deemed of interest and
vahie by the Citizens of this State generally.

As the furnishing of the several Papers enclosed has been entirely gratuitous,
and as the Society has received no pecuniary aid from any source aside from
its own members, it is hoped that its eflbrts to advance the great fundamental
interest of the State will be met with that kindness and appreciation which it
so justly demands.

The interest which has been so generally manifested in the labors of the
Society, during its first year of existence, will, it is presumed, induce a careful
examination of the present volume; and should it be found useful, in the
advancement of Agricultural improvement, the wishes of the Executive Com-
mittee will be fully met.

To those gentlemen who have so kindly responded to the calls made upon
them, the thanks of the Society are most cordially tendered.

ALBERT d. INGHAM.

STATE AGRICULTURAL ROOMS,
Madison, January 1852.

CONTENTS

t

1. Formation of Society 5

2. Report of the Executive Committee 11

3. Reports of Committees at Annual Fair 60

4. Annual Meeting 92

5. County Agricultural Societies 101

6. Agricultural Capacity and Condition 122

7. Communications 243

8. Climate of Wisconsin 305

9. Appendix 327

I.

Formation of Society 9

Constitution 1

Election of Officers 10

11.

Report of the Executive Committee 11

Annual Fair 12

Finances 18

Agricultural Library and Museum 18

Agricultural Education 19

VI CONTENTS.

Annual Address 20

Premium Lisl 42

List of Entries for Exhibition 51

III.

Reports of Committees at Annual Fair 60

Cattle — Short Horns — Statement, D. B. Tears 60

Devons, Natives and Crosses 61

"Working Oxen, Milch Cows, Fat Cattle 62

Horses — Stallions and Brood Marcs 62

Descent of Hambletoniau 63

Matched and Draught Horses, Geldings 64

Horse Breeding — Remarks on, by Hon. W. H. Fox 65

Sheep — Long-wooled 67

Middle-wooled, Merinoes, Saxons 68

Statement, N. B. Clapp's 68

Paular Merinoes, Cross Breeds 72

Swine 72

Ploughing Match 73

Farming Implements 74

Ploughs, Premium — Description of 74

Daily 79

Butter — Statement, J. Cory's 79

Cheese — Statement, Samuel A. Thurston's 80

Grains and Honey, Flour and Corn Meal 83

Hominy, Manner of its Preparation 83

Domestic Manufactures, Ornamental Needle Work 85

Fruit 85

Fruits— List of Select - 87

Flowers, Paintings and Printing 88

Stoves, Silver and Gold Ware 89

Miscellaneous and Discretionary Articles 89

Saleratus — Chemical Analyses of 90

Plough-making Machine 91

CONTENTS. . VU

IV.

Annual Meeting 92

Resolution defining expiration of Membership 93

Election of Officers 94

Resolution of Thanks to Albert C. Ingham 94

Report of Secretary 95

Report! of Treasurer 98

V.

County Agricultural Societies, Remarks 101

CoIuinl)ia 102

Dane 102

Iowa 103

Iowa County, Crops of. 106

Kenosha 107

Kenosha, Hon. Samuel R. M'Clellan, Address of. 109

Racine ; 11.5

Rock 115

Sheboygan 116

"Walworth 117

Waukesha 120

Wisconsin Horticultural Society 120

VI.

Agricultural Condition and Capacity, Remarks 122

Geological Formation of Wisconsin 122

Primary District 122

Sandstone District • 123

Limestone District 124

Analyses of Soils 127

Comparison of Soils 128

Agriculture of Brown County 128

Agriculture of Columbia County 133

Agi-iculture of Crawford County 135

Vm . CONTENTS.

Agriculture of Dane County 150

Agriculture of Dane County 158

Agriculture of Dodge County 163

Agriculture of Fond du Lac County 165

Agriculture of Green County 168

Agiiculture of Jefferson County 170

Agriculture of Kenosha County 177

Agriculture of Manitowoc County 180

Agriculture of Outagamie County 184

Agriculture of Racine County 187

Manufactures of Racine County 207

Agriculture of Rock County 210

Agriculture of Sauk County ., 215

Agriculture of Sheboygan County 217

Agriculture of St. Croix County 220

Agriculture of Walworth County 222

Agriculture of Walworth County 230

Agriculture of Washington County 233

Agriculture of Waukesha County 234

Agriculture of Winnebago County 235

VII.

Communications 241

Breaking Prairie 243

Manures 246

Flax Cultirre 252

Flax Culture.. 261

Culture of Tobacco 264

Cattle 267

Butter Making 270

The North West for Fruits and Fruit Trees 277

Gardening 290

Kitchen Garden 294

Agricultural Education. 295

Agriculture of Noithern Illinois 300

CONTENTS. IX

VIII.

Climate of Wisconsin, Remarks 305

Meteoroloffical Observations made at Milwaukee, Year 1851 306

Meteorological Observations made at Beloit, Year 1851 307

Meteorological Observations made at Beloit, Year 1850 311

Meteorological Observations made at Emerald Greve, Year 1851 316

Meteorological Observations made at Emerald Grove, Year 1850 317

Meteorological Observations made at Green Bay, Year 1851 318

Meteorological Observations made at Green Bay, Year 1850 319

Meteorological Observations made at Kenosha, Year 1851 320

Meteorological Observations made at Kenosha, Year 1850 321

Meteorological Observations made at Summit, Year 1851 322

Meteorological Observations made at Aztalan, Year 1851 323

Meteorological Observations made at Green Lake, Years 1850 and 1851 324

IX.

Appendix 325

State Agricultural Society of 1846 327

State Agricultural Society of 1849 330

OFFICERS

OF

THE WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

FOR 1851.

PRESIDENT.
ERASTUS W. DRURY, Fond du Lac.

VICE PRESIDENTS.

HENRY M. BILLINGS, Highland. ROSWELL C. OTIS, Kenosha.

WILLLIM F. TOMPKINS, JanesviUe.

RECORDING SECRETARY.
ALBERT C. INGHAM, Madison.

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.
ROYAL BUCK, Madison.

TREASCHER.
CHAUNCEY ABBOTT, Madison.

ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
HENRY JOHNSON, Kenosha. ADAM E. RAY, Troy.

ANDREW PALMER, JanesviUe. JOHN H. ROUNTREE, PlatteviUe.
TIMOTHY BURNS, La Crosse.

Anxual Meeting. — On the third Wednesday of January in each Year,

LIFE ME3tBERS, BY THE PAYIMENT OF TEN DOLLARS.

MARTIN WEBSTER, Fox Lake.
BENJAMIN FERGUSON, Fox Lake.
ERASTUS W. DRURY, Fond du Lac.
ERASTUS FAIRBANKS, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
LEONARD J. FARWELL, Madison.

I

CONSTITUTION

OF THB

WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ARTICLE L— OF THE XAME AXD STYLE OF THE SOCIETY.

The Style of this Society shall be the "WISCONSIN" STATE AGRICUL-
TURAL SOCIETY." Its objects shall be to promote and improve the condition
of Agriculture, Horticulture, and the Mechanical, Manufacturing, and Household
Arts.

ARTICLE II.— OF THE MEMBERS.

The Society shall con-sist of such Citizens of this, and other States, as shall
signify in -wiiting their wish to become Members, and shall pay on subscribing
not less than one dollar, and annually thereafter one dollar ; and also of Honorary
and Corresponding Members.

The Presidents of County Agricultural Societies, or a delegate from each,
shall ex officio be Members of this Society, The payment of ten dollars, or more,
at one time, shall constitute a Member for life, and shall exempt the donor from
annual contribution.

ARTICLE III.— OF THE OFFICERS.

The Officers of the Society shall consist of a President, three Vice Presidents,
(one to be located in each congressional district), a Recording Secretary, a Cor-
responding Secretary, a Ti-easurer, an Executi\e Committee to consist of the
Officers above named and five additional Members, a majority of whom shall
constitute a quorum, and a General Committee, to consist of one Member from
each county, organized for judicial pui-poses.
2

3

ARTICLE IV.— OF THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS.

The Recording Secretary shall keep tlie Minutes and have charge of the Books
of the Society.

The Corresponding Secretary shall carry on the correspondence with other
Societies, with Individuals, and with the General Committee, in furtherance of
the objects of the Society.

The Treasurer shall keep the funds of the Society, and disburse the same on
the order of the President, or a Vice President, countersigned by the Recording
Secretary, and shall make a report of the receipts and expenditures at the annual
meeting in January.

The Executive Committee shall take charge of, and disti-ibute or preserve all
Seeds, Plants, Books, Models, &c, which may be transmitted to the Society;
and shall have also the charge of all communications designed or calculated for
publication, and so far as they may deem expedient shall collate, arrange, and
publish the same, in such mannei- and form as they shall deem best calculated
to promote the objects of the Society.

The General Committee are charged with the interests of the Society in the
counties in which they shall respectively reside, and will constitute a medium of
communication between the Executive Committee and the remote members of
the Society.

ARTICLE v.— OF MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS,

There shall be an annual meeting of the Society on the third Wednesday of
January in each year, in the Village of Madison, at which time all the Officers
shall be elected by a plnrality of votes, with the exception of the General Com-
mittee, who may be appointed by the Executive Committee, who shall also have
power to fill any vacancies which may occur in the Officers of the Society during
the year.

Extra meetings may be convoked by the Executive Committee. Fifteen
members shall be a cj^uorum for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE VI.— OF THE ANNUAL CATTLE SHOW AND FAIR.

The Society shall hold an Annual Cattle Show and Fair at such time and
place as shall be designated by the Executive Committee wlio shall prepare a
Premium List, appoint View ing Committees, and award the Premiums at the same.
It shall be the duty of all the Officers to attend the Annual Cattle Show and Fair.

3

ARTICLE VII.— OF AMENDMENTS.

This Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members
attending any annual meeting.

STATE AGRICULTURAL ROOMS, |
Madison, Januaiy 22d, 1852, \

I certify that the above and foregoing is a ti'ue and correct copy of the
Constitution of the "Wisconsin State Agricultural Society.

ALBERT C. INGHAM,

Corresponding Secretary.

DONATIONS, 1851.

B. P. Johnson, Esq. Secretary. Transactions of the New York State Agri-
cultural Society from 1842 to 1850 inclusive, 9 volumes.

Joseph N. Saunderson, Esq. Lynn, Mass. Transactions of the Essex County
Agricultural Society for 1850.

TRANSACTIONS.

^

#*

TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-

ORGANIZATION.

PRELIMINARY MEETING.

Pursuant to previous and public notice, the Members of tbe Legislature, and
the Citizens of tbe State of Wisconsin generally, met in the Assembly Hall, at
the Capitol, in the Village of Madison, on the evening of Saturday, March 8th,
A. D. 1851, for the purpose of taking into consideration, the expediency of
forming a State Agricultural Society for the State of Wisconsin.

On motion of Hon. Henry Johnson, of Kenosha, Hon. Wm. F. Tompkins,
of Rock, was called to the Chair ; and on motion of Erastus W. Drury, Esq.
of Fond du Lac, Albert C. Ingham, Esq. of Dane, was appointed Secretary.

The objects of the meeting having been explained by the Chairman, the Hon.
Henry Johnson offered the following Resolution, to wit :

Resolved : That it is expedient to form a State Agriculural Society for
THE State of Wisconsin at the present time.

After a full and free discussion, and the mutual interchange of views on the
part of several gentlemen present, the Resolution was unanimously adopted.

On motion of Hon. Adam E. Ray, of Walworth:

Resolved : That a Committee of seven be appointed by the Chair to report
a Constitution and By-Laws for the permanent goveroment of th« State Agri-

10

cultural Society of the State of Wisconsin ; and that they also present the names
of jjersons suitable to fill the various offices of the said Society.

The Chairman appointed as such Committee, Messrs. Henry Johnson, of
Kenosha; Adam E. Ray, of Walwoi-th; Erastus W. Drury, of Fond du Lac;
Timothy Burns, of La Crosse ; Chauncey Abbott, Abram Ogden, and Royal
Buck, of Dane.

On motion of Erastus W. Drury, Esq., the meeting adjourned to meet at
the same place, on Wednesday, March 12th, 1851, at seven o'clock P.M.

WILLIAM F. TOMPKINS,
Albert C. Ingham, Chaihnail.

Secretary.

Wednesday, March 12th, 1851.

Pursuant to adjom-nment the Meeting was called to order. The Chair being
taken by Hon. William F. Tompkins, Chairman of the last meeting.

The minutes of the last Meeting having been read and approved, Hon. Henry
Johnson, from the Committee previously appointed on that subject, reported the
following Constitution, which being read was taken up, article by article, and
adopted. — (See Constitution page 1.)

The Committee further i-eported the names of individuals suitable to fill the
various Ofiices of the Society, whereupon they were severally unanimously
elected, as follows :

President.
Erastus W. Drury, Esq. of Fond du Lac.

Vice-Presidents.
First Congressional District, Roswell C. Otis, Esq. of Kenosha.
Second « « Hon. Henry M. Billings, of Iowa.

Third « « Hon. William F. Tompkins, of Rock.

Recording Secretary — Albert C. Ingham, Esq. of Dane.
Corresponding Secretary — Royal Buck, Esq. of Dane.
Treasurer — Hon. Chauncey Abbott, of Dane.

Additional Members of the Executive Committee.

Hon. Henry Johnson^ of Kenosha. Hon. Andrew Palmer, of Rock.
Hon. Adam E. Ray, of Walworth. Hon. John H. Rountree, of Grant.
Hoti. Timothy Burns, of La Crosse.

II

Hon. Henry Johnson offered the following Resolutions, vvlucL were unani-
mously adopted, to wit :

Resolved : That the Secretary be authorized to procure the necessary Books
and Stationery for the use of the Secretary and Treasurer ; and ako to procure
the necessary Blank Certificates of Membership for the use of the Society ; and
that he cbaw his Warrant on the Treasurer for the necessary funds to defray the
expense of the same.

Resolved : That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the President
and Secretary, and pubhshed in the several newspapers printed in Madison ; and
that the editors of the various newspapers of this State be requested to copy the
same. The Society then adjourned.

WILLIAM F. TOMPKINS,

Chairman.
Albert C. Ingham,
Secretary.

REPORT •

OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR 1851.

TO THE WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTUKAL SOCIETY:

The Members of the Executive Committee, in returning the trust which
was confided to them at the formation of the Society in the month of March
last, would respectfully Report :

That soon after their appointment, a meeting of the Committee was held at
the Capitol, in the Village of Madison, at which time, after a free and full
interchange of opinion among the members present, it was determined that the
attempt be made to hold the fii-st of the Annual Cattle Shows and Fairs of the
Society without delay. In accordance with this action, the Village of Janesville
was selected as the place, and Wednesday and Thursday, the first and second
days of October, designated as the time for the commencement of this Anniver-
sary. At this time the Society was without any funds whatever, and the result
was, of consequence, looked forward to by the Committee with deep solicitude.

u

At a subsequent meeting of the Committee a Premium List was prepared and
publislied, but there being still no funds the amount to be awarded was not
given. At the same meeting the Executive Committee desiring that some more
successful measui-e should be undertaken than had as yet been adopted to fill
the treasury of the Society, in view of the exigency of the case, directed the
Recording Secretary to visit, so far as the time previous to the Fair would allow,
the various Counties of the State, and endeavor, by all suitable means, to excite
an interest in the objects of the Society and to obtain Members thereto. The
wisdom of this policy was rendered clear and apparent at the late State Fair,
and too much credit cannot be given to the Secretary for the able and efficient
service rendered by him in the discharge of this duty. To him the Society is
mainly indebted for the success, so great and so unexpected, which attended
that Fair.

Durino- its progress, the time of each Member of the Committee was so
engrossed by the multifarious duties devolving upon them, that they were unable
to devote that time and attention to the obsen'ation of the ground that would
be required in order to enable them to present a correct ^•iew of the occasion.
They have therefore adopted the following account prepared by that able and
distinguished friend and co-laborer with the Society, General Rufus King,
of Milwaukee.

WISCONSIN STATE FAIR.— FIRST DAY.

Janesville, October 1st, 1851.

The First State Fair held in Wisconsin commenced here this morning.
The beginning is an auspicious one, and when it is remembered how young our
State is, it reflects great credit upon the enterprize and intelligence of her
Farmers. An area of something over six acres, on the edge of the plateau
which looks down upon the rapid and silvery Rock, and enclosed by a high board
fence, constitutes the Fair ground. Along two sides of the enclosure are pens for
Sheep and Swine, and stands for Cattle. Near the centre is a large and lofty Tent,
for the display of Fruits, Flowers, Fancy Articles, Paintings, Jewelry, &c. Hard
by is a long shed for the exhibition of Agricultural and Mechanical Products.
In the open space between these centre pieces and the Cattle stands on the sides,
there is ample room for the exhibition and trial of all sorts of Agricultural Im-
plements as well as for the display of Single and ]\Iatched Horses.

Such is the general arrangement of the grounds. The filUng-in process
commenced at eight o'clock this morning, and by noon the ground was very well
occupied. Visitors began to flock in about ten, and from that hour until three P. !M.
there was quite a steady rush Fair-wards. I should think that there were five

IS

thousand persons within the enclosure at half-past three P. M., when the crowd
seemed to me to be the largest. The display was such as to surprise many and
delight all.

The first point of attraction, especially for the Ladies, was the Central Tent.
The articles for exliibition there were ranged along the sides, and made a very
handsome show. On the right hand side, as you entered, the first object of
attraction was a case of Frait from Beecher's Nursery, Milwaukee, containing
thirii/ difterent varieties (some very fine) of Apples, and three of Pears. Near
by these, was a case of Jewelry, from A. B. Van Cott, of Racine, xevj rich
and tasteful. Another one adjoining, from S. Gardiner, Jr., of Milwaukee,
contained very handsome samples of his large Stock, and attracted crowds of
admirers. Some samples of Wire SQreeneiy, for Flouring and Fanning Mills,
manufactured by S. S. Daggett, of Milwaukee, of all sizes and excellent quality,
were very much noticed. Around the centre post of the Tent were himg a few
of Stamm and Upmann's best Daguereotypes. They were much admired, as
well for the workmanship, as for the likenesses.

On the left side of the Tent, the display was still finer. Some Paintings of
Flowers and Fruits (one very clever one in paiiicular by Miss Goodrich, of
Milton,) introduced you to a remarkably promising collection of the Flowers and
Fruits themselves. A magnificent Floral Ornament, oval-shaped, with a deep edge
of fir, and a filling-in of Dahlias, Roses, Pinks, and a profusion of other Flowers,
was the object of universal comment and admiration. It came from the Nursery
of Charles Gifford, Spring street, Milwaukee, and found here no competitors.
Mr. S. P. Bee CHER, besides his Fruit, had a very handsome show of Flowers,
tastefully arranged by some fair hands. !Mr. George 0. Tiffany, of Milwaukee,
furnished specimens of Peaches which were unequalled ; and there were Apples
from the Gardens of Mr. Harrison Ludington and Mr. Cyrus Hawley, of
Milwaukee, Mr. William Sacia, of Concord, Jefferson County, and Mr. Geo.
A. Styles, of Beloii, which were greatly admired for their size and color.
A box of Apples, Plums, Grapes, and Pears, from S. M. Perkins, Burlington,
Racine County, are entitled to special mention. They were very beautiful.

Milwaukee showed handsomely in the Printing department. The only articles
furnished for exhibition in this class came from our city, but they were highly
commended on all sides. From the Commercial Office, there was a large and
handsome glass case, containing some fifteen difterent Cards, large and small,
executed in Mr. Rounds' neatest style. The Wisconsin Office sent its Sample
Book, filled with all varieties of Cards — many of them very handsome. Starr's
Job Office was represented by two large Cards, worked in gold on purple ground,
and hung in gilt frames — they were much admired. The Sentinel Office had

14

four large and veiy handsome Cards, in gilt frames with plate glass, and a
number of neat samples of Book, Pamphlet, and odier Printing. Of Book-
binding, and Blank Books, there were two fine samples; one from Charles
AYeed, Madison, and the other from Rood «i; Whittemore, Milwaukee. There
were many other articles in the central Tent worthy of notice which I must pass
by for the present.

In the Mechanical Depai-tment the show was small. The most noticeable articles
were handsome sets of Single and Double Harness, from Geo. Dyer, Milwaukee;
Copper Coffee Urns, with Lamps, fi-om H. K. Egertox & Co., Milwaukee; and
some samples of Hardware, from H. J. Nazro <k Co, Milwaukee. Crane's Patent
Soap, manufactured by E. D. Ladd, of Milwaukee, and found, upon trial, to be
a fii-st-rate article, was the object of much attention from the Ladies. In the
same neighborhood, was a handsome display of Cheese and Butter, small in
quantity, but excellent in quahty. The largest and apparently the finest of the
Cheeses came from the Farm of Samuel A. Thtrstox, Bm-lington, Racine
Count}'.

In the same shed were displayed the Agricultmal products. The show of
these, as yet, is small, but the quality superior. There are samples of Winter
Wheat, raised in this County, which would be hard to beat anywhere, and a
Squash from Dane County weighing two hundred pounds. I saw, too, some
handsome Sweet Potatoes and superb Broom Corn, grown on the fertile soil of
old Rock. A barrel of superfine Family Floui-, from Jackmax »fe Smith's MUls,
Janes\-ille, looks fair to win the premium to-morrow. It is, indisputably, first rate.

But I must hurry on with this hasty sketch. — Within the enclosure, and in
the open field, there is a very fine display of Stock and Agricultm-al Implements.
The show of Cattle, Horees, and Sheep, is particularly fine, jmd has struck all
with agreeable sui*prise.. I saw and admired the famous Paular Merino Bucks of
Mr. E. W, Drurt, President of the Society, which shear from twelve to fomteen
pounds annually, of a wool worth sixty cents per poimd. They are full-blooded
and of an approved stock — some of the very same Bucks ha\'ing sold in Vermont
this year for 8200 and 6300 ! There were othei's almast as fine on the ground
from other parte of the State.

Among the Agricultural Implements, there was contributed a very fine assort-
ment from Thompson Littell's Agiicultural Wai-ehouse in Milwaukee. They
were manufactured by Ruggles, Xourse, Mason A: Co., of Worcester, Mass.

Of the Cattle, I shall have st:)mething to say to-morrow. Janesville is
already filletl to overflowing, and private hospitality is abundantly taxed t'^
provide for the throng of visitoi-s. An addition to the crowd is expe<:ted to-
»norrow.

5

SECOND DAY.

Janesville, October 2d, 1851,
The second day of our Fii-st State Fail- opened delightfully this morning,
agi'eeably disappointing many who, from the soughing wind and gathering clouds
last night, anticipated a rain storm. What rain fell during the night was just
sufficient to lay the dust, and the fresh westerly breeze soon cleared the sky of
every cloud. The meeting of the State Society in the Com-t House last evening,
was fully attended, and the discussions on various mattere of business quite
animated. The Committees, to examine and award the Premiums, were ap-
pointed, and the hour of ten this morning fixed for the commencement of their
labors.

The first event of the day was the Ploughing Match. This came off' in a
level field, a quarter of a mile east of the Fair Grounds. There were ten entries,
two with Oxen, and the rest with Horses. The ground was divided into quarter-
acre sections, and one allotted to each competitor. The start was made at nine
o'clock, and in just twenty-six minutes Mr. J. Milton May, of Janesville, com-
pleted the task, coming out a-head of the lot. It was adjudged, howevei-, that
the best work was done by Alexander & Ainslie, of Rock County, and
the first premium awarded to them ; !Mr. Mav receiving the second. A pair
of working Oxen, owned by Mr. Jackman, of Janesville, excited a good deal of
admiration by the rapid manner in which they got over the ground during the
Ploughing Match.

As soon as this matter was settled, the Viewing Committees went to work to
examine the various entries. In many of the departments, where the entries
were few, the duty was soon discharged ; but in others, where the competitors
were numerous and the merits of the difterent articles exhibited almost equal, the
whole morninof was consumed in the task. From twelve to one the Committees
were busily employed in making out their reports, and after a hurried repast all
flocked to the Fair Grounds to hear the Addi'css of Chancellor Lathrop. This
was dehvered in the Floral Tent, which was crowded to suffocation, and made
but an indifferent speaking-room. In spite of this drawback, and the fiu'ther
disadvantage of an annoying hoarseness, the Chancellor continued to keep his
audience — closely packed, and standing as they were — earnest, attentii'e and
deeply interested, from the commencement to the close of his Address. I will
not attempt any sketch of this admirable discourse, since it is soon to be pub-
lished in full, but will content myself with saying, that if the State Fair produced
nothing else than the Chancellor's Address, it would have amply repaid the
Society and the Farmers of Wisconsin for the time, money, and labor expended
in getting it up.

16

At the close of the Address, the thanks of the Society were cordially voted
to the Chancellor, and then the Reports and Awards of the Examining Com-
mittees were read to the audience. These were very numerous — nearly four
hundred premiums, or diplomas, having been awarded to the different compet-
itors. The full list will be ready for publication in a few days.

With the award of the Premiums the Fair closed, and the crowd soon began
to melt away ; the exhibitors gathering together and packing up their specimens,
and the spectators dispersing to their several homes. Long ere nightfall the
grounds were cleared, and nothing but the Tent, the sheds, and the exterior
fence remained to mark the spot where the first State Fair in Wisconsin had
been held. The number present during the last day is variously estimated at
from seven to ten thousand. Nearly four thousand shilling tickets were sold at
the gates, in addition to about four hundred members' tickets. There were, in
all, four hundred and sixty-one entries, some of them covering thirty or forty
articles ; and this too, though none of the Western Counties had any specimens
on the ground, and the Northern Counties but few. Rock County, of course,
was there in all her strength, and made a fine show, as well of men and women,
as of the products of the Farm and of the Work Shop. Dane County was very
numerously and respectably represented — the delegation, two or three hundred
strong, coming into Janes\ille, in procession, with a fine band of music at their
head, early on the first day. Kexosha, Racine, Walworth, and Milwaukee
also had numerous representatives and many handsome specimens at the Fair.
Waukesha, Jefferson and Dodge were creditably though not largely repre-
sented,

I was very agreeably impressed with the looks and demeanor of the throng
on Thursday. There must have been, in the afternoon, full eight thousand per-
sons within the enclosure ; all orderly', well-behaved, and decently dressed people.
There was not a single intoxicated man in the crowd ; no riotous or disorderly
conduct; no gambling appliances; no liquor booths; no profanity; nothing, in
short, to offend the eye, or mar the general enjoyment. Janesville had put
on * her best bib and tucker' for the interesting occasion. Her citizens vied with
each other in their eftbrts to make their numerous quests comfortable durino-
their sojourn in this garden-spot of Wisconsin. ' The latch-string hung outside'
of every door.* No one had to ask twice for food, or lodging.

This fine town has grown apace, during the three years that have elapsed
since my last visit here, and shows gratifying and unmistakeable evidences of
enterprize, progress and thrift. The beautiful Rock pours a full and steady tide
through the heart of the village, furnishing an abundant and very uniform
water-power. On either hand spreads out the lovely and fertile expanse of Rock

17

Prairie; a region of country which the traveller who sees once will not look
upon the like of again, wander whither he may. Nearly five thousand inhabi-
tants are now fjathered together in and about the town site, and I see nothinar
in the future to prevent Jaxesville from maintaining its proud rank as the
largest, the most prosperous, and the most beautiful of the inland towns of our
State.

I might dwell some time longer upon the beauties of Janesville and its
vicinity — the hospitality of its inhabitants, and the abundant success of our State
Fair — but I have already made a sufinciently long story of it. Let me say, in
conclusion, that the Fair, in. its results, far exceeded the most sanguine expecta-
tions of its projectors, and reflected infinite credit upon the enterprize, the good
taste, the skill and the intelligence of the Farmers, Mechanics, and Working men
of Wisconsin. To the President of the State Society, Mr. E. W. Drury, of
Fond du Lac; the Secretary, Mr. Albert C. Ingham, of Madison; the mem-
bers of the Executive Committee; and especially Judge Tompkins, of Janesville,
the w orkinff -man of that Committee — the thanks of the People and the Press
of Wisconsin are due for their untiring, intelligent, and successful efforts to Qot
up and carry through the Fair. For one, I render my share of these thanks
most heartily, and if the next State Fair shall be held, as I trust it will, at
Milwaukee, I hope to repay some of the many obligations I am under, as well
to these gentlemen, as to some special good friends at Janesville and Madison,

for abundant courtesies and civilities received at their hands.

R. K.

It was indeed a triumph ! Without patronage and without money the Society
was organized. Without members and without aid — feeble, and in its infancy,
the Society held its first Fair. No prestige of success enshrouded it. But the
result has dissipated all fears; and for this result, so auspicious, the Committee
congratulate their fellow meinbers of the Society, and their fellow citizens of the
State.

The delicate duty of deciding upon the merits of the various articles presented
was delegated to several Committees, selected, as far as possible, with reference
to their familiarity with kindred subjects. The awards of Premiums the Com-
mittee ha\'e not thought best to introduce into this Report, as they appear among
the accompanying papers.

The Repoi't of the Treasurer herewith ju'esented shows that the amount paid
out for premiums, and also the expense incurred for diplomas awarded, was $140 ;
a small amount when compared with the wishes of the Committee, but yet a
large one when the condition and circumstances of the Society are considered..
The Society has now, however, reached the position it is believed that will enable
3

18

it ill future years to bestow a much larger amount, as premiuuis, for the reward
of successful industry.

The finances of the Society are in a healthful condition, as will be seen by the
balance of |85 45 now in the treasury. The expenditures of the last year were
only those that were requhed to meet the most urgent and necessitous wants ;
and it is a source of much pleasm-e to the Committee that they have been enabled
to manage the pecuniary afiairs of the Society so economically, and yet so
judiciously.

Throughout the year much embarrassment has been experienced from the
low state of the funds; and in order to provide against such a calamity in future,
it is the united opinion of the Committee, that an attempt shotild, as soon as
possible, be made to secure, either by Legislative gi-ant, or by individual dona-
tion, a permanent fund, the interest of which will be sufficient to meet the
cun-ent expenses and wants of the Society. In other States, legislative aid has
been freely given to similar organizations ; and it is hoped and beheved by the
Committee, that the Legislature of our own State of Wisconsin will not be
backward in extending that aid to the Society which its merits demand, and its
wants require.

Another object that the Committee have had in view, is the formation of an
Agiicultiu-al Library ; but owing to the limited fimds, no great progress has as
yet been made. It is hoped, however, that a good beginning may be made in
this matter during the coming year; and the Committee feel assured, that if the
foundation is only laid, a small sum annually appropriated vriU be sufficient,
when taken with the donations of books that may reasonably be expected, to
give us, in time, a good Library.

Connected with this, is the formation of an Agiicultivral Museum, where
may be stored as weU the primitive instruments of husbandry, as the more
comphcated and scientific implements of the present day. In this way the
instruments which have stood the test of time and experience, may at once be
seen and appreciated ; whUe those that have tmdergone change, will be placed
side by side with the improvements and modifications which have subsequently
taken place. Here, too, we would also deposit approved seeds, samples of pre-
mium wools, specimens of the various raw materials which enter into the manu-
facture of oiu- fabrics, and all articles which relate to the kindred objects of otir
Society. •

In a conference recently had between the Executive Committee and a Com-
mittee of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin, it was mutually
determined that an attempt be made, at once, to prociu-e the establishment and

19

organization of an Agricultural Department in oiu' State University. The im-
portance of this step being speedily undertaken is obvious, without doubt, to all ;
and it should therefore receive that attention on the part of the Society which it,
in the opinion of the Committee, demands.

The Committee cannot close then* Report without tendering their thanks to
those who have so kindly aided them in their laboi-s during the past year, and
especially would they express their obligations to Albert C. Ingham, Esq., the
Secretary and Managing Officer of the past year. Upon him the great burden
of the Society has been thrown, and nobly has he sustained it. In conclusion,
the Committee again cougi-atulate the Society upon the success which has
attended the labors of the past yeai'. So unexpected, and yet so far beyond the
hopes of the most sanguine, has been the progress of the Society, that the
Committee feel amply repaid for the labor expended in its behalf. The Society
has now taken root, and is in a vigorous state. It has already taken high rank, and
with proper direction it may soon assume that position which the cause in which
it is engaged so desen'edly demands ; and from a feeble plant it will soon be-
come the sturdy oak, extending its branches far and wide — a pride — a glory —
and a blessing to our own Wisconsin. That this may be its fate ; and that its
course may be continually onward is the united wish of the Committee.

On behalf of the Executive Committee, respectfully submitted.

HENRY M. BILLINGS,
Madison, January 21st, 1852. Vice-President.

ENTRIES AT JANES\T:LLE.

CATTLE 52

HORSES - 68

SHEEP 120

SWINE .,. 20

FARMING IMPLEMENTS 43

DAIRY 7

FLOUR AND CORN MEAL 4

DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES 14

ORNAMENTAL NEEDLE "WORK 23

FRUITS - 40

FLOWERS .' 12

MISCELLANEOUS 58

461

20

ANNUAL ADDRESS.

The Society was called to order at Three o'Clock, P. M., of the second day of
the Fair, under the spacious Tent of the Society, by Erastus W. Drury, Esq.
Pi-esident ; and after the peifonnance of an appropriate piece of Music, by the
Bands in attendance, the President, in a few appropriate remarks, introduced the
Hon. John H. Lathrop to the audience.

ADDRESS BY JOHN H. LATHROP, LL.D.

CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN.

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the State Agricultural Society :

The extreme division of labor and of employments, concerned in
the production of material wealth, by I'eason of which a greatly multiplied popu-
lation is sustained at a far more elevated standard of enjoyment and of cultm-e,.
both of body and of mind, is the distinction of modern civilization.

Indeed, all civilization implies a departure from the personal isolation and
independence of the purely savage state — it imphes social arrangement and clas-
sification, fitted more or less discreetly to the production of proposed social
ends ; be those ends political or economical — and the character as well as the
permanence of the system, depends, ultimately and properly, on the adaptation
of its arrangements to the real and permanent wants of men — on the wisdom
of its means, and the benevolence of its ends.

In most of the ancient forms of ci\-ilization, the artificial aiTangements of
society were for the benefit of a governing body, who wielded the civil powei-
and directed the military arm of the state ; while the labor which sustained the
whole, was fixed in its position at the base of the social pyramid, by the heredi-
tary disabilities of caste ; or under the more crushing weight of territorial serfdom,
or of domestic servitude.

Under social conditions like these, w^liich divorced the intellect of the State
from its productive arm, there is no ground for surj^rise at the brilliant results
wrought out by the governing mind, in an Egyptian, a Greek, or a Roman
civilization.

We might expect to see, as we do see, the fine arts approximating towards
the ]ierfect ideal of the beautiful and the gi-and — the breathing marble, the
rnlumn with its lofty capital, surmounted by the dome and the arch.

L>1

It is not strange that the free intellect of the happily born should have luxu-
riated in the attractive lield of the liberal sciences, guiltless of any intended
bearings on the useful or the practical; that geometry and astronomy had
their votaries; that music, statuary and painting had their triumphs; that a
literature should have sprung into being, recording the utterings of the genius
of history; the inspirations of the poetic muse; and the profounder, though
scarcely less imaginative speculations, of a metaphysical philosophy.

It is not strange that eloquence should have poured its full tide from the
Bema and the Rostrum — or that " the pride, the pomp and circumstance of glo-
rious war," should have fired many a gifted mind with the strange ambition, to
swell the catalogue of those who have lived only to desolate and to destroy.

But while the liberal arts were thus expanding into being through the irre-
pressible energy of the free and the governing mind, unencumbered, as it was,
by the burden of productive toil ; the Useful Arts, inspired by no such living
energy, abandoned to the practice of those whose adequate qualification was
deemed to be the strong ann, the bowed and submissive spirit, and the mifur-
nished head, were destined to no corresponding development.

Roman history hands down to us, indeed, one Cincinnatus, who soiled his
patrician fingers with the touch of the plough — but, though careful to record
his military glories, fails to inform us that Agriculture was at all benefited by
the contact. In the light of the present age, I am afraid we must set down the
fabled Triptolemus as a very poor farmer; the Cyclops as indift'erent black-
smiths ; and even D.-edalus himself, not very much of a mechanic.

Under such conditions of the social system, political and economical, was
constructed that high wall and deep ditch, which for long centuries of duration,
and through various phases of society, continued to separate, broadly and invi-
diously, the Liberal from the Useful Aits — and I need not *add that the traces
of this discrimination are not yet obliterated. There lingers in our midst even
yet, such a thing as professional pride ; as traditional disdain of the industrial
avocations — the tattered remains of that robe of disparagement, which once
shrouded the manly form, and embarrassed the strong arm of brown industry.

But it is the glory of modem civilization, that its tendency is to exalt every
social valley; to bring down from its pride of elevation, every mountain of pri-
vilege; to demolish every wall of partition between the Liberal and Useful Arts;
to shed the light of Science on the industrial processes, and to bring all the
honest avocations of men, productive of social and individual good, into harmo-
nious and eflicient action. It proposes, ultimately and forever, to do away with
every social distinction dependent on birth, class, or employment — and while it
will multiply incalculably the aggregate amount of good wrought out by the
improved mechanism of human society, it propo-ses to throw the good thua

20

elaborated opon to equal and Jionorablo comjjetition ; and to make the Bhare
eacli may vindicate to himself to depend, not as under the older forms of
civilization, on the biilh, rank, or calling of the individual, but on his personal
character, and personal merit — on his precise individual value in the social
system.

In order to fix the destined position, the vahie, and the duties of the Agricul-
turist, in the economy of society, it will be needful to glance at the interior
mechanism of modern civilization.

" In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread," is the Scriptural annun-
ciation of the great law of humanity, that Labor is necessary to the acquisition
and enjoyment of physical, intellectual, or moral good.

The resulting good, however, depends on the degree of wisdom with which
human industry is directed.

The earth is capable of sustaining but a sparse population, and that at a
low standard of physical comfort, as well as of intellectual and moral culture ;
where the labor of each individual is directed to the supply of precisely those
articles, and those only, which meet his own wants.

In the aspects of modern civilization, on the other hand, as has been already
hinted, nothing is more characteristic than the very dense population which the
earth is able to sustain, at a vastly more exalted standard of physical comfort,
and a still higher standard of intellectual and moral cultivation ; and nothing is
more essential to the introduction of those invaluable results, than that division
OF LABOR AND OF EMPLOYMENTS, wliich WO obscrvc to obtain in all civilized com-
munities, with a minuteness and distinctness, corresponding exactly with the
type and the degree of the civilization which there prevails.

In the production of material wealth, in its thousand departments. Agricul-
tural and Manufacturing, by confining skilled labor to its habitual and well-
known processes, the aggregate product of human industry destined to the
supply of human wants, is increased beyond calculation,, and time is saved, and
means furnished to the indi^•idual, for the purposes of intellectual, moral, and
social improvement.

But, again; tlie division of employments in the variuus departments of the
Agricultual and Mechanic Arts, begets the necessity of exchange — and if each
producer were bound to effect his own exchanges, at home and abroad, a large
portion of his time and means would be consumed, and a large amount be
thus subti'acted from the aggregate production of the community.

By separating, then, the business of exchanges from the business of production
— ^by setting up the class of mei'chants — the producer is no longer withdrawn
from the creation of values — ^the increase in the aggregate production of the
community pays, in the shape of commercial profits, for the skilled labor of

0'\

the mercantile profession — Iea\ing a balance iu tlie hands of j^roducers far
exceeding their whole production, pro^■ided they turn aside to act the merchant
for themselves — the physical wants of all are better supplied, and time and means
are furnished for an advanced stage of intellectual and moral cultiwation.

But our economical analysis of society may be carried still further. In order
to the greatest aggregate production of physical values, the health of the pro-
ducing and the exchanging classes, including all ages and conditions, nmst be
provided for, and thus a demand is created for skilled labor in the healing art.
But if each individual were bound to acquire this skill for himself, and to seek
out and compound his own simples, production must be suspended the while;
the skill comes too late ; the race is <:lying out, not only of disease, but of star-
vation. It is sound economy, therefore, to sustain a medical j^rofession, as a
distinct and independent employment — for the consequent enlargement of the
aggregate wealth of the community, will pay the charges of the profession ;
lea\ing the producer with ampler means, and sounder health, and unbroken
time, to provide, not only for the gratification of his physical wants, but also
for the more exalted purposes of his being.

But, again ; it is essential to the progress of a community in physical w^ealth,
and other forms of social Avell being, that the rights of men in the civil state,
should be ascertained, declared, defended, and vindicated ; and the call for skilled
labor in this department must be met, or the law of the strongest will prevail ;
\'iolence will take the place of social order, and civilization is at an end.

Shall this call for skilled labor in the law, be met by each producer for
himself? Or is it sound economy that he should meet it by Attorney? That a
profession of those learned in the law should be sustained, to do that service
which the individual cannot do for himself without ruinous neglect of the pro-
cesses of pi-oduction and exchange ? Civilization and economy return their united
answer, that the Bar must be sustained as a distinct and independent profession.

Again ; that righteousness exalteth a nation, is the scriptural annunciation of
the general principle, that the sentiments of reciprocity and benevolence, per-
vading the common mind, constitute the broad and deep foimdation on which
reposes the structure of civil society. The sentiment of justice, pervading the
common mind, gives to beneficent legislation its vitality and its strength : it lies
at the foundation of the right of property : without it, production and accumu-
lation ai'e at an end, and civilization is but an empty name.

How divinely then is the pulpit adapted to imbue the common mind with
that righteousness which exalteth a nation. It inculcates a perfect rule of life, the
fountain of all just legislation ; and what is vastly more important, it enforces
that rule, not like the human legislator, by sanctions drawn from this present life
only, but by those which respect our immortal being, our relations to God, the

24

Judge of all, and to the community of spiritual intelligences throughout eternal
ages — the sanctions, namely, of the Christian faith, without which, as the expe-
rience of man in all ages has shown, the best constituted and most perfectly
balanced social structures have tended uniformly to decay and dissolution.

These ministrations of the pulpit require skilled labor. Sound policy and
sound economy therefoi-e demand that these ministrations be committed to the
clergy, as a distinct and independent profession. Give thyself wholly to these
things, is the apostolic injunction.

Such is a very brief analysis of the economy of civilized society, as we now
see it.

The producing classes, throughout the various subdivisions of the agricultural
and mechanic arts, create all the values destined to the supply of the physical
wants, and to the gratification of the tastes of the whole community.

The mercantile classes produce nothing ; but by transfer and exchange make
such a disposition of existing products, as to benefit producers, to enlarge the
volume of production, and minister to the well being of all.

The professions, strictly so called, terminate their industrial processes, not on
physical products, but on those conditions of society, which give to producing
and exchanging agents the power and the disposition to contribute in the highest
degree to the general good, and to their own profit, through the more efficient
and beneficial action of the various industrial agencies. The results of jjrofessional
labor, are the health, the order, and the morality of the community.

But there is another element in modern civilization, which our analysis has
not yet reached, whose office it is to qualify, and mould and fashion all the
rest — I mean the great work of free and universal education.

The agency of the educator terminates not on 23hysical j^roducts, nor yet
directly on social conditions, but on the man himself. His raw material is the
young mind, the unformed intellect of the community. His resulting product
is the finished man, prepared by varied knowledge and intellectual discipline, to
act well his part, as an agriculturist, as an artizan, as a merchant, as a physician,
as a lawyer, as a divine; to be useful in the varied relations of private life; useful
in the civil state, and in those more exalted relations, which (.'oneein him as a
member of the human family, and a subject of the universal empire of God.

It is quite obvious, then, that the educator, whether of the school or the press,
stands at the point of power, and applies the moving force to the mechanism of
human society. For the successful action of this mechanism, intelligence is ne-
cessary at every point — on the farm, in the manufjxctory, in the counting-house,
in the practice of the healing art, at the bar, and in the sacred desk.

There is not a single employment, within the scope of our economical analysis
of society, whose results would not be rendered, by an increase of intelligence.

25

more beneficial to the community, and more honorable and profitable to the
industrial agents concerned in it. Reason teaches us, that the communities which
are the better educated at every point, must be the more wealthy, the more
powerful, as well as the more respectable.

The experience of the civilized world abundantly verifies this conclusion. "We
see that the more intelligent the industrial agents, the more ample and valuable
the resulting production, throughout the whole economy of society.

The way is now prepared, to state with more distinctness, the nature, position,
and ofEce-work of Agriculture in the social economy.

In the beginning, man was alone with Nature. Without arts, without capital,
without implements, he took his sustenance from the bosom of the earth, as the-
common mother of the race.

Agriculture, in the most restricted signification of the term, implies a departure
from this condition. Man was sent into the world with a commission, not merely
to share with his fellow animals, the sj^ontaneous productions of nature, but with
a charge to search out the physical elements, to determine their capabilities — to
make the needful combinations — to bring into action their productive powers, not
only to supply the animal wants, and minister to the pleasures of his organic
nature, but to render them tributary to his intellectual, moral, and social develop-
ment, and his ultimate spiritual elevation and well being.

In the discharg-e of this great commission, every avocation of man has its work
to perform. It is the province of Agriculture to begin the process, by the tilling
of the ground, as the term imports — by stimulating and guiding the productive
energies of the physical elements to results infinitely transcending, in quantity
and quality, the yield of these same elements, unaided by human agency.

The gross results of Agriculture constitute, what, in the language of economy,
is denominated rav) material; and they are so called, precisely because, with
almost the single exception of fmits and green vegetables, material products do
not come from the hands of the agriculturist, prepared for human use. They are
gross and incomplete, the proper material which the Arts are to take, and to
mould, and fashion into forms of utihty and beauty, adapted in the finished state,
to the satisfaction of the physical wants, and the gratification of the tastes of
men.

In the three great classes of our physical wants, food, clothing and shelter, few
indeed are the commodities which come from the hands of the Agriculturist,
ready for the consumer I

Men want not wheat, but bread — therefore the crop, as raw material, must
be subjected to the manufacturing processes of the miller and the baker.

Men want not wool, but clothes — therefore the fleece must undergo successive
changes, in the hands of the carder, the spinnor, the weaver, tho fuller, and tha

26

dyer, before it reappears in tliu form of cloth. And what does the cloth avail,
till the tailor, witli his divine art, finishes — tlie man.

So men want not timber or stone, but houses, baras, ships, temples of educa-
tion, and temples of religion ; and here, again, the yield of the Agriculturist
must be subjected to the almost numberless manufacturing processes, of masonry
and architecture.

It is obvious to remark, tlierefore, that it is the distinction of Agriculture, tbat
it furnishes the material for all the manufacturing and exchanging processes —
that there is nothing in the hands of the Artizan, or the Merchant, that has not
been in the hands of the Farmer. Agriculture thus hes at the foundation of the
economical structure of society.

But it is entirely proper here, to submit the caution, that too much of rela-
tive dignity and importance must not be assumed to Agriculture, in consequence
of this distinction. To him who enjoys the final product, the initial, the medial,
and the finishing processes, are all equally important.

It is true, that without the raw material furnished by the Agriculturist, the
occupation of the Artizan, and the Merchant, is gone forever. But without the
processes of art and of exchange, without the Merchant and the Artizan, what
would be the value of the raw material? Would it be produced at all ? It Ls
tme, that the structure cannot stand without the foundation. But what is the
value of the foundation, if no superstructure is to be erected upon it? Would
the foundation be laid at all ?

It is no disparagement to Agriculture, that it cannot say to Manufacture, I
have no need of thee. It is no disparagement to both, that they cannot say to
Commerce, We have no need of thee. Neither is it any disparagement of these
thi-ee great industrial interests of societj-, that they cannot say to the Professions,
We have no need of you. Nor yet, does it disparage all these — aye, it ennobles
them all — that they cannot say to Education, We have no need of thee.

Tlic truth is, we are members, one of another, with mutual uses and depend-
encies. As in the natural body, so there is a divine harmony running through
the whole structure of the body economical. One member cannot sufter without
all the other members sufter with it.

But to elaborate this thought more thoroughly and minutely:

I. Agriculture is interested in the prosperity and improvement of the manu-
facturing interest, throughout the whole circle of the Useful Arts :

In the first place, manufacture takes the raw material of Agriculture, and
Agriculture takes in return the perfected product of manufactiu-e. A commercial
process may intervene : but the essence of the whole transaction between Agri-
culture and Manufacture is, Avhen completed, a barter of the products of the one
for the products of the othei\ The existence of the Arts, creates a demand for

the products of the farm. Were all men agriculturists, the market would dis-
appear, and the surplus of the farmer would lose its exchangeable value. As
the number and the prosperity of those interested in the manufacturing and
meclianic arts increases, the demand, enlarges, and remunerating prices of Agri-
cultural products reward the industry and skill of the farmer.

But not only does the firmer thus secure the advantage of an inteuser demand
f )r his own surplus, hut the prosperity of the Arts is attended with new applica-
tions of Science, the introduction of new machinery, the more minute and
methodical division of labor, and a greatly increased facility and skill in the
executive processes. All this works a saving in the cost of production, and a
diminution of the price of the manufactured article to the Agricultural consumer.
The prosperity of the Arts, therefore, works a double advantage to the farmer,
in the intenser demand for his o-\vn surplus, and a greatly enlarged reward in the
shape of finished products, which he is able to command in return for it — in the
enhanced value of the raw material on the one hand, and the reduced price of
the perfected article on the other.

But again, the progress of discovery and improvement in the Arts, and the
increased demand for raw matei-ial, is sure to regenerate Agriculture itself, by
prompting to a broader and deeper cultivation, by the introduction of new
articles of produce ; by stimulating to the adoption of more approved processes,
and to new combinations of the physical elements — to a more judicious division
and methodical arrangement of the dilierent departments of field labor, to
greater facility and skill in all the executive operations, and finaUy to the habitual
improvement of Agricultural implements, from the most simple to the most com-
plicated, until the farm comes to vie with the shop itself, in the number of its
inventions, and the perfection and productive power of its mechanism.

It is in perfect accordance with these views, that England, transcending all
other nations in the variety and perfection of her Arts, is uni'ivalled in her
Agriculture. It is an equally apt illustration of the truth of our doctrine, that
Poland, an annual exporter of grain, but without arts, is the poorest country in
Europe.

In the early settlement of wild tracts of the earth's surface, by the aggressive
march of civilization. Agriculture is not only the dominant interest, but from the
nature of the case, it may be said to be almost the only interest.

In such conditions, it has not unfrequently happened, that the Agricultural
habit and sentiment have been so exclusively and intensely cherished, as to
amount to a sort of economical bigotry, scarcely tolerant of the introduction of
a disturbing social element, in the form of Manufactures and the Arts. Some
of the planting States of this Union have hugged themselves into poverty, while
sneering at th<j " lords of the power loom and the spinning jenny."

28

Georgia, the banner State of the South, is nobly redeeming herself from the
thraldom of this sentiment. The loom and the spindle have already brought
her into honorable competition with the industrial agencies of tlie North, and
are awakening her Agriculture to an energy and a thrift, which follow only
in the train of Art.

Let me say, then, to the farmers of Wisconsin, whose voice is potential in the
councils of the State, that they can confer no greater boon on Agriculture, than
to invite the Arts in all their variety, to come and make their permanent abode
in our midst. By a system of liberal, just, and wise legislation, affording facilities
for permanent investment, closing the avenues to fraud, and enforcing rigidly the
performance of contracts, manufacturing capital will be induced to break away
from its moorings abroad, and come and cast anchor, without distrust, upon our
shores.

Agriculture could do nothing more suicidal, nothing more calculated to retard
the growth and maturity of Wisconsin, than to countenance that naiTow pohcy
which would deny to capital, on our own ground, that facility of combination
and that permanence of arrangement, which long experience, elsewhere, has
demonstrated to be needful to the full and profitable development of the useful
Arts.

II. The proposition next in order, in the discussion of this part of the subject,
is, that Agriculture, in common with the Arts, is interested in the prosperity of
Commerce.

It is a fact easily apprehended, that all the items of physical wealth, that is,
all produced values, are the results of Agricultural and Manufacturing agency.
Agriculture and Manufacture cover, the whole ground of the production of
values.

But the extreme division of labor and of employments, the secret of the
stupendous production of modern times, begets the necessity of an extended
system of exchanges, for the mutual benefit of the producers; and owing to the
different and sometimes distant localities of production, transjoortaiion for the
most part precedes exchange.

To effect this transportation and exchange — to take commodities from the
hands of the producer, and place them in the hands of the consumer — is the
precise ofiice work of Commerce. Of the whole produced value of Agriculture
and Manufacture, Commerce then, must take to itself that share which is, on
an average, a fair remuneration for this service; leaving in the hands of pro-
ducers a balance far exceeding in amount and value their whole production,
pro^^ded the producers were obliged to effect transportation and exchanges for
themselves.

But, although on the principle of the division of labor and of employments.

29

the setting up of the mercantile class, thus re-acts upon productiou, enlarging
its volume, and enriching the producers themselves ; still, it is an ultimate and
fixed fact, which ought to be distinctly undei-stood, that Commerce is a charge on
Agriculture and Manufacture — that the whole cost of the commercial machinery,
must withch-aw just so much of the gross value produced, from the hands of the
producer.

If the commercial processes be clumsily and expensively performed, the pro-
ducer suffers; he retains less of his value produced, and is so far forth less
prosperous.

If the commercial processes be skilfully, expeditiously, and cheaply performed,
the producer has the benefit of it; he retains more of his values produced, and
is so far forth more prosperous.

The manifest inference is, that the fanner is interested in every improvements
of the commercial processes, which will diminish the expenses of transportation
and exchange — as truly so as he is in those improvements in manufacture which
diminish the cost of production.

The improvements in ocean navigation, costly as the steamship is, by cheap-
ening freights, are enriching producers on both sides of the Atlantic.

The immense array of steamboats which float upon our inland waters, as a
part of the machinery of our internal trade, with their frequent loss, and destruc-
tion of property, would seem to constitute an enormous charge upon the indus-
trial interests of the country.

But to banish steam from our lakes and rivers, and to return to the raft and
flat boat, and other foi-ms of the time consuming, and labor consuming naviga-
tion of the last half century, w^ould be to impoverish and desolate the interior —
for the simple reason that the enormous amount of our present lake and river
trade, far transcending our foreign commerce, could not be carried by a craft like
that of the past generation, without a tenfold expenditure of time, labor and
money — and at whose charge ? At the charge of the producer.

If the produce of the farmer should go forward to market, the compensation
of the commercial agency would absorb the whole value, leaving no balance for
the producer. If the manufactured commodities necessary to meet the wants of
ci\ilized men, w^ere brought into the interior from the commercial mart, they
would come to the cultivator of the ground at a price which would place them
essentially beyond his reach.

It is obvious enough, that under such conditions, production and trade would
fall together, and a greatly reduced standard gf enjoyment and civilization would
prevail throughout a sparsely populated interior.

Without the steamboat, what would have been the condition of the great basin
of the St. Lawrence, and of the great valley of the Mississippi, on this very day ?

30

Well assured am I, that the last track of the moccasin would not liave disajipeared
from the ground Avhere we are now standing, surrounded by the emblems and
the garniture of civilization.

Again; canals and railroads, constitute now, a great part of the commercial
machinery of modern ci\ilization, transporting a large and annually increasing
portion of the travel and the merchandize of the whole country.

When we contemplate the vast extent of this net-work of internal improve-
ment, the stupendous expense of the construction, and the corresponding outlay
for the motive power, for the boat and car; and the more especially, when we
sum up into one great aggregate, the annual receipts of the system, of which
aggregate the Eiie canal alone furnishes a yearly item of more than $3,000,000,
well may we wonder at the miracle, that the shoulders of Agriculture and Manu-
facture are broad enough to sustain, uncrushed and unbent, the whole burden of
the charge.

And yet they do sustain it. Not a dollar of freight goes into the treasury of
these improvements, which is not taken from the produced values of those who
are ultimately the mutual parties interested in the exchange, and in the consump-
tion of the commodities transported. The gross values of the producer are
diminished, aye, tcaed^ if you please, to this amount — and the farmer pa}'s his
portion of the tax. But is he oppressed by it ?

If the farmer of Western New York thinks so, let him by all means eschew
the canal and the rail road — ^lie is under no .compulsion to use them — let him
call up from an unbroken slumber of a quarter of a century, the teaming gear
of his older brother ; let him haul his Agricultural surplus to the good old Albany
of his brother's recollection, and his domestic stores back again to his home ; and
let him, on the next rainy day, sit down and reckon up his savings. How Avill
his tax account stand then ? Why, gentlemen, the penny wisdom and pound folly
of such a farmer, would be the scoff and the jeer of his neighborhood.

And what shall we say of the economy and thrift of a State, which, by
constitutional provisions incapacitates itself fromi fostering, encouraging, and
aiding works of the most manifest utility, and of the very greatest importance to
the prosperity of the farmer — and by its jurisprudence and general course of
policy, so relaxes the obligation of contracts, as to render foreign capital too
distrustful of individual and company securities, to answer the loud call of the
suftering producers, " come over and help us."

The permanent economical benefit of the canal and the railroad to the farmer,
is three fold: — 1. In consequence of the reduction of freight, his produce is
worth more on his farm. — 2. The merchandize which he needs costs less at his
own door, for the same reason. — And 3. Because the commercial agency thus
takes away a smaller portion of his produced values, leaving a larger balance in

31

his liaiulr*, he in aft'ectecl preciselj as if his land had become more productive ;
therefore his real estate rises in value.

The importance of this last item of advantage may be illustrated by a single
case. The Erie canal cost originally $10,000,000, A rise of two dollars per
acre, throughout a border of both banks of the canal, thirteen miles wide, would
cover the whole cost of construction ! — and whei'e is the acre of feasible land
within those limits, which is not worth, to-day, five, ten, fifteen, perhaps twenty
dollars more, than if the work were undone ?

Perhaps you will say, if this be so, the farmers of New York could have
afforded to constmct the canal themselves. — And so they might. But had they
the needful information ? Had they the unanimity, the confidence, the courage,
the capital, or the credit to command the capital ? Could any voluntary company
have been formed, with the adequate courage, and capital and credit, to grapple
successfully with the gigantic difficulties of the work ?

No, Gentlemen, — had not the energies — the capital — and the credit of the
State, been enlisted and conseci-ated, in trembling hope, to the accomplishment
of the then unparalleled enterprise, it would have remained probably unattempted,
certainly unaccomplished, down to the present day.

And it was the genius of Clinton, that inspired this trembling hope — that
nursed it into firm resolve — that bore aloft that firm resolve, high above the
opposition of the trading politician, the scofi" of the blasphemer, and the ridicule
of the sceptic, to a magnificent and triumphant completion. While thus engraving
his own memorial, in a long line of gloiy, on the soil of his native state, he was
making his )nark on the age. The power of his great example was felt thi-ough-
out the length and breadth of the land. The din of improvement, in its progress,
has been extending from State to State, awakening Agriculture to a new life and
a new thrift, till there is scarce a hiU top in our country, whose horizon does not
bear some testimony to the beneficence of the far reaching policy of Clinton, and
whose weary industry has not been cheered and refreshed by the shadow of his
great name."

But who will say that the Erie and Champlain canals were more important to
the trade of New York and the great basin of the St. Lawi-ence in 1816, than
the Milwaukee & Mississippi, and the Rock River Railroads are, at this moment,
to the trade of Wisconsin, and of the vallies of the Upper Mississippi, the Upper
Missouri, and the Red River of the North.

And who will say that what was wisdom in New York then, would be folly
in Wisconsin now ? Where, then, is the Clinton of Wisconsin ? And do the bar-
riers of your constitution send back a cheerless echo to the voice of your inquiry ?

Farmers of Wisconsin! you cannot afford to let these gi'eat entei-prises
languish and die. If private credit cannot seasonably build the roads, public

33

■credit cau. Your potential voice makes the laws ; it makes constitutions — aye,
and unmakes them too. I do not say that you can find a Clinton — such a man
is God's benison on an age, — but you have the roads. Where there is an iron
WILL, there is an iRoisr way !

But again ; Agriculture is not only interested in the reduction of the cost of
the transportation of commodities, but is equally so in cheapening that other
operation of commerce denoted by the term exchange.

The most obvious mode of eftecting exchanges is, of course, by the direct
barter of the one commodity for the other. But one difficulty in the way of
barter as a system of exchanges is, that commodities or products, are not mutually
and universally receivable.

For example, the shoemaker wants a coat, but the tailor does not want shoes.
Pei'haps the shoes may be bartered for hats, but the tailor does not want hats. —
Perhaps the shoes may be bartered for coi-n, but the tailor does not want corn.
And thei'e is no predicting the number of exchanges, and the waste of time
necessary to enable the shoemaker to find some commodity which he can barter
for the coat.

The difficulty hes in bringing together parties who will be mutually benefitted
by the barter. And this difficulty becomes aggravated by every step of advance-
ment in the division of labor and of employments.

Barter, then, is obviously compatible, only with a low state of civilization, and
the necessity is early suggested, of providing some commodity which shall be
universally receivable, which the producer may obtain, directly, for his surplus,
and with which he may obtain, directly, the commodity which he needs; and
thus enable him to remedy the difficulty in question and diminish the expense of
barter. Such a commodity is money — it is universally receivable.

There is another difficulty, with respect to barter, which requires to be stated,
in this connexion ; that, namely, of adjusting to each other the values to be
exchanged. The fai-mer, for example, takes his horse to market, desirous of
receiving in return various articles of smaller value, in the hands of different
individuals. As the horse cannot, from the nature of the case, be bartered, a
part here, and a part there, the series of transactions is altogether impracticable.

The commodity money, then, in order to do away with the inconveniences
and the impossibilities of barter, must, in addition to the fact of being univer-
sally receivable, be capable of division and subdivision, so as to adjust it to all
possible values.

Gold and Silver coin embodying these two qualities of uni\"ersa] receivability,
and divisibility at will, has been adopted, by common consent, and the action of
civil governments, as the money of the commercial woi'ld ; and is as distinctly a
part of the machinery of commerce, as is the railroad or the steamboat.

33

It is tlie office of the railroad, to facilitate and cheapen transportation, and this
constitutes its whole value as a railroad ; so it is the office of coined money to
facilitate and cheapen exchanges, and this constitutes its whole value as money.
Were barter entirely convenient and economical, money would have no office
to perform — no necessity would have suggested its creation — its presence in
the business of the world be without meaning — it would never have been
thought of.

But when we consider that the exchanges of this country require a currency
of some $300,000,000, and that the annual charge for this expensive commercial
agent is the yearly interest of this sura, with the addition of the annual cost of
the coinage, the loss by wear, by shipwreck and otherwise, well may it be asked
again, are the shoulders of Agriculture and Manufacture broad enough to sustain
the burden of this charge.

The answer is at hand : they certainly do sustain it — and that, with incalculable
advantage and profit to thfe producer. For the simple reason that money, although
itself an expensive agent, so facilitates and cheapens exchanges, as to relieve agri-
culture and manufacture from the far greater cost of making those same exchanges
through the time consuming and labor consuming processes of baiter.

The cost of the medium is, if you please, a tax on the producers of value, and
the farmer pays his portion of the tax — but he finds a manifold compensation, in
the relief from the incalculably greater tax, which the system of barter would
entail upon him.

Enough has now been said on the part that money plays in the phenomena of
commercial exchanges, to, prepare the Avay for the pi'oper understanding the
assertion, that the farmers of Wisconsin, as well as the farmers every where, are
deeply interested in setting up and maintaining that form of the circulating
medium which will work the greatest reduction of the cost of the whole com-
mercial machinery, and all the operations of trade.

Metallic money facilitates exchanges, obviates the inconveniences of barter,
and cheapens the commercial processes; it is sound economy therefore, for
producers to introduce and maintain a large and costly volume of metallic
money.

If a currency of representative values will facilitate exchanges in a still higlier
degree, will obviate the inconveniences of metallic money, and cheapen still
further the commercial processes, it will be equally good economy for producers
to set up, for the uses of commerce, a currency of representative values, with ali
the safeguards suggested by the experience of the past.

And this brings us to the precise question to be submitted, at the coming
election, to the people of Wisconsin — a question, of no trifling interest to the
farmers of the State.

34

If it be true, that the merchant can serve you more economically with a currency
of representative values, than with the agency of metallic money, then, if you
compel the merchant to use the latter, he must indemnify himself by paying
less for your produce, and charging more for the merchandize he sells you. If
you allow him the use of the former, he will be able to pay you more for your
produce, and Avill charge less for merchandize.

If this be so, the policy that would send you back from a currency of conver-
tible paper, to a pure metallic circulation, would send you back from the railroad
to the turnpike, and from the steamboat to the sloop, or the flat boat. Do you
say that the paper currency has its i-isks and its losses? — so has the steam-
boat.

The inquiry which lies at the bottom of all these cases is, whether the alleged
improvement does, or does not, in point of fact, after allowing for all its unavoid-
able imperfections, woi'k a diminution of the cost of the commercial machinery.
If it does, the saving enures to the benefit of the producer, just as surely as a
stone in mid air falls to the ground — and the farmer has his full share of the
benefit.

As the time and the occasion do not permit me to state my views, fully, on
the currency question here presented, I shall not enter upon its discussion at all.
I only present the naked point on which the whole question turns, and leave the
decision where the constitution leaves it — ^^'ith the people.

Farmers of Wisconsin ! On the question of authorizing the issue, wthin the
State, of a currency of representative values, if you believe that the introduction
of the proposed system with the proper safeguards will facilitate and cheapen the
processes of trade, and thus enable you to do your whole commercial business at
less cost to yourselves, you will, at the approaching election, say aye — if you
do not believe this, you will say nay. It is a question of gi'eat import to Wis-
consin. God grant that you may decide the question wisely.

But again, Agriculture is interested in the growth and prosperity of large
towns.

A town or city may be regarded, philosophically, as a part of the business
machinery of the country. It is, in part, a manufacturing agent, and in part a
commercial agent. In both these capacities, it enjoys such a concentration of
capital, enterprize, and intelligence, as to ensure the economical advantages of a
minute division of labor, the perfection of the executive processes, and all the
helps attendant on the invention and skilful use of machiner\-.

All these larger operations of manufacture and trade are carried on at immense
advantages over the smaller ; but if the laws favor the association of the smaller
capitalists by general acts of incoi-poration, there is no danger of monopoly. The
principle of competition is more active in the large town, and the consumer will

35

have the benefit of the diminution of the cost of the manufactured article, and
of merchandize generally.

For this consumption, however, without which the large town cannot exist, it
looks to the country, that is, in the main, to the agricultural producer. The town
and the country are mutually markets to each other, and the citizen is as much
interested to penetrate the interior with canals and railroads, as the fanner is to
find these avenues for the transportation of his produce to the mart. We present •
interests here that are not antagonistical, but are mutual and harmonious. The
town thrives by the growth and prosperity of the country, and the country by
the growth and prosperity of the town.

All this is manifest — and yet it is no more strange than true that in some
agricultural communities, there has sprung up a narrow jealousy of the town,
grudging its prosperity, ripening into settled hostility — tainting, perhaps, the
legislation of the State, by unequal taxation, and by denial of those facilities of
production and trade, which are essential to the healthy developement of the
town.

Farmers of Wisconsin ! the towns which line your borders, and dot the interior,
live not for themselves alone, but for you — they grow with your growth — they
are your credit abroad, and your profit at home. An enlightened self interest,
on your part, demands that your policy towards them shall be conceived in a
liberal and comprehensive spirit.

The railroad is a swift witness of the identity of the reciprocal interests of town
and country. It brings the rural districts under the very gates of the city ; and
it lodges the merchant and artizan at home, scores of miles, perhaps, from the
scene of his daily toil. This indefinite expansion of towns, with their capital,
intelligence and enterprise — this amalgamation, as it were, of the city and the
country, is destined to play, henceforth, a distinguished part in the advancement
of civilization.

III. But once more. Agriculture, in common with Manufacture and Com-
merce, is interested in the pi-ospei'ity of the Professions.

It is conceded that the sustaining of the professions is a charge on the pro-
ducers of value. — But it is also to be conceded, that without the agency of the
professions — without the sound social conditions of health, order, and mora-
lity, production would be at an end. So much for the mere economical
argument.

But when we consider the intrinsic importance of these social conditions
themselves, we can hardly over-estimate the obligations of productive agency to
professional service. Here, as in the arts and in commerce, " Live and let live,"
is a maxim addressed not so much to the magnanimity and generosity, as to the
economical and social interest, of the cultivator of the ground.

36

But without extendiug our ai'gument farther, the general proposition, that
agriculture is benefitted by the advancement of every other interest essential to
civilization, has, I Avould hope, been satisfactorily demonstrated.

That every other element in the economy of society, is reciprocally interested
in the prosperity of agriculture, has been made, at least, erpially apparent in the
course of the argument.

To lay down the additional proposition, tliat agriculture is interested in the
improvement and perfection of its own processes, might seem to be the super-
fluous statement of a mere truism.

Every farmer with a given amount of land, capital and labor, looks to his gross
produce, as the proper return for his outlay — and on the volume and quality of
this produce, depends his ability to command and to enjoy for himself and those
dependent on him, the productions of the Arts, and the services of the profes-
sions. Every agricultural improvement looks to the larger quantity, or the better
quality of the product. To promote these two ends is, of course, the more
obvious and direct object of your association.

Having thus unfolded to you some of the outside relations of the great calling
of the farmer, I gladly leave this important interior field to those who shall suc-
ceed me in addressing you on occasion of your future anniversaries, and who wnll
bring to the task a knowledge of the theory and practice of Agricultiu-e w'hich I
cannot pretend to.

I will, however, before closing, venture to call your attention to a few topics
connected with this part of the subject.

In the first j^lace, it is a truth that will become evident on a little reflection,
that the division of labor cannot be profitably carried to the same extent in Agri-
culture, as in Mauufiicture. In the larger establishments we are told, there are
ten distinct processes in the manufacture of the pin, each of which may employ
the labor of its man, from one year s end to another. But not so with the pro-
cesses of Agriculture. — One cannot plow throughout the year, and another sow,
and another make hay.

But, on the other hand, there are certain classifications of the greater opera-
tions of husbandry. We hear, for example, of stock farms, dairy farms, grain
culture, and the planting interest, comprising the subdivisions of the growing of
tobacco, of cotton, of rice, and of the cane.

I take it to be sound doctrine in this connexion, that large tracts of country
should not confine themselves to any one of these forms of husbandry — for a
failure of the staple produce for a single season, would occasion unmitigated dis-
tress to the agricultui'al class, and aftect disastrously all collateral interests of the
district.

The jiartial failure of the wheat crop of two or three seasons past, furnishes an

Oi

illustration of this tnitb, the force of which is felt by the farmei-s of Wisconsin,
sxifficientlv to admonish them of the expediency of extending the cultivation of
corn, of oats, of barley, of flax, and other annual i^roducts — of introducing ex-
tensively stock raising, dairy, and avooI growing, to all which uses the soil and
climate of our state is admirably adapted.

Out of this extensive range of culture, it will doubtless be good policy for the
individual farmer to select for his leading object, such form of husbandry as may
be best adapted, in his judgment, to the soil he has to deal with, and the posi-
tion of his farm with respect to market — and to cany along such collateral objects
of culture as may prevent the exhaustion of the soil, and fill up his time by fur-
nishing business for every season of the yeai*.

By this course of pohcy, the advantages of the di\ision of labor may be secured
to agriculture, precisely as far as it would be profitable to carry it ; improvements
would be more likely to be introduced ; and greater skill and economy would
accrue to the executive processes.

In new and spai-sely settled sections of the country where land is abundant,
and labor greatly in defect, there exists, from the nature of the case, a strong
tendency to spread cultivation over a large surface, overtaxing the superficial
powei-s of the soil, in order to give the greatest immediate effect to the limited
amount of human agency.

Looking to immediate results, the settler, no doubt accomplishes his purpose ; but
the habit of slovenly and unthrifty farming thus acquired, is apt to be persevered
in, long after the necessity which seemed, at fii-st, to justify it, has passed away.
The soil, robbed of its apparent productive elements, refuses to yield its increase,
and through the discouragement and impoverishment of the farmer, is condenmed
to years of sterility — when under a different treatment, it would have steadily
improved in productive power, and have made a more and more grateful return
for the good husbandry bestowed upon it.

The importance of acquiring a thorough knowledge of the theory, as well as
practice of Agriculture, cannot, therefore, be urged too early or too forcibly on
the farmers of Wisconsin. The education of the American farmer, does not now
terminate in a mere knowledge of the routine of sowing and cropping, and in
a dutifid adherence to the practice of his i^xther and his grandfather.

There is scarcely a branch of natural and physical science, which has not now,
its known and acknowledp-ed bearing-s on Ao-riculture.

The construction and the working of agricultural implements of every class,
call into daily operation the principles of Mechanics. Hydrostatics and Hydrau-
lics have their manifest uses, on, and about the farm. It were vain to assume
that the practice of stock raising has nothing to ask from the truths of Animal
Physiolog}-. And as man and the entire animal kingdom, seek their sustenancey

o

8

ultimatel}-, from the herbage of the ground, vegetable physiology has still
more impoiiant aid to render to every form of practical agriculture — deter-
mining the functions of the root, as imbibing the food of the plant, in water}"-
solution; of the stem, with its organs of circulation; of the leaf, which
retains and assimilates what is necessary to the structure of the whole and the
character of the fruit, discharging into the atmosphere the superfluous matter in
the shape of gases and vapor.

The philosophy of each of the imponderable agents, light, heat, electricity,
and magnetism, has relations to vegetable life and health of an interesting and
important character.

But of all the sciences, chemistry is the most fruitful in the aids it is destined
to render to agriculture. By the analysis of the laboratory, we are put in pos-
session of all the chemical elements of the vegetable kingdom, both those that are
common to all plants, and those that distinguish one species from another. We
are thus enabled to infer the composition of soil adapted to each plant ; and by
the analysis of a given soil, we ascertain the elements in defect, which it is the
office of good husbandry to supply.

This leads us to the doctrine of specific manures — the basis of extensive
improvements, made, and to be made, in practical agriculture.

Farmers have observed that some crops exhaust a given soil more rapidly than
others. Chemistry detects the elements abstracted from the soil by the annual
crop, and directs to the specific manures which will replace these elements, and
keep the land in heart. Without the science, the land may be condemned to
lie fallow, or to be recovered by the empirical and wasteful application of
manures, in .the grosser forms.

For example, tobacco, the vine, the pea, and clover, require lime in large
quantities ; and as the supply comes to the plant through the root, a succession
of crops will soon exhaust the soil, unless that element be replaced by the hand
of the farmer.

It cannot be doubted that every physical element found in the plant must
have had its previous existence in the soil, or the atmosphere. " It is upon the
clear undei-standing of this fact," as an English writer well remarks, "that the
successful business of the farmer depends. It is calculated to raise the operations
of the agriculturist to a level with those of the manufacturer; and instead of
committing the cultivation of the soil to accident, as if nothing were understood
respecting it more than the mechanical preparation of it for the seed, it will
serve to explain upon what causes growth and production, and consequently
their opposites, abortion, and non-production, fundamentally depend, and
of course, will enable him to provide against both." All this is well said, and
presents the valuable thought very clearly to the apprehension of the farmer.

39

While on the subject of the specific food of plants, it falls in my way to say,
that a large portion of the organic matter of the vegetable kingdom, exists in
the atmosphere, in the gaseous form, and is largely soluble in water. It is the
office of rain and snow to bring down these elements, and to saturate with them
that portion of the soil that has been mellowed by the plough — and the deeper
the ploughing, the larger is the fund of these elements, subject to the draft of
the root dunng a period of drought.

I might go on to mention the agricultural bearings of physical Geography,
of Geology and Mineralogy, the philosophy of subsoil ploughing, and other con-
siderations connected with the character of natural soils, and their permanent
improvement. But time fails.

I close this part of the subject by a single additional allusion to the successful
efforts which modern science is making to grapple with the uncertainties of the
weather — to subject the hitherto hopeless caprices of the elements to known laws;
and if not to hand over to the farmer the winds and the storms, the cloud and
the sunshine, sealed up in a bag, at least to forewarn him of their alternations,
and to enable him, by a prudent forecast, to press them into his service, and,
measurably, to control their results.

And now, gentlemen, in this hasty summing up of the sciences, comprising
what is esssential to the theory of agriculture, I would ask whether anything is
included, which the farmer is not interested to know ? — is anything included,
which, if known by the farmers generally, would not contribute to elevate prac-
tical agriculture to an economical and social position eminently honorable and
profitable to itself, and singularly auspicious of good to man ?

I am uttering not the mere aspiration of hope, but the decision of sober judg-
ment, when I say, that the day is not distant, when it shall be shame to the
young farmer to commence the practice, without first having acquired the theory,
of his profession.

I say of his profession, because, let it once be understood, that the industrial
employments are to be approached through a course of scientific preparation,
then the middle wall of partition between the liberal and the useful arts is broken
down — let it be understood that Agriculture has its theory and its philosophy,
then it rises at once to the dignity of a profession.

The sneer at the scientific farmer, which once disfigured the countenance of a
self-satisfied " practical Agriculture," has already passed away, and given place to
an expression of admiration at the taste, the economy, and the thrift of a better,
because a scientific cultivation.

The sneer at the scientific farmer, if it ever meant any thing, when done into
plain English, could have meant nothing less, than that a certain amount of ?^7ttO-

40

ranee was necessary to qualify a man for a sound practical fiirmer — a sentiment
which falls strangely on the ear of the agriculturist of the 2)rcsent day.

The eminent success of model and experimental farms, and the labors of the
agricultural press, have brought the mind of the entire community to a just
appreciation of the value of the sciences, in their practical applications to Agri-
culture and the Arts, and the importance of their universal dissemination.

The conviction is taking fast hold of the mind of Europe and of the older
States of this Union, that for the thorough acquisition of this valuable agricultu-
ral knowledge, it will not do to depend on the ephemeral influences of popular
lectures and addresses; nor yet on the mass of information placed before the
farmer through the agency of the periodical press. Agricultural seminaries are
beginning to be constituted, where the science may be acquired, and in connexion
with model farms, its application may be made familiar to the professional pupil,
in preparation for the successful and profitable discharge of the maturer duties
of the practical farmer.

These views ai-e rational and just. Agricultural science, like all other science,
is to be acquired by study and research. The discij^line and the instructions of
the school, are essential to its seasonable and thorough acquisition. Without it,
the farming processes fall to the low level of routine and drudgery. "With it,
Agriculture vindicates its undoubted claim to stand, not only in the first rank of
the experimental arts, but to take its position, side by side, with the learned pro-
fessions, in dignity and honor, as well as in profit.

Farmers of Wisconsin ! If, throughout this argument, I have been so fortunate
as to express 3'our convictions, and if your judgment is with me on the topic of
the scientific preparation of the young farmer for his great vocation, it is perti-
nent to inquire, in conclusion, whether it is not in your power, so to mould and
to fashion the system of public instruction, as to embody and to realize the idea,
so vitally important to the agriculture of the State.

The educational organism for Wisconsin, as I understand it, comprises: 1. The
District school, carrying elementary instruction into every neighborhood in the
State. — 2. One Academic, or Union school for each township. — And 3. The
University. The organic law of the University of Wisconsin, provides for the
the establishment of the several Departments, 1. of " Science, Literature, and
Arts" — 2. of " Medicine'' — 3. of " Law'" — and 4. of the " Theory and practice
of Elementary instruction."

The Regents of the University propose to add a Department of the " Appli-
cations of Science to Agi'iculture and the Useful Arts ;" to go into eftect when-
ever the means shall be provided for the support of the Professor, the purchase
r>{ Apparatus, and the ground necessary for a model farm.

41

Such a Department, suitably endowed by the State, would offer to the young
men of Wisconsin, the future cultivators of the soil, without charge, a full course
of instruction in the theory and practice of Agriculture ; and the working of the
model farm would defray, in part, the expenses of residence.

The pupils in this Department of the Philosophy of Agriculture and the
Useful Arts, would lia\-e free access to the library of the University, to the col-
]e(.'tions of the various branches of Natural Science, and, in connexion with tlie
regular classes, to the lecture rooms of the Professoi's of the other Departments,
whether collegiate or professional.

From such conditions of culture the young farmer will go forth to his work,
with juster views of the relations of the sciences to the arts, and of the arts to
each other — he will lind all remains of the middle wall between Agriculture
and the Professions removed, his social position more fairly adjusted, his indus-
trial agency more effective, better appreciated, and more amply rewarded.

But this is not all. The instructors of the Academic or Union Schools, should
go from the University to their task, not only with the learning of the Normal
Department, but well versed in the 'instructions of the Department of applied
science.

Such an educational system is now offered to the farmers of Wisconsin.

Are you, then, prepared to endow in your University, for your own benefit,
a Department of the " Applications of Science to Agriculture and the Useful
Arts ?" If so, your bounty will prove to be good seed, fjilling on good ground,
springing up and bearing fruit, thirty, sixty, an hundred fold.

It is a fact of world wide celebrity, that Wisconsin presents to the settler the
j^hysical elements of prosperity, in rich profusion, and in beautiful combination.

With its soil and climate unsurpassed — with its capacity for rapid settlement
and eai-ly maturity — wath its continued alternations, in just proportion, of wood-
land and opening, of prairie, natural meadow, and lake — and with the command
of both the Eastern and Southern markets, it needs but the means of professional
culture, thus carried to tlie door of the farmer, through the system of Public
Instruction, to finish what nature has so tastefully and so bounteously begun.

Bring, then, the educational agencies of the State into harmony with the great
objects of your Association ; follow up the auspicious beginnings of this day
with ample provision for geuei'al professional culture, and you will leave an inhe-
ritance to your children, transcending all that you have felt or fancied of the
destiny of Wisconsin.

Education, Gentlemen, is no mendicant. It Legs nothing from your charity.
Its proclamation to you is, " Give, and it shall be given to you again ; good
measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall be returned
into your bosom."

4:3

FIRST ANNUAL CATTLE SHOW AND FAIR.

The Premium List and List of Entries for the First Annual Cattle Show and
Fair are inserted in this volume as a part of the History of the Society, and as
something which may be of interest to the members of the Society in future years.

No specific sums were named as Premiums, inasmuch as the Society was
entirely destitute of funds at the time of the publication of the premium list, and
as it was wholly uncertain what amount would be realized from its members and
from receipts at the Fair — these being the only sources of revenue to the Society.

LIST OF PREMIUMS.

CLASS A.

No. 1.— SHORT HORNS. Contingent.

Best Bull over three years old "

" Seconddo

" Third do

" Bull under three years old

" Seconddo

" Third do

" BullCalf

" Cow over three years old "

" Seconddo

" Third do , 1

" Cow under three years old "

" Seconddo

" Third do

" HeiferCalf

No. 2.— DEVONS.

Best Bull over three years old "

" Seconddo

" Third do

" Bull under three years old "

" Seconddo

" Third do

" BullCalf

" Cow over three years old "

" Seconddo "

" Third do

" Cow under three years old "

" Seconddo

•• Third do

" HeiferCalf

N'o. 3.-HEREF0RDS. Coutingent,

Best Bull over three years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Bull uuder three years old "

" Second do «•

" Third do

" BullCalf

" Cow over three years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Cow under three years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Heifer Calf.

No. 4.— AYRSHYRES.

Best Bull over three years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Bull under three years old "

" Second do ' "

" Third do

" BullCalf

" Cow over three years old "

" Second do.. "

" Third do

" Cow under three years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Heifer Calf.

IS^o. 5.— XATIVES AND CROSSES.

Best Bull over three years old "

" Second do <•

" Third do

" Bull xinder three years old "

" Second do <•

•• Third do

" BuUCalf.

" Cow over three years old "

" Second do «

" Third do

" Cow under three years old "

" Second do <•

" Third do

" Heifer Calf

44

l^o. 6.— ^WORKING UXEN. Contiiigeul.

Best yoke of Oxen over four years old "

" Second do

" Third do

" Yoke of Steers over two years old

" Second do

" Third do

No. 7.— MILCH COWS.

Best Milch Cow

" Second do

" Third do

Na a— FAT CATTLE.

Best Fat Cow over four years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Fat Cow under four years old "

" Second do

" Third do

" Fat Heifer

" Pair of Fat Oxen over four years old

" Second do

" Third do

" Fat Single Ox over four years old "

" Second do

" Third do --

" Best Pair of Fat Steers under four years old "

" Second do

" Third do

" Single Fat Steer under four years old "

" Seconddo

" Third do

No. 9.— FAT SHEEP.

Best Fat Sheep over two years old "

" Seconddo

" Third do._

■' Fat Sheep under two years old '■

" Seconddo

" Third do

" Fat Lambs

No. 10.— HORSES.

Best Stallion fo^ir years old and over "

" Seconddo

" Third do

45

No. 10.— HOKSES.— Continued. CoutingenL

Best Stallion three yeai-s old "

" Second do •'

" Third do

" Stallion two yeans old "

" Second do ,. «

" Third do

" Stallion Colt one year old "

" Brood Mare four years old and over "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Brood Mare three years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Brood Mare two years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Mare Colt one year old "

No. II.— MATCHED HORSES.

Best Pair of Matched Horses "

" Second do "

" Thii-d do

" Pair of Draught Horses "

" Second do "

" Third do

No. 12.— GELDINGS.

Best Gelding four years old and over "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Gelding three years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Gelding under three years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

No. 13.— SHEEP.— LONG WOOLED.

Best Buck over two years old ., "

" Second do •'

" Third do

" Buck under two years old . "

" Second do "

•' Third do

" Ewe over two years old "

" Second do "

" Third do ... ♦*

4r,

No. 13.— SHEEP.— LONG WOOLED.— Coutiuued. Coutingent.

" Ewe uuder two years old

" Second do "

" Third do

" Buck Lamb

" EweLauib

No. 14.— SHEEP.— MIDDLE WOOLED.

Best Buck over two years old "

" Second do

" Third do

" Buck under two years old

" Second do -..

" Third do

" Ewe over two years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" P] we under two years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Buck Lamb

" Ewe Lamb "

No. 15.-SHEEP.— MERINOES.

Best Buck over two years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Buck under two years old "

" Second do

" Third do

" Ewe over two years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Ewe under two years old "

" Second do

" Third do

" Buck Lamb

" Ewe Lamb •'

No. 16.— SHEEP.— SAXONS.

Best Buck over two years old "

" Second do

" Third do

" Buck under two years old "'

" Second do

" Third do

47

jSo. 16.— sheep -SAXONS.— Coatiuued. Contiugeut.

" Ewe over two years old •'

" Second do "

•' Third do

" Ewe under two years old , "

" Second do "

*• Third do.

" Buck Lamb

" Ewe Lamb

No. 17.— SHEEP.— PAULAR MERINOES.

Best Buck over two years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

'• Buck under two years old "

" Second do "

" Third, do

" Ewe over two years old "

' Second do "

" Third do.

" Ewe under two years old "

" Secoud do "

" Third do

" Buck Lamb «

" Ewe Lamb "

Shepherd's Dogs.

Best Shepherd's Dog. — [Evidence to be furnished of the thorough

training of the Dog otherwise no premium will be

granted] "

No. 18.— SHEEP.— CROSS BREED.

Best Buck over two years old "

" Second do •'

" Third do.... "

" Buck under two years old '*

" Second do "

" Third do

" Ewe over two years old "

" Second do •'

" Third do

" Ewe under two years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Buck Lamb

" Ewe Lamb "

48

No. 19.— SWINE. Conliiigeut.

Best Bciar over two years old "

" Second do

" Third do

" Boar under two years old "

" Second do "

" Third do

" Sow over two years old "

" Second do..

" Third do

" Sow iinder two years old "

" Second do

" Third do

" Lot of Pigs under 10 months old. ,

No. ^0.— POULTRY.

Best Lot of Poultry — not less than six of each kind "

CLASS B.

No. 21.— FARM IMPLEMENTS.

Best Farm "Waggon "

" Plough

. " Harrow

" Corn Cultivator "

" Fanning Mill

" Corn Stalk Cutter

" Horse Cart for Farm "

" OxCart

" Horse Rake

" Ox Rake ;

" Common Harness "

" Carriage "

" Chum

" Cheese Press "

Ij^" Milk Pans, Grain Cradles, Hand Rakes, Hay Forks, Scythes,
Manure Forks, Grain Measures, Brooms, and all other Farming
Implements and Household Utensils — best of each

Horse Power, Thresher, Reapers, Grain Drill, Corn Sheller,
Seed Planter — best of each

No. 22.— DAIRY.

Best Lot of Butter

" Second do "

Third do

" Cheese "

" Second do , •'

Third do

Butter Firkins and Butter Tub,s "

49

No. 23.— GRAINS, SUGAR, HONEY, AND VEGETABLES. Ooutiugeut.

Best Samples of Winter Wheat "

" Spring "

" Rye "

Oats

" Barley "

" Buckwheat "

" Indian Corn "

Flaxseed

" Broom Corn "

" Timothy, Clover, and other Grass Seeds "

" Maple Sugar "

" Honey

" Kitchen and Table Vegetables "

No. 24.— FLOUR, Ac.

Best Barrel of Flour "

" Sample of Com Meal

CLASS C.

No. 25.— DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

Silk, Woollen, and Cotton — embraciug Carpets, Blankets, Flannels,
Cloth, Stockings, Gloves, Mittens, Thread, and Clothing and Articles
of Wearing Apparel — best Specimens of each "

No. 26.— ORNAMENTAL NEEDLE WORK.

Ottoman and Table Covers, Worsted Work, Lamp Stand Matts, Quilts,
Shawls, Collars, Silk Bonnets, Straw Bonnets, Handkerchiefs, Orna-
mental Shell Work and Wax Flowers — best Specimens of each "

No. 27.— FRUITS.

Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Quinces, Grapes, and Melons — best "
Specimens of each "

No. 28.— FLOWERS.

Dahlias, Roses, Phloxes, Verbenas, German Asters, Pansies and Green-
House Plants — best Specimens of each "

Best Hand Boquets flat and rouiid, best Boquets, and best floral exhi-
bition

No. 29.— PAINTINGS, &c.

Oil and Water Color Paintings, and Daguerreotypes — best Specimens

of each -^

Pamphlet and Card Printing — best Specimens of each

5

50

CLASS D.

No. 30.— STOVES. Contingent.

Cooking, Box, and Parlor Stoves — best specimens of each "

No. 31.— SILVER AND GOLD WARE, &c.

Jewelry, Gold and Silver Ware, Britannia Ware, and Table and Pocket

Cutlery — best exhibitions of each "

No. 32.— MISCELLANEOUS AND DISCRETIONARY DEPARTMENT.

This Department comprises all Articles manufactured of Metals, Wood,

Leather, India Rubber, Cloth, Tin, tfcc. not heretofore enumerated.. . "

Competition for the Preuiiums of the Society is open to all persons, whether
residents of this State or not, provided they comply with the regulations of the
Society.

The days selected for the exhibition are Wednesday and Thursday, the first
and second days of Octobei".

All persons intending to offer articles and animals for exhS)ition will be required
to enter their names, and a list of the animals or articles to be exhibited, with the
Secretary, on or before twelve o'clock M., on Wednesday, the first day of October.

Exhibitors must become Members of the Society before making their entries.

All articles and animals must be brought w ithin the enclosure as early as two
o'clock P. M. of the first day, in order that they may be stiitably arranged.

The Ploughing Match will be held on the grounds eastward and adjacent to
the Fair ground, on the second day of the Fair, at eight o'clock, A. M.

The Judges will meet at the Secretary's office at nine o'clock A. M, of the
second day, in order to receive the books of entries and their instructions, after
which they will immediately proceed to the discharge of the duties assigned them.

The Address will be delivered, at the Tent of the Society, at three o'clock
P. M. of the second day; immediately after which the award of premiums will
be read by the Secretary.

No person will be allowed to remove any article or animal from tho gTounds
without first obtaining the consent of the President.

ALBERT C. INGHAM,

Secretary.

51

LIST OF ENTRIES FOR EXHIBITION.

CLASS A.

No. 1.— SHORT HORN-S.

One Durham cow, over three years of age; one Durham heifer, under three years
of age; two Durham heifer calves; one Durham bull, under three years of
age; one Durham bull calf. D. B. Tears Alden, 111.

One Durham calf. Samuel A. Thurston, Burlington.

One Durham calf. James Reynolds, Burlington.

One Durham bull, over three years of age. Ephraim Perkins, Dodge Center.

One bull calf. Sheldon C. Hall, Whitewater.

One Durham bull, over three years of age. James Freeman, Whitewater.

One Durham bull, over three years of age. H. W. Tallcott, Rockton.

No. 2.— DEVONS.

One Devon bull, o^'er three years of age ; two Devon heifers, under three years
of age ; one Devon cow, over three years of age ; two Devon calves. D. B.
Tears Alden, 111.

One Devon bull, under three years of age. Benjamin Ferguson, Fox Lake.

One Devon cow, over three years of age ; two Devon heifers, under three years
of age; one Devon bull calf. Martin Webster, Fox Lake.

One Devon bull calf. Worden Matteson, Delavan.

5.— NATIVES AND CROSSES.

One yearhng bull; two cows, four j^ears of age; one bull calf. — Daniel F.

Melendy, Palmyra.
One red bull (cross) over one year old. T. C. Denary, Beloit.
Three heifei-s (cross) under three years of age. Benjamin Ferguson, Fox Lake.
One bull (cross) over three years of age. A. W. Powers, Palmyra.
One bull calf (cross). Martin Webster, Fox Lake.
One buU calf (cross) six months old. Joseph Budd, Janesville.
One native cow and calf H. H. Simonds, Janesville.
One native heifer, under three yeai-s of age ; one bull calf. AVilliam McLoon,

Janesville.

52

One native cow, over three years of age. E. K. Bingham, Koshkonong.

One hull calf; one heifer, over two years of age; one yearling steer. F. and J.

Hitchcock, La Prairie.
One native bull calf. J. Cory, Bachelor's Grove.
One native cow. S. Antisdell, .Janesville.

No. 6.— WORKING OXEN.

One yoke of oxen, over four years of age. H. H. Simonds, Janesville.

One yoke of oxen, over four years of age. L. D. Thompson, Janesville.

One yoke of oxen, over four years of age ; one yoke of steers, over three years of

age ; one yoke of steers, over two years of age. F. and J. Hitchcock, La Prairie.
One yoke of oxen, over four years of age; one yoke of steers, over three yeai-s

of age. Zenas BigeloAA', Magnolia.

No. 7.— MILCH COWS.
Three milch cows. F. and J. Hitchcock, La Prairie.

No. 8.— FAT CATTLE.
One yoke of fat cattle. John M. Keej), Beloit.

No. 10.— HORSES.

One brood mare, over four years of age. Otis "W. Norton, Janesville.

One brood mare, with foal at foot. H. K, Belding, Janesville.

One stallion, " Hambletonian," over four years of age. R. M. Wheeler, Janesville.

One grey horse, over four years of age. Addison Bakei", Racine.

One mare colt, one year of age. T. P. Davis, Janesville.

Three brood mares. Jackman and Smith, Janesville.

One brood mare and colt. E. Wood Cornes, Whitewater.

One stallion, three years of age. C. L. Annis, Summit.

One pair of geldings, four years of age. J. B. Moon, Janesville.

One mare, seven years of age. D. C. Ohn, Waukesha.

Three stallions, over four years of age ; one stallion under three yeai's of age ;

one brood mare over four years of age. Simon Ruble, Beloit.
One stallion, eight years of age. Andrew Aitkin, jr., Waukesha.
One stallion, over three years of age. D. Babcock, Johnstown.
One stallion, one year of age. N. P. Parsons, Whitewatei'.
One bay inare, " Jenny Lind," over three years of age. Simeon Mills, Madison.
One stallion, over three years of age; one filly, over one year of age. E. K.

Bingham, Koshkonong.
One brood marc, seven vears of aj-'e. C. C. Olin, Waukesha.

53

One stallion, over two yeai-s of age. Nelsou Fryei, Whitewater.

Oiie stallion, over two years of Jige, James Craig, Milton.

One brood mare and foal. A. Henderson, Beloit.

Two brood mares, over four yeai"s of age ; one colt. James Helms, Center.

One stallion, over four years of age. L. D. Thompson, Janesville.

One mule colt. Jonathan Pound, Fulton.

One stallion, three years of age. H. W. Talcott, Kocktofii, 111.

One mare. G. W. Balsei-, Palmyra.

One pair of draft liorses. J. T. Smith, Miltun.

Two brood mares, five and six yeare of age ; two mules, three yeare of age ; one

jack, six yeai-s of age. H. Allen, Aliens' Grove.
One brood mare, over four years of age; one mare two years of age. T. W.

Williams, Emerald Gro\e.
One grey mare, over four years of age. E. F. Mabie, Delavan.
One brood mare, over foiu- years of age. E. K. Bingham, Koshkonong.
Two brood niai'es, ONcr three years of age. George 0. Tittany, Milwaukee.

No. 11.— MATCHED HORSES.

One pair of matched horses. J. P. Dickson, Janesville.

One pair of matched liorses. Addison Baker, Racine.

One pair of matched horses. Elon Fuller, Waukesha.

One pair of matched hoi'ses. Philo Dunning, Madison.

One pair of matched horses. Jackman and Smith, Janesville.

One pair of matched boi-ses. Edward Bain, Kenosha.

Four pair of draft liorees. Simon Ruble, Beloit.

One pair of matched horses. B. H. Moon, Janesville.

One pair of matched horses. John Kent, Janes\'ille.

One pair of matched liorses. John Dates, Beloit.
One pair of matched stallions. William Douglass, York.

N"o. 12.— GELDINGS.

One gelding, over four yeai-s of age. D. B. Tears, Aldeu, 111.

One brown gelding, over four years of age. T. Stevens, Racine.

One bay gelding, over four years of age. P. W. Dickey,* Janesville.

One bay gelding, over three years of age. E. B. Fargo, Lake Mills.

One gelding over three years of age; one gelding over two years of age.

A. Henderson, Beloit.
One gelding over four years of age. G. W. Balser, Palmyra.
One bay gelding, over four years of age. E. A. Howland, Janesville.

54

No. 13.— LONG WOOL SHEEP.

Seven Bakewell sheep, under two years of age ; one ram ; two CAves, and four
lambs. Charles Wardale, Union.

No. 14.— MIDDLE WOOL SHEEP.

Two Southdown ewes, under one year of age. N. B. Clapp, Kenosha.
One Leicester ram, over four years of age. H. S. Harrison, Mukwanago.

No. 15.— MERINO SHEEP.

Thirty-seven Merino bucks, under two years of age. Edward Bain, Kenosha.
Two Merino bucks, over two years of age. Andrew Palmer, Janesville.
One Merino buck, under two years of age ; one Merino buck, over two years of
age; six Merino ewes, over two years of age. T. W. Williams, Emerald Grove.
Four Merino sheep, over two years of age. W. P. Benson, Fort Atkinson.

. • . No. 16.— SAXON SHEEP.

One Saxon ewe lamb; one Saxon buck lamb. N". B. Clapp, Kenosha.

One Saxon buck, over two years old. T. W, Williams, Emerald Grove.

Six Saxony bucks ; one Saxon ewe over two years of age ; one Saxon ewe under
two years of age ; one Saxon buck lamb. JST. B. Clapp, Kenosha.

No. 17.— PAITLAR MERINOES.

Six paular merino bucks, over two years old; one paular merino lamb. E. W.
Drury, Fond du Lac.

One paular merino buck lamb. John A. Fletcher, Johnstown.

No. 18.— CROSS BREED SHEEP.

Three yearling bucks ; two buck lambs; three yearling ewes; three ewe lambs;
thirty sheep- — all from cross breeding. J. Roberts, Janesville.

No. 19.— SWINE.

One sow and pigs. P. W. Dickey, Janesville.
One sow and pigs. A. Haskins, Janesville.
One boar under two years old. Alva Blackman, Johnstown.
One bari'ow hog, three years old F. and J. Hitchcock, La Prairie.
One Berkshire boar, over one year old. C. C. Cheney, Janesville.
One boar pig, over ten months old — (Byfield) ; one boar pig, under ten months
old — (Leicester.) A. A. Giftbrd, Johnstown.

56

One sow, and pigs three weeks old. E. A. Howlaud, Janesville.
One Neapolitou pig, ten months old. A. J. Luckey, Bradfoi-d.
One sow and three pigs. David Mills, Union.

No. 21.— FARM IMPLEMENTS.

One reaping machine ; one seed drill. H. K. Beldlng, Janesville.

One fanning mill. Thomas Shaw, Janesville.

One 1 horse open carriage ; one 2 horse open carriage and harness. Addison

Baker, Racine.
One thrashing machine jack. Joshua Davis, Kenosha.
One double carriage harness; one single carriage harness; one double team

harness. George Dyer, Milwaukee.
One fanning mill. Ludim Crouch, Waukesha.
One corn sheller. N. B. Gaston, Beloit.
One corn sheller. Joshua Davis, Kenosha.
One grain separator. George B. Turner, Ohio.
Two boxes Crane's soap. E. D. Ladd, Milwaukee.
Assortments of wire sci-enery; one Grimm's smut machine. S. S. Dagget,

Milwaukee.
One Empire straw cutter. John Covell, Milwaukee.

One lever thrashing machine; one tread thrashino- machine. J. J. Case, Racine.
One pair of draft collars. N. S. Woodruff, Janesville.
One 1 horse power thrashing machine. Marvin Hughes, Kenosha.

Three hay forks. Keyes, Watertown.

Eight ploughs. Sherman, Green and Foss, Watertown.

One McCormick's reaper ; one Dickey's fanning mill ; one AVhitney's corn grinder ;

one corn sheller. A. P. Dickey, Racine.
Two badger reapers. Barker and Love, Beloit.
One fanning mill. George A. Stiles, Beloit.
One churn. George W. Yearly, Mukwanago.
One buggy waggon. Jackman and Smith, Janesville.
One grain scythe ; one grass scythe ; one hay knife ; one straw fork ; one manure

fork. Adam E. Ray, Troy.
Seven ploughs ; two cultivators ; two harrows ; one sett of harrow teeth ; one hay

cutter ; one corn sheller ; two churns. Thompson Littell, Milwaukee.
One cast iron plough. J. W. Spencer, Watertown.
One smut machine. S. B. Newcomb, Madison.
One Hair» patent rhurn; one Colby's corn drill. S. D. Baldwin, Adrian,

Mich.

56

One scientitic planter, Henry Ingalls, Ellicottville, N. Y.

Two setts of double harness; one thrashing machine; one horse power; one

straw cutter; one shaking fork; one hand rake; one sausage meat cutter.

Simon Ruble, Beloit.
One flax puller. S. B. Goss, Newark.

One thrashing machine ; one horse power. Charles Gifford, Milwaukee.
One fanning mill ; George A. Stiles, Beloit.
One sett of diamond harrows. David Henderson, Johnstown.
One buggy, and one sett of steel springs, S. H. Hurd, Watertown.
One grain cradle. M. W. Hammond, Clinton.
Hoes ; garden rake ; corn cutter ; butcher knives ; grain sycle, &c. &c. Parker

and Stone, Beloit.
Seven steel ploughs ; four breaking ploughs. J. M. May, Janesville.
One straw cutter. A. Henderson, Beloit.
One dozen brooms. William Mulks, Whitewater.
One gang plough. H. Allen, Allen's Grove.

One cast steel plough ; one three-horse evener. Simon Ruble, Beloit.
One 1 horse carnage. E. A. Howland, Janesville.
One portable mill. Miles Millard, Lake Mills.

No. 22.— DAIRY.

Five pounds of butter. H. K. Belding, Janesville.

Tw^o kegs of butter ; thirty pounds of new butter. Hugh Jehu, Harmony.

Four cheeses. Samuel A. Thurston, Burlington.

Six cheeses. H. M. Allen, Union.

Three cheeses. Stephen Faville, Milford.

One sample of butter. M. P. Maine, Osborn.

One sample of butter. J. Cory, Bachelor's Grove.

No. 23.— GRAIN, <fec.

Half bushel of tomatoes. H. K. Belding, Janesville.

One peck Hutchinson wheat. Allen 0. T. Breed, Milwaukee.

Three bushels of winter wheat. N. P. Bump, Janesville.

One squash. E. C. Hull, Madison.

One bee-hive. T. McElhenny, Beloit.

Sample of timothy and clover. A. Henderson, Beloit.

Samples of broom corn — five acres grown; sweet potatoes. Jonathan Pound,

Fulton.
Samples of hops — four acres grown. S. Antisdale, Beloit.

57

No. 24.— FLOUR AND CORN MEAL.

Two gallons of iiominy. Williams and Noland, Madison.
One barrel of flour. Jackman and Smith, Janesville.
One barrel of flour. Strausberger and Co., Janesville.
One barrel of flour. B. A. Jenkins, Genesee.

No. 25.— DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

Thirteen yards of white flannel ; one bunch of stocking yarn ; one pair of wool

stockings. H. M. Allen, Union.
One piece of black doeskin ; one piece of striped doeskin. P. Judson, Kenosha.
Two coverlids ; one pound of stocking yarn ; one pound of linen thread ; one

pair of wool stockings; one pair of men's w^ool socks; one pair of silk stockings;

five yai'ds of linen diaper ; ten yards of linen kersey ; one woollen blanket ; one

kersey blanket ; one bed blanket. W. Matteson, Dela\ an.

No. 26.— ORNAJIENTAL NEEDLE WORK.

One pair of ottoman covers; one pair of cricket covoi-s. Miss E. H. Langdon,

Milwaukee.
One fancy glass box. R. M. Wheeler, Janesville.
One pail- of lamp matts. E. B. Dean, jr., Madison.
One coverhd ; two quilts. J. R. Millard, Janesville.
Odd Fellows' regalia. Samuel Gardiner, jr., Mlwaukee.
One ottoman cover. P. W. Dicky, .Janesville.
Two lamp matts. John Fearnly, Adams.

One table cover ; one ottoman cover. Mi's. F. Wardner, Milwaukee.
One stand cover; one lamp matt. A. M. Kanouse, Madison.
One table spread. J. D. Brown, Janesville.

One pair stockings ; one lace cap ; two ottoman covei's. Mi-s. A. Henderson, Beloit.
One bed quilt. F. Hitchcock, La Prairie.

One chair tidy; one stand cover; one rug. E. H. Morse, Richmond.
One patch quilt. Robert H. Grace, Janesville.
One quilt. Mi-s. W. Hughes, Janesville.
»

No. 27.— FRUITS.

One fall j^ippin. N. B. Clapp, Kenosha.

One plate of fruit. Charles Giftbrd, Milwaukee.

Thirty varieties of apples and pears. S. P. Beechev, Milwaukee.

One Ripston pip])in. J. W. Parker, Milwaukee.

58

Selection of apples, pears and plums. J. C. Howard, Milwaukee.

One box of fruits. P. M. Perkins, Burlington.

Selections of apples. E. B. Quiner, Watertown.

Tliirty-fi\e varieties of apples; three of pears; two of gi-apes. F, K. Phoenix,

Delavan.
Two fall pippins. Cyrus Hawley, Milwaukee.
One lot of fruit. H. Ludington, Milwaukee.
Varieties of peaches. George 0; Tiffany, Milwaukee.
One bunch of Isabella grapes. A. D. Mitchell, Janesville.
One variety of grapes, and one of apples. W. Talcott, Rockton.
Varieties of apples. J. Eoberts, Janesville.

It is mucli to be regretted that the names of the several varieties of fruit exhi-
bited were not given.

m. 28.— FLOWERS.

One flat boquet — pansies, dahlias, &c. ; large floral ornament. Charles Giffbrd,

Milwaukee.
One phlox boquet — flat ; one mixed flowers — flat ; one mixed flowers — round ;

one hand boquet. S. P. Beecher, -Milwaukee.
Dahlias and roses. J. W. Parker, Milwaukee.
Twenty varieties of dahlias; five of phloxes. F. K. Phoenix, Delavan.

No. 29.-PAmTIISrG, «fec.
Specimens of card printing. B. B. Cary, Milwaukee.
Specimens of Daguerreotype. Stamm and Upmann, Milwaukee.
Specimens of printing and cards. Charles S. Hurley, Milwaukee.
Specimens of book and card printing. Rufus King, Milwaukee.
Specimens of card printing. E. Starr, Milwaukee.
One water color painting. Miss H. Brace, Janesville.
One water color painting. Miss Jane Goodrich, Milton.
One oil painting. Oliver S. Clayton, Beloit.
Four landscape drawings ; one water color painting. Miss Olive Ketchell, Janesville.

No. 30.— STOVES.
One economist cooking stove. James Seville, Milwaukee.

No. 31.— GOLD AND SILVER WARE, &c.

One show case of watches; gold and silver fancy articles. A. B. Van Cott, Racine.
One case of jewelry. S. Gardiner, jun. Milwaukee.
An assortment of jewelry.- J. R. Treat, Milwaukee.

69

No. 32.— MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.

One case of surgical instruments; one case of fancy articles. W. W. Holden,

Janesville.
One Harpers Bible; assortment of blank books — specimens of binding. Sidney

L. Rood, Milwaukee,
Assortment of fancy books. J. Morrison, Racine.
Supporter and shoulder braces. Dr. Whiton, Chicago.
PlatfoiTB and balance scales. N. B. Gaston, Beloit.
One case of clocks. J. W. Stillman, Milwaukee.
Osage orange plants and seed. E. H. Mason, III,
Blank books. Weed and Eberhard, Madison.

Williams and Noland's " Tricopherous." Williams and Noland, Madison,
One hand drill ; one circular saw. Barker and Love, Beloit.
Specimens of dressed flax, John Galbraith, Mukwonego.
Two platform scales; one grocer's scalei. E. Fairbanks, St. Johnsbury, Yt.
Six hamraei-s ; two hydraulic rams ; one sett pipe boxes ; one sett brass bands ;

one axletree ; one pair of tailor's shears ; four drawing knives ; one plough
• plane. Henry J. Nazro, Milwaukee.
Two copper coffee urns, H. K, Edgeilon, Milwaukee,
One door sash and blind; one cherry wandow sash. Philo Doty, Janesville.
One box of saleratus. Charles Y. Reed, Oconomowoc.
One walking stick, William Tweeddle, Waukesha,
Two flour barrels, Jesse Wright, Hebron,
Window blind fastener, S, B. Cooper, Beloit,
Specimen of penmanship. IST. V. Bennett, Janesville.
One rotary fire engine ; one sash lock ; one plough making machine. J. M. May,

Janesville.
One centre table, Levi Moses, JanesN-ille,

Sawed and cut stone ; specimens of turning, George W, Taylor, Rock.
One music box and guitar, A. B. Yan Cott, Racine.
Apparatus for drawing water from wells. J. S. Linderman, Manchester, III.
One lot of furniture, Levi Moses, Janesville,
Three fancy baskets. Miss E. Thompson, Janesville.
Two setts of carriage gearing. P, Flickner, Delavan,
One box of confectionery, Edward Emery, Milwaukee.
Specimens of engraving on brass and steel. P. L. Mossin, Milwaukee.
One box of saleratus, E, D, Holton, Milwaukee.

GO

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES AND AWARDS OF PREMIUMS

Made at tlie First Annual Fair of the Society, lield at Janesville,

October 1st and 2d, A.D. 1851.

* STOCK

.SHOUT HORNS.— No. of Extiues, 12.

Judges — John Fearnly, Adams ; Thomas R, Roddis, Milwaukee ; Benjamin
Ferguson, Waushara ; and Isaac M. Norton, Janesville.

Best bull over three years of age ; Ephraim Perkins, Dodge Center. Diploma.

Best bull under three yeai-s of age ; D. B. Tears, Alden, 111. Diploma.

Best bull calf; Samuel A. Thurston, Burlington. Diploma.

Best coAv over three years of age ; D. B. Tears, Alden, 111. Diploma.

Best cow under three years of age ; D. B. Tears, Alden, III. Diploma.

D. B. Tears' State>ient:

Alden, III., December 29th, 1851.

Dear Sir — ^Your letter of December 1st, requesting a statement of my manner
of raising neat cattle, the method of feeding and keeping, the breeds I prefer, &c.,
was duly received. I have but just commenced the raising of stock, and my
opinion may not, perhaps, be worth as much as that of one who has had more
experience ; but the httle I know will be -willingly communicated. Had I been
longer in the business, I might have been able to benefit others more.

My manner of raising stock, does not probably differ materially from that of
the majority of stock raisers.

The importance of keeping stock distinct and unadulterated, cannot be over-
estimated. The birth of the animal, and the name of its ancestors, to the
remotest generation, should be put down in a register kept for the pui-pose.

Calves are weaned at four months old. I prefer having them come in April
or May. Cows should be treated Aery kindly.

In this coim try there is no difficulty or trouble in taking care of stock; in the
summer they will provide for themselves — but in winter they -will require warm
sheds, and an ample supply of provender. As to the manner of feeding : I feed
my cattle three times a day in winter. Beets and carrots are better than grain.
If grain is fed it should be ground. Cows giving inilk, should be fed twice a day
with bran or ground feed.

61

Bulls and working oxen require a little grain in winter. Salt is kept in troughs
in my yards or fields where the cattle can have access to it. Care should be
taken in winter that cattle are not kept too much confined ; they require plenty
of fresh air, and it costs nothing.

For working oxen, I prefer the Devons ; they are livelier, and will endure
more than any other kind, to say nothing of their beauty, which, to an admirer
of matched teams, is an important consideration.

For milch cows it is, I believe, universally acknowledged that the Durhams are

superior to any other breed ; I know \evy little about other improved breeds, but

from the best information I can obtain, I believe that the Devons and Durhams

are the best for this country.

Yours very truly.

To Albert C, Ingham, Esq. D. B. TEARS.

Madison, Wis.

DEVONS.— No. OF ExTEiES, 12.

Judges. — Ephraim Perkins, Dodge Centre ; Pliny M. Perkins, Burlington ;
Abel Dunning, Madison ; Timothy Jackman, Janesville ; and H. Johnson,
Kenosha.

Best bull over three years of age ; D. B. Tears, Alden, 111. Diploma.

Best bull under three years of age ; Benjamin Ferguson, Waushara. Diploma,

Best bull calf; D. B. Tears, Alden, 111. Diploma.

Third best bull calf; Worden Matteson, Delavan. $1.

Best cow over three years of age ; D. B. Tears, Alden, III. Diploma.

Second best cow over three years of age ; Martin Webster, Waushara. Diploma.

Best cow under three years of age ; D. B. Tears, Alden, 111. Diploma.

Best heifer calf; Martin Webster, Waushara. Diploma.

NATIVES AND CROSSES.— No. of Entrifa 10-

Jidges. — J. C. Howard, Milwaukee; 0. G. Ewings, La Grange; H. Rubles,
Beloit ; N. P. Parsons, Whitewater ; and A. P. Dickey, Racine.

Best bull over three years of age; A. W. Powers, Palmyra. Diploma.

Best bull under three years of age; T. C. Denary, Beloit. Diploma.

Second best bull under three years of age; Daniel F. Melendy, Palmyra. %l.

Best bull calf; Daniel F. Melendy, Palmyra. Diploma.

Second best bull calf; Daniel F. Melendy, Palmyra. %1.

Best cow over three years of age; E, K. Bingham, Koshkonong. Diploma,

Second best cow over three years of age; E. K. Bingham, Koshkonong. $1.

63

Best cow under three years of age ; F. and J. Hitchcock, La Prairie. Diploma.
Second best cow under three years of age; Benjamin Ferguson, Waushara. $1.

WORKIIfG OXEN.— Xo. of E.vtiues, 7.

Judges. — Martin Websteij, Waushara; Joseph Goodrich, Milton; Daniel F.
Melendy, Palmyra ; S. G. Colley, Beloit ; and P. M. Perkins, Burlington.

Best yoke over four years of age ; H. H. Simons, Janesville. Diploma.
Second best yoke over four years of age ; F. and J. Hitchcock, La Prairie. $3.
Best yoke of steers three years of age; F. and J. Hitchcock, La Prairie. Diploma.
Second best yoke of steers three years of age ; Zenas Bigelow, Magnolia. $2.
Best yoke of steers two yeai-s of age ; F. and J. Hitchcock, La Prairie. Diploma.

MILCH COWS.— Xo. OF Entries, 1.

Judrjes. — Samuel A.Thurston, Burlington; Thomas P. Turner, Eagle; Chas.
C. Cheney, La Prairie; T. C. Richardson, Harmony; and J. Milton May,
Janesville.

Second best cow; F. and J. Hitchcock, La Prairie. $1

The Committee regret that there was no competition for the Premium in this
class of stock. The cow entered by the Messrs. Hitchcock, they regard as a very
fair specimen of the native breed of cows ; yet they think that many far supe-
rior might be found in the immediate vicinity of Janesnlle.

FAT CATTLE.— No. of Entries, 1.

Judges. — Samuel A. Thurston, Burlington; Thomas P. Turner, Eagle;
Chas. C. Cheney, La Prairie; H. Richardson, Janesville; and J. Milton
May, Janesville.

Best yoke of oxen ; John M. Keep, Beloit. Diploma.

The Committee, while they regret the lack of competition, take pleasure in
saying that Mr. Keep's yoke of fat oxen are perfect for their class.

HORSES.— STALLIOXS AXD BROOD MARES.— Xo. of Entries, 46.

Judges. — Henry M. Billings, Highland; Joel P. Mann, Madison; C. C. Olin,
AVaukesha ; A. W. Parsons, Summit ; and David Williams, Geneva.

Best stallion ovier four years of age ; R. M. Wheeler, Janesville. Diploma.

^'-r^'^^^^V

.-M^^^^^^^.s.

HAMBLETONIAN;

The property of R. M. WiiEELEn, Janesville,
The first premium was awardei to HAMBLETONIAN, at the fair of th» WiscCMil St»t«
Agricultural Society, held at Janesville, 1851.

Engraved and printed at the office of the Wisconsin Farmer^ Janesville.

All "who were present at the late Fair of this Society are doubtless familiar
with the appearance of this horse ; his pedigree may he seen by the following
letter addressed to his owner, R. M. Wheeler, Esq. of Jauesville :

Shelburne, Vt. August 20th, 1850.

Dear Sir : — I hasten to answer your request to furnish you with the pedigree
of your horse " Hambletonian," so far as relates to his sire, which I have carefully
gathered for a number of years. It is so difficult to trace the pedigree of stock,
after it arrives from foreign countries, on both sides, that I shall only give you
the descent on the side of the sire; yet your horse shows some points superior
to his sire as regards bone and sinew, which, no donbt, are acquired through his-
dam " Messenger Kate." Your horse is descended as follows: IVOO, Darley's
Arabian; 1716, Bartlet's Childers; 1732, Squirt; 1750, Marsk; 1764, Eclipse;
1775, King Fergus; 1803, White Lock; 1814, Black Lock; 1826, Voltaire;
1835, "Imported Hambletonian';" 1843, by young Hamiltouian, out of a mare
by Brutus, that I purchased in Boston, Mass.

The dam of your horse is Messenger Kate, v/ell known in these parts for her

^•reat speed and strength. Up to this time there has only one horse, half-brother

to yours, been put through training, which resulted in the following manner in

private: while green he trotted his mile in 2.40, was sold for $500; taken to

Boston by Mr. Benton, and after thorough training accomplished his mile in 2.26,

was there sold for $3,000. I could gi\'e you much other information in regard

to their speed, but your horse cannot help but speak for himself.

Yours tndy,

USUAL PERSONS.
To Mr. R. M. Wheeler.

Second best stallion over four years of age; — brown ; Andrew Aitkin, jr., Wau-
kesha. Diploma.

Third best stallion over f(jur , years of age — chestnut sorrell ; Simon Rublee,
Beloit. |5.

Best stallion three years old ; C. L. Annis, Summit. Diploma-
There were two others thi"ee years of tige, but the committee did not thiuk them worthy

of a premium.

Best stallion two years of age ; Simon Rublee, Beloit. Diploma.
Second best stallion two years of age; James Craig, Milton. $5.
Third best stallion two years of age ; Nelson Fryer, Whitewater, $3.
Best one year old stallion colt; N. P. Parsons, Wliitewater. Diploma.
Best brood mare over four years of age — grey; E. F. Mabie, Delavan,
Diploma.

64

Second best brood mare over four years of age; George 0. Tiffany, Milwaukee.
$5.

Third best brood mare over four years of age — brown; E. W. Comes, White-
water. 1 4.

Best brood mare (Jenny Lind) three years of age — dark bay ; Simeon Mills,
Madison. Diploma.

Second best brood mare three years of age — bay ; G. W. Balser, Palmyra. $4.

Best brood mare two years of age; T. W. Williams, Emerald Grove. $4.

Third best mare colt one year of age ; T. P. Davis, Janesville. $3.

MATCHED AND DRAUGHT HORSES.— No. of Entries, 14.

Judges. — N.B. Clapp, Kenosha; George 0. Tiffany, Milwaukee; J. A. Paine,
Madison; Martin Field, Mukwanago; W. P. Burroughs, Janesville.

Best pair of matched horses — dapple greys ; Addison Baker, Racine. Diploma.
Second best pair of matched horses — light greys; Edward Bain, Kenosha.

Diploma.
Third best pair of matched horses — black mares ; Jolm Kent, Janesville. $5.
Best pair of draught horses — grey stalhous ; William Douglass, York. Diploma.
Second best pair of draught horses — bay geldings; J. B. Moon, Janesville.

Diploma.
Third best pair of draught hoi-ses — sorrel mares; Elon Fidler, Waukesha. 1 5.

All of the horses presented to the inspection of the Committee were excellent,
both as to quality and appearance. They Avere not only an honor to Wisconsin,
but would have commanded admiration in any Eastern State. In the opinion
of the Committee they were of a better character than any other new State can
produce — every pair was worthy of a premium had not better ones been
presented.

GELDINGS.— No. of Entries, 8.

Jiidges. — Wm. H. Fox, Madison ; H. M. Allen, Union ; James M. Hawkins,
Waupun; Harvey Brace, Janes\alle.

Best gelding over four years of age; T. Stevens, Racine. Diploma.
Second best gelding over four years of age ; D. B. Teai-s, Alden, III. Diploma.
Third best gelding over four years of age; P. W. Dickey, Janesville. $5.
Best gelding over three years of age ; E. B, Fargo, Lake Mills, Diploma.
Second best gelding over three years of age; A. Henderson, Beloit. |5.

65

Remarks on the Breeding of Hoi-ses by W. H. Fox, Chairman of the Committee:

Greenfield, Dane Co., Wis., Dec. 29th, 1851.

Dear Sir — At the late Fair of our State Society held at Janesville, the short
space of time allotted to committees to make their reports, necessarily prevented
any very lengthy remarks ; were it otherwise, your committee on geldings would
have accompanied their report, with some more extended observations. Howe\'er
as a member of that committee and a farmer, I would respectfully oiler a few
suggestions, which may possibly be of some benefit to a portion of our farming
community. The raising of the horse and his application to labor, must always
constitute one of the most important and interesting branches of agriculture ; and
already not a few of our farmers are beginning to turn their attention particularly
to that business.

But it is very plain, even judging from some of the specimens exhibited at the
fair, that most of our farmers breed without due regard to proper system, or to
the class of animals most desirable for pleasui-e and profit. They seem to think
that a mare rendered worthless by vicious habits, or disease, will do very well to
raise a colt from, no matter if she is blind, spavined, ring-boned, or splinted, small-
sized, or ill shaped — if they can only procure a good, large, fat horse for a sire.

This is a very bad system and ought to be eradicated. The great evil is, they
pay too little attention to the kind of mare. Both animals ought to be perfect as
near as we can judge and get them, or else our breed of horses will never be
generally good, but a spurious race will continue, and degeneration progi-ess.
If breeders do not pay more attention to the hereditary transmission of disease ;
if we do not exercise proper judgment with regard to form, constitution, and
freedom from hereditary taint, how can we expect a sound or healthy offspring
from either sire or dam ?

It is, therefore, ^■ery important that Agricultural Societies should have such
judges as are competent and able to discover any hereditary tendency to disease
or defect capable of being transmitted to the oftspring.

If any disease or imperfection can be detected, such horses should then be
declared unfit to propagate their species. The principal maladies in the horse,
capable of being developed in tlieir issue, sooner or latei', are — all defective
organizations, splints, spa\'ins, ring-bones, curbs, tendency to contraction of the feet,
and founder, also disease of the eyes and respiratory organs. Of this we have
daily occular demonstration, together with the testimony of the best ^'eterinaly
pathologists. The improvements which have taken place in the difi'erent breeds
of animals, shows clearly how much we have under command, by judicious
crossing, size, form, action, disposition, (fee, and tendency to health or disease.
Knowing all this, of what vital consequence it is to avoid all defects in animals

5

66

intended to breed from. Let us not forget the old saying " that like begets hke ;"
and not continue to do as too many of us have done, year after year, bi-eed from
animals possessing the seeds of disease, and almost every bad quality, evident to
the most casual observer. "We should also give our especial attention to the
breeding of such a class of horses as combine, in the greatest degree, the desirable
quahties of power and speed — add to these, sufficient size, mettle, and docility of
disposition, with proper symmetry of form, and compactness — ^strong, clean, hard
bone, and tough hoof — and we have the most desirable horse for general busi-
ness, and one that will always command a good price in any market. The
muscles and tendons should be well developed, for the strength of an animal does
not depend so much upon the size of the bones as on that of the muscles. Many
• animals with large bones are weak, their muscles being small. How much
better for us to take pains and endeavor to raise good horses, than by carelessness
to continue to inundate the country with deformed, diseased, worthless scrubs. It
certainly costs as much, and even more, to raise poor, inferior animals, besides the
mortification of ha^'ing such a drug on our hands. The name "western horse,"
might be a passpoi't to any market, if we would only pay suflBcient attention to
judicious selection in breeding.

It is true, it would be difficult to procure animals without some defect ; but
our aim should be onward, and we should make use of every reasonable exertion
to select such as come nearest to the desirable standard.

The first and most important step towards improvement, is to select the right
kind of mare, full of health and vigor. Youatt says it is more difficult to select
a good mare to breed from, than a horse, because she should possess some-
what opposite qualities. In order to improve the form of the ofispring, she
should be proportionally larger than the stallion; her carcass should be rather
long, to give rooni for the expansion of the foetus — yet with compactness of form,
and shortness of leg, chest rooomy, shoulders oblique and deep, withers well
I'aised, girth lai'ge, loins broad, and quarters wide, shanks flat and clean. The
muscles and their appendages (the tendons) cannot be too prominently developed
in the brood mare ; however desirable, or even perfect may have been the confor-
mation of the sire, everj' good point may be neutralized or lost by the defective
structure of the mare.

The essential points should be good in both parents, or any minor defect in
either must be got rid of by excellence in that particular point in the other.
The careless breeder too often so badly pairs the animals, that the good points of
each are almost lost, the defects of both increased, and the produce is inferior to
either sire or dam.

Another very bad practice, is that of breeding from young animals before
nature is wdl developed in form, and every organ has acquired full maturity.

G7

As to the stallion, it is a well established fact, that the cross between large,
upright shouldered, overgrown horses and small mares, generally produce a race
of long legged, small chested, spongy boned animals.

It is also a well established fact, that to obtain speed, courage, spirit and
bottom, with hardness of bone, we must have what breeders call a strong dash
of blood ; and we should aim to get as much blood as we can into the horse of
all-work, consistently with the necessary weight. However, in doing this we
should avoid the long-legged, narrow-loined, pot-gutted, degenerate class of race
horses, and endeavor to select such as are well formed, with sufhcient bone, body
and muscle, and shortness of leg, to enable them to bear up under long conti-
nued and severe exertion. Diomede, Sir Archy, Medlej^, and other far famed
thorough breds, are said to have possessed these very desirable qualities in a •
pre-eminent degree, and transmitted them largely to their otispring.

It is said that Lee's celebrated legion, in the South, during the Revolu-
tion, chiefly owed its great efficiency to these qualities, and the prevalence of
blood in his horses. They were i-emarkable for their wonderful endurance of
hunger, thirst and fatigue, making them the terror and scourge of the enemy.
According to the turf register, the blood of the Lindsay Arabian, once the
property of the Emperor of Morocco, entered largely into these horses. With
such well authenticated facts before us, we should feel fully impressed that we
can count on no permanent supply of desirable horses for saddle or harness,
without a portion of good blood, and a judicious and careful system of breeding.
Always bearing in mind, that in order to produce the most perfect formed ani-
mal, plenty of nourishment is necessary from the first period of its existence until
the growth is completed. It is also well worthy of our I'egai-d, to hold out
proper inducements to measure the speed, and guage the bottom, and record
faithfully the performance of the horse, in order to be able to select from the
best, and prevent degeneration. Hoping these hurried remarks may contribute
to stir up a spirit of inquiry on this subject,

I am, dear Sir,

Your obedient servant,
To Albert C. Ingham, Esq. WILLIAM H. FOX.

Sec. Wis. State Agricultural Society.

LOjS"G WOOLED sheep.— No. of Exteibs, 7.

Judges. — B. B. Gary, Milwaukee; Worden Matteson, Delavan; E. Newell,
Kenosha; Samuel R. McClellan, Wlieatland; B. E\ Pixley, Janesville.

Second best buck over two years of age — Bakewell; Chas. Wardlo, Union. $2.
Best ewe over two years of age — Bakewell ; Charles Wardle, Union. Di]iloma.
Best buck and ewe lambs — Bakewell ; Charles Wardle, Union. Diploma.

68

MIDDLE WOOLED SHEER— No. of Entries, 2.

Judges. — B. B. Gary, Milwaukee; Worden Matteson, Delavan; E. Newell,
Kenosha; Samuel K McClellan, Wheatland; B. F. Pixley, Janesville.

Best ewe under two years old — South Down; N, B. Clapp, Kenosha. Diploma.

MERINOES.— No. of Entries, 51.

Jvdges. — James M. Hawkins, Waupun; Adam E. Ray, Troy; Samuel R.
McClellan, Wheatland; B. F. Pixley, Janesville; G. C. Pratt, Waukesha.

Best buck over two years of age; W, P. Benson, Fort Atkinson. Diploma.
Second best buck over two years of age; T. W. Williams, Emerald Grove. $2.
Best buck under two years of age; T. W. Williams, Emerald Grove. $2.
Second best buck under two years of age; Edward Bain, Kenosha. $2.
Best buck lamb ; W. P. Benson, Fort Atkinson. |2.

Best ewe over two years of age; T. W. Williams, Emerald Grove. Diploma.
Second best ewe over two years of age ; W. P. Benson, Fort Atkinson. $2.
Third best ewe over two years of age; T. W. Williams, Emerald Grove. $1.
Best ewe under two years of age ; W. P. Benson, Fort Atkinson. |2.

SAXONS.— No. OF Enteies, 11.

Judges. — T. Stevens, Racine ; Jonathan Larkin, Madison ; 0. Fowler, Racine ;
Thomas M. Williams, Kenosha ; Samuel R. McClellan, Wheatland.

Best buck over two years of age ; N. B. Clapp, Kenosha. Diploma.

Second best buck over two years of age; T. W. Williams, Emerald Grove. $2.

Best buck under two years of age; N. B. Clapp, Kenosha. Diploma.

Best buck lamb; N. B. Clapp, Kenosha. Diploma.

Best ewe over two years of age ; N. B. Clapp, Kenosha. Diploma.

Best ewe under two years of age; N. B. Clapp, Kenosha. Diploma.

Best ewe lamb ; N, B. Clapp, Kenosha. Diploma.

The Committee think that this class of Sheep was very fine. Those belonging
to Mr. Clapp will equal, if not surpass, any in the State ; and they would recom-
mend them to the wool-growers throughout the State.

N. B. Clapp's Statement:

Kenosha, December 27th, 1851.

Dear Sir — Your letter of the 1st inst., doing me the honor of requesting
from me a statement of the blood and character of ray flock of sheep, I received
by due course of mail ; and although writing for publication is out of my line

69

of business, I will answer the few questions asked by you as accurately as I can,
and perhaps besides these add a little moi-e. I am aware that I can give you no
new ideas on sheep management, yet I am willing, and will with pleasure give
the Society my views of sheep, and my management of them.

I have at present five hundred /?^/^ blood Saxony sheep. I purchased the flock
with which I commenced in 1844, in Dutchess county, N. Y., and Litchfield
county, Ct. ; they originated mostly from the importation of H. D. Grove, of
Hoosack, N. Y. ; but of late I have been breeding from bucks of the late import-
ations of Charles B. Smith, of Woolcotville, Ct. Mr. Smith was associated with
some gentlemen in New York in these importations ; the number imported was
.small, I think less than fifty; they were imported expressly for their own farms,
and Mr. Smith said selected with much care ; and judging from the sheep, I think
Mr. Smith is justifiable in so saying, for, in my opinion, they are about what a
fine wooled sheep should be.

During the summer, after shearing, my sheep receive but little attention, ex-
cept to see that they do not become destroyed by dogs, or wolves, or strayed
away, and are salted twice a week ; for this, I keep a boy with my sheep through
the day, and turn them in a yard at night ; I pasture my sheep, with the excep-
tion of my bucks, on the unfenced prairie, from about the twentieth of April to
the first of October ; then I put them on my cultivated grass, and there they
remain until I am compelled to sort my ewes in classes, for the buck, which is
about the fifth of December, •

I always feed them a small quantity of oats, in the sheaf, for at least ten days
before I put them in the yard for winter, believing, that one bushel of grain at
this time is worth more than two at any other time you can give it to them; for
at this time the grass has been fi-equently frozen, and has lost much of its former
richness ; and I think one of the great secrets in wintering sheep well, is to put
them in the yard in good condition.

In winter I keep my sheep in open yards, always providing them with good
shelter and plenty of water. I feed them in the common box racks set in the
open yard, with as much good hay as they will eat. I feed no grain, or roots,
except to my lambs, and occasionally to an invalid. I keep salt and ashes mixed —
one part ashes, two parts salt — in a trough under shelter, where they can have
free access to it. I formerly salted my hay when I put it up ; a practice which
I condemn at present, believing that salt will be eaten, when needed, without
compelling them to eat it at every mouthliil of hay they eat; and besides this, I
have noticed that in extreme cold weather when they had access to salt they
would eat but little, and as the weather moderated they would eat much more;
showing that they had a choice when to eat it — and, I believe, that choice should
be gratified.

70 " %

My sheep do not go out of the yard from the time I put them to hay until
they go to grass in the spring, except once a month I drive them out, and dri\e
oft' briskly, about forty rods, to try their strength ; the weaker ones fall behind,
and in that way I can ascertain if there be any that need a situation in the hos-
pital, as I always keep a yard of this kind, and when I find a sheep weak, or in
a decline, I place them in this yard, and as they regain their strength by care
and good feeding — which this yard always receives — I place them back with their
former companions ; and in this way the hospital never has more than a dozen,
and frequently not half that number of patients. After the hospital has received
its patients in sorting for winter, I next put my bucks, such as I do not intend
to use, in a yard by themselves, then the lambs — in another yard the weathers,
then the ewes, according to the grade of wool and weight of fleece; and select
such bucks as I think best suited to each yard, and turn them in, allowing
one buck to forty or fifty ewes. The bucks remaining with the ewes through the
day, and are taken out at night, and put in a yard by themselves, and fed plen-
tifully with hay and grain. In this way the bucks are kej^t strong and vigorous,
and my lambs come stronger than when bucks are allowed to be reduced in strength,
Avhich will surely he, if they are allowed to remain all the time wth the ewes.

My bucks are put with the ewes about the first of December, and taken away
about the first of June. I find by this treatment that my sheep go out of the
yard in the spring, in as good condition as they came in at the commencement
of the winter, with their wool more rich and perfect in appearance. If sheep in
good condition in tlie fall do not receive sufiicient care during the winter to keep
them so, of course the wool will show it, and it very much lessens its value.

I have been engaged for a few years past in the purchase of wool, and have
almost daily come in contact with wool of this character which was very much
lessened in value by the bad management of the sheep thi-ough the winter.
The other practice, whicli injures much of the wool in Wisconsin, is the beards
and chaft' that they get in their wool by running to and eating from straw stacks,
a practice Avhich I hope to see less of in future. As my sheep go out of the
yards in spring, I tag them of all such wool as would become besmeared with
manure as soon as the sheep go to grass, which would render it worthless, and
very much check tlie growth of the sheep; this is done at the expense of one
penny per head, and the wool saved liy the process is worth throe times the
amount. As my sheep go out of the y;ard in the spring, about the first of
April, they are turned on my cultivated grass through the day, and driven into
the yard at night, and given some choice hay with grain every evening, until
the grass has grown sufliciently for them to live upon.

As my lambs come, every lamb that comes through the day is taken out at
night, together with its dam ; and those that come through tlie night are taken

71

out in the morning, and kept apart from the main flock. Tliis is not neceeeary
in small flocks ; but in large ones it is a matter of importance, for when lambs
are coming frequently, an ewe, will very often, just before yeaning, take to some
other young lamb and disregard her own — thus one lamb has two mothers, and
the other lamb is left without one ; this difficulty is very much lessened by the
taking out of the young lambs, together with the dam, as often as is convenient.

My male lambs are all castrated before they ai-e ten days old, except such as I
intend for " stock bucks." I wash my sheep in a large vat of clear running
water, and wash them as long as they discolor the water when pressed from the
wool. I then put them on as clean green sward as I can conveniently ; and, if
the weather is good, shear in six or seven days after washing.

I aim to have my sheep shorn as evenly as I can, by procuring good shearers;
after shearing, I turn my entire flock together, and let them remain together for
about ten days, by this time, the sheep being destitute of wool, the ticks have
left them and taken shelter in the wool of the Iambs ; now I dip the lambs in a
decoction of tobacco, and in this way rid my whole flock of the ticks, which if
allowed to remain in the sheep would materially injure their condition. I have
long been of the opinion, that the Saxony sheep, fairly managed, would be per-
fectly hardy, and produce more dollars and cents than any other breed of sheep
according to the feed they consume. Sheep consume just in proportion to their
weight ; and the sheep that gives the most money according to his weight of
carcass, is the sheep I should prefer, and not the one that shears the most
pounds of wool regardless of the carcass, that is to be supported at great
expense to produce this big fleece. Islj object in the commencement of my
flock, was to produce a strong, healthy sheep, with a fleece of superfine qua-
lity, and good fair weight. In this I have succeeded, I think, tolerably well,
certainly beyond my expectations. I had much rather shear my sheep than
describe them ; their weight of fleece is an average of three pounds per head —
With but few bucks or weathers, mostly breeding ewes and lambs. I have
taken from a full blood Saxony buck seven pounds of wool, washed clean, and
entirely free from grease and gum, the latter of which frequently forms a great
part of those heavy fleeces we hear of being produced.

My ewes produce, on an average, about ninety lambs to one hundred ewes.
As to the health of my sheep, you can judge a little from my losses in the past
two winters. In 1850 I had a few over 500, my loss between fall and spring
grass was three; in 1851 it was two.

I purchased last fall ten choice Merino ewes, they were brought from Vermont
two years since by R. C. Otis, Esq., of this place; they originated from the
flock of Stephen Atwood, of Ct. I purchased them expressly for testing their
merits with my Saxons, keej^ing the blood of both pure, and treating them

72

alike; and in this w.i}', I tliink, I cin judge rovrectly, after one or two years,
which of the two is tlie best.

I will say here, that thus far I have had no reason to change my former opi-
nion, which was in favor of the Saxons.

I have also six pure blood South Downs, five ewes and a buck, which I pur-
chased in Dutchess Co., N. Y., from the best flocks there. They originated from
the flock of Jonas Webb, in England, and are of a medium quahty in wool, and
•will average about four pounds of wool each. They mature very young, and
are very much inclined to flesh; and, I think, are more profitable than any
kind when small flocks only are kept, for the comfort and convenience of a
family, as the wool is of an excellent quality for domestic use, and their flesh is
most delicious ; and I believe also, they are the most profitable when they are
raised for the butcher. They are also very prolific, more than one half of the

ewes bring two lambs, and are excellent milkers.

Yours, very truly.

To Albert C. Ingham, Esq. N. B. CLAPP.

Sec. of the State Agriailtual Society of Wis.

PAULAR MERINOES.— No. of Entries, 8.

Judges. — James M. Hawkins, Waupun; Adam E. Ray, Troy; Samuel R.
McClellan, Wheatland; B. F. Pixley, Janesville; G. C. Pratt, Waukesha.

Best buck over two years of age; Erastus W. Drury, Fond du Lac. Diploma.
Second best buck over two years of age ; John A. Fletcher, Johnstown. $2.

CROSS BREED SHEEP.— ITo. of Enteies, 41.

Judges. — T. Stevens, Racine ; Jonathan Larkin, Madison ; 0. Fowler, Racine ;
Thos. M. Williams, Emerald Grove ; Samuel R. McClellan, Wheatland.

Best buck under two years of age ; J. Roberts, Janesville. Diploma.
Best buck lamb ; J. Roberts, Janesville. Diploma.
Best ewe over two years of age ; J. Roberts, Janesville. Diploma.
Best ewe under two years of age; J. Roberts, Janesville. Diploma.
Best ewe lamb ; J. Roberts, Janesville. Diploma.

SWINE.— No. OF Entries, 20.

Judges. — George 0. Tiffany, Milwaukee ; Andrew Aitkin, Jr. Waukesha ;
Richard Flack, ; Charles Weed, Madison; Levi St. John, .

Best boar under two years of age (Byfield) ; A. A. Gifibrd,- Johnstown. Diploma.
Second best boar under two years of age (Neapolitan) ; A. J. Luckey, Bradford. $1.

T3

Best sow over two years of age ; J. Spauldiug, Harmony. Diploma.

Best sow pig under ten mouths of age; J. W. Dickey, Janesville. Diploma.

Best lot of pigs; A. Hoskins, Janesville. Diploma.

PLOUGHING MATCH.— TSTo. of Ejtteies, 9.

Judges. — Edwaed Elderkin, Elkhom; Frank S.Lawrence, ; Samuel

G. Colley, Beloit; Ephraim Perkins, Dodge Center; C. C. Olin,
Waukesha.

The following named persons entered as competitors for the premiums to be
awarded by the State Society :

Horse Teams.

James West, Johnstown, Rock County.

John Brown, Johnstown, Rock County.

Messrs. Green and Foss, Watertown, Jefferson County.

Messrs. Alexander and Ainslee, Milton, Rock County.

J. Smith, Beloit, Rock County.

J. M. May, Janesville, Rock County.

Robert Taylor, Spring Valley, Rock County.

Ox Teams.

Timothy Jackman, Janesville, Rock County.
Lorenzo D. Thompson, Janesville, Rock County.

The Committee marked off the lands into pieces containing one-fourth of an
acre each, one rod wide by forty rods in length ; the quickest time was made by
J. M. May, of Janesville, being twenty-six minutes. The best work was done by
Messrs. Alexander and Ainslee, of Milton, and the Committee have unanimously
awarded to Messrs. Alexander and Ainslee, for the hest work done, the Society's
first premium, a Diploma ; to J. M. May, of Janesville, the second premium, $3.
to Robert Taylor, of Spring Valley, the third premium, $2.

The time made by the Ox Team of Mr. Timothy Jackman was the same as
that of Mr. J. M. Ma}-, but the style of his work was not equal to his competitor
Mr. Lorenzo Thompson, to whom we have awarded the Society's first premium,
a Diploma.

The ploughs used by Messrs. Alexander and Ainslee, Mr. J. M. May, and by
Mr. Robert Taylor, were made by Mr. May, of Janesville; and the Committee
have no hesitation in saying, that the May plough is superior to those usually
found in this country ;• and is not only creditable to the maker, but to the rising
mechanical genius now being developed in our young and vigorous State.

74

FARMING IMPLEMENTS.— No. of Extries, 43.

Judges. — No. 1. — John B. Smith, Milwaukee; A. A. Bird, Madison; E. Wood
CoRNEs, Whitewater; J. W. Stillman, Milwaukee; Wm. Mulks, AVhitewater.

Judges. — No. 2. — L. F. Blake, Whitewater ; D.F.Cogswell, Brookfiel<3; C.
Densmore, Janesville; W. R. Higgins, Kenosha; Adam E. Hay, Troy.

Best plough, J. Milton ^lay, Janesville. Diploma.

MAY'S IMPROVED STEEL PLOUGH.

Two of the leading peculiarities of this plough, which was recommended by
the Committee for the first premium of .the Society, are these :

Fu-st — The post, connecting the plough wnth the beam, passes up the side of
the beam, and extends across, or partly across, its upper side, and is fastened by
a siuo'le bolt. This mode p'ives several advantages: — 1. The entire streno-th of
the beam is retained — the cutting of a mortice through the beam, as in other
ploughs, being obviated, 2. The facility it aftbrds in wooding ploughs rapidly,
and adjusting the draft with the utmost precision. And 3. In preventing straw
and stubble from gathering under the beam and clogging the plough. It is foimd
by experiment that the plough-post may be of less length and the beam from
two to four "inches nearer the surface of the ground, ^Yhen this mode of fastening
is adopted. The action of the furrow, as it is elevated and turned, cari'ies with it
straw, &c. without meeting the resistance of the corner of the beam as in the old
style of wooding.

Second — The form of the mould-board and share : — A better idea of this,
perhaps, cannot be given than by a quotation from the specification in the letters
patent, in which a semicone is described, by which the conic form of the share
and mould-board is illustrated.

" For a plough of ordinary size and for ordinary purposes, twenty-eight inches
may be the base of the cone, and the height or apex one hundred and twenty
inches; although the angle of the cone may vary according to the lightness, or
heavy and compact natui-e of the soil. The share and mould-board are placed
on the cone in a diagonal position.

" A diagonal line is commenced at the extremity of the base of the cone, and
departing from the line of the cone two and a half inches in sixteen inches, in-
clining this line to the left for a right-hand plough, and to the right for a left-
hand plough. Now place the point of the share at the extremity of the base of
the cone and the edge of the share on this diagonal line, and let the share and
mould-board be made to conform to the cene. The conic form of share and
mould-board, gives great ease to the draft of the plough, and great perfection

75

to the work in covering weeds, straw and rubbish, and leaves the ground in
good condition for subsequent cultivation."

Another consideration of much impoi'tance is, that the front part of the share
and mould-board (always subject to the greatest wear) is made of double thick-
ness of steel, giving the plough about twice the durability of those made in the
usaal manner.

When the rules for forming the mould-board, for regulating the draft, for giving
the relative position of the mould-board and beam, and the appropriate front
angle for adapting the plough to different soils, are carefully obser\-ed, it is con-
fidently claimed that these ploughs possess great superiority in their durability,
the quality and perfection of the ploughing done, and in the amount of work
accomplished in a given period of time.

Its present perfection has been attained by a series of experiments from year to
year; and their uniformity of shape is secured by the use of heavy machinery in
bringing the steel and iron into the proper form in the process of construction.

The same manufacturer is prosecuting further experiments with a view of
constructing the plough as good, or even better than at present, with a reduction
of at least one-third of the expense now required.

Experiments, also, during the past season, promise ultimate success in the
construction of an improved, cheap corn plough or cultivator, and in adapting a
steel subsoil plough to the Western prairies.

TRANSFORMABLE PLOUGH, No. 1

The above engraving is a view of this plough in order for breaking prairie
with one span of hoi'ses.

The foundation is made of light boiler iron, the portions coming in contact
with the earth being faced with steel plates. All lateral motion being obviated by
this method, it combines lightness with great strength. The furrow is turned by
means of three rods which, properly adjusted, reduces the friction at least twenty
five per cent.

76

The coulter is made of a single plate of steel, about two and a-half inches in
-width, with two points and two cutting edges, and is fastened with a single bolt
to the plate post ; and when one point is dulled by use, it is reversed, and a new
cutting edge and point is jiresented — thus giving about four times as much cut-
ting edge as the common coulter.

It will be observed, that the position of the coulter is such that it forms with
the base of the plough an acute angle, making an important item in the easy
draught of the plough. An ordinary day's work with one span of horses is one
and a half to two acres.

TRANSFORMABLE PLOUGH, No. 2.

This engraving exhibits the same plough, with the wheel, share, coulter, and
rods, used in breaking, removed, and a steel share and mould-board, of any
desired size and form, applied.

It requires the ploughman but a few minutes to make the change, and it is
then ready for ploughing stubble, and all descriptions of cultivated lands.

The steel mould-board and share, costing about five dollars, takes the place
of the oi'dinary steel j^Iough, which costs from ten to fifteen dollars, according to
size and quality.

Although this improvement is new, it has been thoroughly tested and approved
by some of the best farmers in Wisconsin. The usual breaking plough is used
for a short time only, in each season, and is useless for the balance of the year —
while this plough, capable of being changed for the purposes above described,
and being used by the ordinary farm team, instead of thi'ee to six yoke of oxen,
supplies a deficiency hitherto unprovided for.

Best harrow ; Thompson Littell, Milwaukee. Diploma.

Best cultivator, Thompson Littell, Milwaukee. Diploma.

Best three horse evener; Simon Rublee, Beloit. Diploma.

Best grain reaper (MoCormick's) ; A. P. Diekey, Racine. Dijtloma.

77

Best fanning mill ; A. P, Dickey, Racine. Diploma.

Improved threshing machine jack ; Joshua Davis, Kenosha. DiplomS,

Best smut machine ; S. B. Newcomb, Madison. Diploma.

GRIMES' SMUT MACHINE.

These machines are claimed to possess advantages over any ever before offered
to the public. The machines are heavier, and have enlarged throats and issues
for feeding and delivering the grain. A few of the most decided advantages
they possess are these :

78

Ist. They will clean in the most perfect manner the foulest and smuttiest
Avheat, and render the same, once passed through the machine, clean grain.

2d. They do the work much quicker, and in a better manner, than other
machines.

3d. It takes much less power than any other machine of the kind. The
saving to millers in this respect is very important, as it enables them to run
(with the same power) five, where they have been able before to run but four
pair of stones, which is a saving of twenty-five per cent., by enabling them to
grind one-fourth part more in the same space of time, beside cleaning the wheat
for the whole jierfectly.

4th. Their durability is of great advantage. The constantly recurring expen-
ses of repairs, so heavy in other machines, by using this machine, are saved,
as there is nothing to adjust, repair, or renew.

oth. There is no waste whatever in cleaning wheat with these machines, and
the difference in the weight of any quantity of wheat before and after cleaning,
is precisely the amount of dirt, smut, and other foul matter blown out at the top
of the machine, without carrying with it a single kernel of wheat, or even those
parts of kernels that have been previously broken by the threshing machine.

Best corn sheller; Joshua Davis, Kenosha. Diploma.
Best corn grinder; A. P. Dickey, Racine. Diploma.
Best corn drill ; S. D. Baldwin, Adrian, Mich. Diploma.
Best churn ; S. D. Baldwin, Adrian, Mich. Diploma.
Best fine harness ; George Dyer, Milwaukee. Diploma.
Best common harness ; George Dyer, Milwaukee. Diploma.
Best draught collar ; N. S. Woodrufi", Janesville. Diploma.
Best Buggy waggon; A. Baker, Racine. Diploma.
Best carriage springs; S. H. Hurd, Watertown. Diploma.
Best grain cradle ; H. Hammond, Clinton. Diploma.
Best hand rake. S. Rublee, Beloit. Diploma.
Best garden rake ; Parker and Stone, Beloit. Diploma.
Best hay forks ; Adam E. Ray, Troy. Diploma.
Best manure forks ; Adam E. Ray, Troy. Diploma.
Best grass scythe ; Adam E. Ray, Troy. Diploma.
Best grain scythe; Adam E. Ray, Troy. Diploma.
Best hay knife; Adam E. Ray, Troy. Diploma.
Best sausage meat cutter ; Simon Rublee, Beloit. Diploma.
Best butcher knives ; Parker and Stone, Beloit. Diploma.
Best grain sycle ; Parker and Stone, Beloit. Diploma.

79

Best brooms ; William Mulks, Whitewater. Diploma,

Best threslaing machine ; M. Hughes, Kenosha. Diploma.

Best tread power threshing machine ; J. J. Case, Racine. Diploma.

Best hay cutter ; A. Henderson, Johnstown. Diploma.

Best portable mill ; M. Millard, Lake MiUs. Diploma.

Best soap; E. D. Ladd, Milwaukee. Diploma.

DAIRY.— No. OF Entries, 7.

Judges. — Martin Webster, Waushara ; James Reynolds, Burlington ; Rufus
King, Milwaukee ; 0. W. Norton, Janesville; James T. Saxby, Reedsburgh.

Best butter ; J. Cory, Bachelor's Grove. Diploma.

J. Cory's Statement:

Bachelor's Grove, Rock Co., Dec. 21st, 1851.

Dear Sir — In compliance with the request contained in yours of the 1st of
December inst., that I would communicate to you for publication, the process
used in making the butter exhibited by myself at the late State Fair. I will say,
that it gives me pleasure to do so, and I will, to the best of \n.j ability, endeavor
to perform this service.

The cows, fi-om which the samples of butter above alluded to were made, were
kept at that time on timothy pasture with other feed ; they are six in number,
and are all of what are termed the native breed of this country.

The milk, when drawn from the eows, is strained into tin pans, and placed in
a cool cellar, where it is allowed to stand until it becomes thick, or " clabbered,"
when it should be churned immediately, for if it is allowed to stand long after
this time, the cream wdll become sour, and the butter will be rancid. We churn
the milk and cream together, and usually churn from three-quarters of an hour
to an hour; and use a dash churn that ^Yill hold one barrel — fill it about half
full of milk, and, in warm weather, add from one to one and one-half pails full
of cold water before we commence churning, and add more before the churning
is finished, in order to thin the milk so as to get it all out of the butter. If the
milk should be too cool during the churning, which may be known by its
*' frothing," add a little warm water. We use no thermometer, and therefore
cannot tell the exact temperature that may be necessary in making butter.

We use " dog power," with the inclined wheel, for churning, and sometimes use
a sheep on the same wheel — either answers the purpose well. When the churn-
ing is done the butter is taken out and washed through two waters, and salted ;
the salt is worked in a little ; it is then set by until the salt has had time to dis-
solve, when it is worked over with a hand ladle until all the buttermilk i&

80

worked out of it, then it is ready for packing, except in very warm weather,
when it is left until the next morninw before packiu";.

The month of June is generally best for butter as to quantity ; but I think as
good butter can be made in the month of September, pro\ided the cows have
good timothy, or clover and timothy pasture.

I consider the native grasses of our prairies equal to the best cultivated grasses
for about three months during the season of gi-assing ; but they are not worth
much for milch cows after the month of August.

I believe that a large share of Wisconsin, as far as I am acquainted, is equally
as well adapted in every respect for dairy purposes as any place in any State, not
excepting my native place, "old Orange County," N. Y. But to make a good
article of butter in any place, some things are indispensible, and among these are
good tame grass pasture, especially for spring and fall feed — good well or spring
water, and not " slough" water — good cows — a good cellar to keep the milk and
butter in — particular care to keep the milk pails, pans, and churn perfectly sweet
and clean — a good article of salt — strict attention to churn the milk when it is
just in the right condition, and churn just long enough and no longer, and then
to work all the buttermilk out.

I have kept no account of the amount of butter made or sold the past season.
I am just commencing the dairy business in Wisconsin, and have had some little
experience in wheat raising ; and hope to make the dairy business at least as
profitable as raising hedge-row.

If anything herein contained should prove to be of any benefit to the Society,
or to my brother farmers, I shall be amply repaid for communicating it.

Yours, very truly,

To Albert C. Ingham, Esq. J. CORY.

Secretary, c&c.

Second best butter ; Hugh Jehu, Harmony. $2.

Best cheese ; Samuel A. Thurston, Burlington. Dijjloma.

Samuel A. Thurston's Statement:

Burlington, January 1st, 1852.
Dear Sir — At your solicitation, I vidll endeavor to give you a condensed
account of my observations and experience in cheese making. I have been en-
gaged in the business for several years past, more or less — most of the time in the
State of New York, as it is but little more than a year since I came to this State.
My location is at Burlington, Racine County. My farm is composed partly of
prairie and partly of openings, and contains about three hundred aci'es. I milked
the last season sixty cows. I commenced making cheese the first of May with

81

twenty five cows, and it was not until the middle of June tliat I Lad my number
complete ; twelve of these were heifers that were never milked before. Some of
my cows proved to be bad milkers, those I dried off in September ; this reduced
my number to fifty. I made from the first of May to the first of November,
nine tons of cheese. The precise amount of butter that I have made in the
course of the season I cannot tell, but it will not vai-y much from eight hundred
pounds. I have had many and serious difliculties to contend with, the past
year, having my cows to pick up in different places, bringing them together
entire strangers to each other ; and many of them coming in late, very much
lessened the product of the dairy. The inconvenient and improper fixtures which
are to be found, in many instances, for making and curing cheese, all unite in
convincing me, that any set of rules for making cheese would not be practica-
ble even with the most proficient cheese maker. It is therefore necessary that
those enjxaofed in the manufacture of cheese should have sufficient knowledge of
the science to determine the result of their practice, and this cannot be learned
from verbal instruction. It is by practical experience and close observation only,
that the maker can learn to adapt his practice to the frequent and extreme
changes to which our climate is subject, varying the quality of the milk, and
materially affecting cheese in process of curing. There are, however, leading
principles which form the basis of operations, and should be closely adhered to
in all cases in the process of manufacturing cheese. My usual mode is to
take my evening's and morning's milk to make one cheese; the evening's
milk is strained mto a tub, and cooled to prevent souring. This is done by
setting a tin vessel into the tub filled with cold water; this I usually do when I
commence milking. If the weather is very warm and sultry, the water will need
to be changed once and sometimes twice in the course of the evening ; for unless
the animal heat is extracted, the milk will be sure to sour in the morning. I
take off the cream that I'ises, and put evening's and moraing's milk together. — I
put a quantity of new warm milk with the cream, stir it well together, and put
it into the tub with the rest of my milk, the curdling heat of which should be
about ninety degrees. I then put in a sufficient quantity of rennet to produce
coagulation in from thirty to forty minutes; while the curd is forming, it should
be let entirely alone. After the curd is completely formed, I cut it up with a
cheese rake made for that purpose; I then let it stand twenty or thirty minutes
for the whey to separate from tlie curd ; I then proceed to break up the curd,
and this must be done with the utmost care, and especially if the curd comes
soft. After I have gone through with it, and thoroughly stirred it in every part,
I then let it stand and settle; a strainer is thrown a\'er the tub, and gently
pressed down with the hand into the whey, a portion of which is dipped off", and
placed over the fire to heat ; Avhile this is heating, I work the curds with my

6

82

hands until it is as fine as wheat. After this process is gone through with, I
commence the scalding process by pouring on hot whey; this should be carried
to about one hundred degrees; the curd should be well stirred during the time
of scalding. When the curd is sufficiently cooked so that it feels elastic, and will
squeak when chewed between the front teeth, it is separated from the whey to
receive the salt; this is done by dipping it into a strainer over a sink. This may
be done without its adhering in lumps, by stirring it in a small portion of cold
whey until cooled to ninety or ninety-five degrees. Here great care should be
used, as much depends upon the curds being in a proper state 'to I'eceive the
salt. After the whey is sufficiently drained ofi" I salt my curd, putting in a
common teacup-full of salt to twenty pounds of cheese; after it is well stirred
together, I immediately put it into the press.

My mode of pressing is to press light the first ten minutes, after that I turn
the screw hard upon it. I press my cheese twenty-four hours, turning once in
the time. My opinion is, that we cannot press too hard if the cheese is properly
manufactui'ed. After the cheese is taken from the press it is immediately
colored, and left to stand until dry, and then thoroughly greased and bandaged.
I am not in the habit of using much grease: after this a very little occasionally
is sufficient. I find by turning my cheese every day, and rubbing them with
the hand, they become smoother upon the surface than they do by using more
grease. Oil is obtained for greasing cheese from the whey; after standing
twenty-four hours, it is churned till separation takes place like butter, then
melted over a slov? fire until it turns to oil.

I might say much more, as there are many things connected with the dairy
business that I have not even hinted at in this communication. I find that there
are many objections raised by farmers in this State to the dairy business ; and
one very serious one in the minds of many is, the difficulty of obtaining suitable
fcol for cows at all seasons of the year. It is known to us all, that our prairie
grass cannot be depended on for fell feed; and it is also known, that it must be
some considerable time before we can make much dependence upon the tame
grasses. That these are desirable I acknowledge; but I think we can supply the
deficiency with a very little expense. Our soil is well calculated to produce a
good growth of corn, and this sowed broadcast produces an abundant crop, and
can be produced at the very time it is desired ; I sowed a few acres the past
season and found that it did extremely well. I sowed it the fore part of June,
and put three bushels of seed to an acre. I prefer the eight-rowed yellow corn
to any that I have ever seen tned. Any persons unacquainted with this kind of
corn will be surprised at the amount obtained from an acre. It is also a well-
known fact, that we can produce roots to almost any extent that we choose, our
soil being well adapted to their growtli. I prefer carrots for cowp to any roots T

83

have ever tried or seen used ; these we can raise by selecting a suitable piece of
ground, from five to eight hundred bushels to the acre ; every bushel of which is
worth two bushels of potatoes to feed to cows or to fat cattle, I have never been
in the habit of feeding much grain to my cows. I usually commence to feed
grain the latter part of February, and feed a little every day from that time
until I can obtain a full bite of grass.

Yours respectfully,
To Albert C. Ingham, Esq. • S. A. THURSTON.

Secretary, (&c.

Second best cheese ; Stephen Faville, Milford. $2.

GRAINS AND HONEY.— No. of Entries, 8.

Judges. — Charles S. Hurley, Milwaukee; George C. Pratt, Waukesha;
Charles F. Illsley, Milwaukee ; Milo Jones, Fort Atkinson.

Best winter wheat ; N. P. Bump, Janesville. Diploma.

Second best winter wheat; Allen 0. T. Breed, Milwaukee. $2.

Best broom corn ; Jonathan Pound, Fulton. Diploma.

Best hops; S. Antisdel, Beloit. Diploma.

Best bee-hive ; T. McElhenny, Beloit. Diploma.

Largest squash; E. C. Hull, Madison. $1.

FLOUR AND CORN MEAL.— No. of Entries, 4.

Judges. — C. C. Olin, Waukesha; T. T. Whittlesey, Madison; Ludim Crouch,
Waukesha; B. B. Gary, Milwaukee; Adam E. Ray, Troy.

Best barrel of flour; Strausberger and Co. Janesville. Diploma.
Best sample of hominy ; Williams and Noland, Madison. Diploma.

HOMINY.

This excellent article of food alike cheap, nutritious, and pleasant, may be
prepared in the true Southern style, by any one willing to bestow a little labor
upon it.

The manner of preparing it in the purest and best style is given in the follow-
ing extract from a letter addressed to this Society, by Thos. W. Merriwether,
M. D. of Albemarle county, Virginia, written in answer to a letter soliciting the
same:

" Hominy is of two distmct kinds, large and small : the first is beaten in a
mortar, the last ground in a com mill — the mortar is made of wood. Take a

84

white oak log 36 inches long and from 16 to 18 inches thick, sawed square at
each end ; set it on end and bore a large auger hole in the centre, say six inches
deep ; then place a rim of wet clay around the edge to prevent burning out too
near the edge ; then commence a fire in the centre over the hole — corn cobs,
stacked like a coal kiln, are used chiefly for this fire — -which is kept burning till
the hole is a foot deep ; then dress this hole till the burned portion is removed,
and a hard firm surface is left in the shape of a common mortar, the chipping off
the burnt surface should be done at sev.eral times during the process of burning,
to keep it in proper shape, leaving a rim of one or two inches unbumt around
the top.

" The pestle in general use is a common iron mauling wedge inserted in the
split end of a stick thirty inches long and three inches thick, and an iron ring
forced down over the upper part of the wedge to keep it in place.

" Take white flint corn and put from one to two quai'ts into the mortar, and
pour a little boiling water on occasionally to keep it moist and cause the skins to
slip off the corn, and prevent the flinty portion from being beaten into meal;
during the process of beating, remove the whole contents of the mortar occasion-
ally into a tray, and toss it in a curi'ent of air so as to fan out the meal and bran ;
beat till every grain is broken and skinned. If not used soon after it is beaten,
it should be carefully dried, or it will be likely to sour.

" Small hominy should be made of the same white flint corn, which being a
little moistened, is then ground in the same manner as corn meal, except raising
the stone about two or three times higher, so as to crack the grain to about the
size of wheat ; this is known and sold (at the South) as grits, and is there in
general use. It is prepared in the best manner as follows : Sift the flour from
the grits, scour it well to get off the husks, &c., put two quarts of water to one
quart of grits, and boil imtil the water is entirely absorbed, cover the pot and set
it on hot ashes to soak, which will take from fifteen to twenty minutes, after
which the hominy is fit for use — salt should not be forgotten.

" This small hominy is of far more importance than the large, being much
more easily procured, and, when well cooked, is an invaluable dish.

" The large hominy is cooked in a similar manner, but before being taken up
should be well mashed against the sides of the pot ; a half pint of white beans
added to a quart of hominy is considered an improvement. If seasoned with lard,
put it in before taking the hominy ofi" the fire; butter may be added at any
time. Care should be taken to preserve the whiteness of the hominy, and mixed
corn should never be used in making it."

85

DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.— No. of Entries, 14.

Judges. — S. S. Daggett, Milwaukee; Rufus King, Milwaukee; Chauncey
Abbott, Madison ; A. W. Powers, Palmyra ; H. Richardson, Janesville.

Best silk hose ; Wordeu Matteson, Delavan. Diploma.
Best woollen yarn ; Worden Matteson, Delavan. Diploma.
Best woollen stockings ; H. M. Allen, Union. Diploma.
Best blanket ; Worden Matteson, Delavan. Diploma.
Best piece of flannel ; H. M. Allen, Union. Diploma.
Best piece of cloth ; P. Judson, Kenosha. Diploma.
Best linen thread. Worden Matteson, Delavan. Diploma.

ORNAMENTAL NEEDLE WORK.— No. of Entries, 23.

Judges. — W. Welch, Madison ; S. Gardiner, Jr. Milwaukee ; Mrs. M. A. Allen,
Union ; Mrs. H. J. Starin, Whitewater ; Mrs. M. A. Smith, Milwaukee.

Best pair of ottoman covers; Miss E. H. Langdon, Milwaukee. Diploma.

Best pair of lamp matts; E. B. Dean, jr., Madison. Diploma.

Best Odd Fellows' regalia; Samuel Gardiner, jr., Milwaukee. Diploma.

Best worsted table cover; Mrs. Wardner, Mlwaukee. Diploma.

Best ornamental table cover ; J. D. Browne, Janesville. $3.

Best pair of stockings ; Mrs. A. Henderson, Beloit. Diploma.

Best rug ; Mrs. A. H. Morse, Richmond. Diploma.

Best quilt ; Mrs. W. Hughes, Janesville. Diploma.

FRUIT.— No. OF Entries, 40.

Judges. — H. J. Starin, Whitewater; Simeon Mills, Madison; J. F. Drake,

; F. W. Loudon, Janesville.

Best variety of apples ; Franklin K. Phoenix, Delavan. Diploma.
Second best variety of apples ; S. P. Beecher, Milwaukee. $2.
Best variety of pears ; P. M. Perkins, Burlington. Diploma.
Second best variety of pears ; S. P. Beecher, Milwaukee. S2.
Third best variety of pears. Franklin K. Phoenix, Delavan. $1.
Best variety of peaches; George 0. Tiifany, Milwaukee. Diploma.
Best variety of plums; J. C. Howard, Milwaukee. Diploma.
Second best variety of plums; P. M. Perkins, Burlington. $2.
Best variety of grapes ; W. Tallcott, Rockton, 111. Diploma.
Second best variety of grapes ; Harrison Ludington, Milwaukee, $2.

It is greatly to be regretted that the Committee did not give the names of the
varieties of Fruit which received the premiums.

Report of the Committek :

From the limited time allotted to the Committee, it has been impossible to
examine the different specimens of fruit presented, with that care and attention
necessary to arrive in every instance, perhaps, to a correct conclusion.

In awarding premiums they have endeavored to deal justly, but in some in-
stances the samples presented have held so strong claims to equal merit, that the
Committee have been unable to decide between competitors with perfect satis-
faction to themselves.

Although the quantity of fruit brought forward was not great, yet its superior
size, uniform fairness, and excellent qualities, were such as would have done credit
to older and more advanced fruit-growing States; and, taken as a whole, made a
display of which. our State, in the infancy of its horticulture, may well be proud.

The growing of fruit in Wisconsin can no longer be regarded as problematical;
it has now become a fixed fact, and it can only be a source of deep regret that
this branch of agriculture should have thus long received so little attention. The
difficulty, however, that has heretofore existed in importing fruit trees from a
distance, at a comparatively heavy expense, may perhaps be urged as a strong
reason why so few of the early settlers, even at this day, are enjoying to any
extent one of the greatest luxuries of civilized life. But at present the extensive
propagation of fruit trees in nurseries that have already been opened in different
localities in this State, obviate this formidable difficulty to such an extent, that
the Committee feel called upon, not only to recommend, but earnestly to urge
upon every farmer, who has thus far been negligent, to set about it at once, and
see that his grounds are beautified, and himself enriched, by an orchard.

Nor is it to the farmer alone that the cultivation of fruit should be exclusively
committed. Every person being the owner of a habitation, may improve its
appearance and value, and increase his comforts, by the raising of a single tree.
If ground and means be limited, plant out the less in number, and let that few
be of the choicest kinds.

No investment of capital gives a surer, or more pleasing return, than that
expended in planting and' promoting the growth of trees. Buildings, fences,
implements and fixtures of every other kind, from the moment they are com-
pleted, are subject to certain and constant waste and decay, involving a continued
outlay for improvement and repair. But not thus with the tree; when once its
habitation is fixed in a genial soil and climate, with a little judicious aid bestowed,
rather as pastime than labor, it continues increasing in size, beauty, and value,
during the ordinary life of man, and passes down to the succeeding generation
a living monument of the foresight and enliglitened taste of a thrifty and bene-
volent predecessor.

87

From the experience of practical fruit growers in different countries, the fact
has long since been well settled, that no kind or variety of fruit succeeds equally
well in all localities, and from the limited time that fruit has been cultivated in
this State, it is at present difficult, nay impossble, to decide with any degree of
certainty, what kinds will best reward the cultivator in this soil and climate. But
from the size and uniform fairness of the specimens presented, the Committee
cannot entertain a reasonable doubt but what the different kinds that have been
found to succeed well in the Eastern and Middle States, will be equally produc-
tive and profitable with us.

The following selection of fruits have been made upon the authority of expe-
rienced and practical fruit-growers in ditierent parts of the country, and are
recommended by the Committee as prominent among the varieties worthy of a
first trial. Experience, however, may prove that some of them will fail to maintain
with us their usual good character, and should of course be made to give place
to more promising kinds; but of this, nothing short of a thorough trial will justify
the entire rejection of any standard fruit of the Eastern or Middle States.

LIST OF SELECT FRUITS.

Apples Summer. — Early Harvest, Red Astrachan, Early Eve, Early Straw-
berry, Sweet Bough.
Fall. — Fall Pippin, Gravenstein, Hawley, Porter, Pomme Royal,

Rambo, Golden Sweet.
Winter. — Baldwin, Yellow Belflower, Rhode Island Greening, Belmont,
Peck's Pleasant, Swaar, Esopus Spitzenberg, Roxbury Russet,
Newtown Pippin, Northern Spy, Tall man Sweet.

Pears Summer. — Madeline, Bloodgood, Dearborn's Seedling.

Auhimn. — Bartlet, White Doyenne, Seckel, Urbaniste, Flemish Beauty,

Louisa Bon de Jei"sey, Maria Louisa, Oswego Beurre.
]Vinfer. — Winter Nelis, Beurre de Aremburg, Vicar of Wakefield,
Easter Beurre.

Plums Early Orleans, Bolmar's Washington, Green Gage, Imperial Gage,

Jefferson, Coe's Golden Drop.

CHERRiES...May Duke, Black Tartarian, Graffion or Bigarreau, Elton, Late Duke.

Grapes Clinton, Catawba, Isabella.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

H. J. STARIN, ^

SIMEON MILLS, ! Committee.

J. F. DRAKE,

Janesville, October 2d, 1851. F. W. LOUDON,

ss

FLOWERS.— No. of Entries, 12.

Judges. — Albert C. Ingham, Madison ; E. B. Quiner, Watertown ; George
W. Crabb, Janesville; E. C. Hull, Madison.

Best general display ; Charles Giffbrd, Milwaukee. Diploma.

Best floral ornaments ; Cliarles Giftbrd, Milwaukee. Diploma.

Second best general display ; S. P. Beeclier, Milwaukee. $2.

Best display of dalilias and phloxes ; Franklin K. Phoenix, Delavan. Diploma.

Second best display of dahlias and phloxes; J.W. Parker, Milwaukee. Certificate.

PAINTINGS, PRINTING, AND DAGUERREOTYPES.— No. or Extries, 12.

Judges. — E. B. Quiner, Watertown; Albert C.Ingham, Madison; George
W. Crabb, Janesville; E. C. Hull, Madison.

Best exhibition of card printing — equal Premium; Rufus King, Milwaukee,
Diploma.

Best exhibition of card printing — equal premium; Charles S. Hurley, Mil-
waukee. Diploma.

Best exhibitions of card printing — equal premium; B. B. Cary, Milwaukee.
Diploma.

Best exhibitions of card printing — equal premium; Elisha Starr, Milwaukee.
Diploma.

Best specimen of book and pamphlet printing ; Rufus King, Milwaukee. Diploma.

Best exhibition of daguerreotypes; Stamm and Upmann, Milwaukee. Diploma.

Best specimen of painting in water colors — flowers; Miss H. Brace, Janesville.
|2.

Second best specimens of painting in water colors — flowers ; Miss Jane Goodrich,
Milton. |1.

Best landscape paintings; Miss Olive Ketchell, Janesville. Diploma.

Best specimen of painting in oils; Oliver S. Clayton, Beloit. Diploma.

Card Printing. — The Committee report that the specimens presented were
all of the best character, and wei-e pleasing evidence of the height to which
this department of " the art preservative of all arts," had been carried. In view
of the impossibility of giving the palm to any particular competitor, they have
given equal rank to all.

Book and Pamphlet Printing. — The specimens exhibited by General Rufus
King, of Milwaukee, were of the finest style of work, and show conclusively
that "book-making" can be carried on in Wisconsin as well as among "the rest
of mankind."

89

Da&ukrreotypes. — The Committee gives the highest praise to Messrs. Stamm
and Upmann for their exhibition. The fullness and distinctness of the lineaments
of the face, and the life-like expression of the eye, whieh marks these specimens,
bespeak the true artist.

Paintings. — All of the specimens of painting and sketching were of great
beauty and finish, and some evinced a rare talent and appreciation of the beau-
tiful that should be encouraged.

STOVES.— No. OF Entries, 1.

Judges. — Samuel S. Daggett, Milwaukee ; Hamilton Richardson, Janesville ;
E. D. Ladd, Milwaukee; N. P. Bump, Janesville.

Best economist cooking stove; James Saville, Milwaukee — no competition.
Diploma.

SILVER AND GOLD WARE.— No. of Entries, 4.

Judges. — Samuel S. Daggett, Milwaukee; Hamilton Richardson, Janesville;
RuFus King, Milwaukee ; N. P. Bump, Janesville ; Sarah Keeler, Geneva.

Best exhibition of jewelry ; A. B. Van Cott, Racine. Diploma.

Best exhibition of fancy gold and silver ware; Samuel Gardiner, jr., Milwaukee.

Diploma.
Best gold watch ; J. R. Treat, Milwaukee. Diploma.

MISCELLANEOUS AND DISCRETIONARY.— No. of Extries, 41.

Judges. — Martin Field, Mukwonego ; A. P. Dickey, Racine ; C. Fairchild,
Madison ; E. A. Howland, Janesville ; S. S. Daggett, Milwaukee.

Best pure saleratus ; E. D. Helton, Milwaukee. Diploma.

Mr. Holton's Statement:

The great merit of my saleratus is its purity, entire freedom from poisonous
substances, and the presence of the highest amount of carbonic acid ; as will be
seen by the following analysis made by the State Assayer of the State of Massa-
chussets. The ' Barnard" parcel of which he speaks, is the celebrated Boston
Saleratus.

E. D. HOLTON.

90

Results of a Chemical comparison of two Samples of Saleraius.

1, Pine Street, Boston, 6th Sept., 1850.

Firat sample, marked " Barnard." — This was a white, mealy, dry mass, com-
posed of powder and lumps; when reduced to powder, it presented only opaque,
nearly snow-white granicles. It contained besides pearlash, and its salts united to
carbonic acid, an odorous body derived from a fermenting val. One hundred
parts of this powder, afforded thirty-four parts of carbonic acid.

Second sample, marked " Holton." — The same general appearance was pre-
sented by this as in the former sample. When reduced to ponder, it slightly
attracted moisture, and its powder was hardly as snow-white as the first sample.
" Neither sample contained the slightest trace of poisonous metals." The odorous
substance from the fermenting vat could not be found in this sample.

One hundred parts of this sample gave 34.80 carbonic acid.

As in the use of these substances, the amount of carbonic acid is to the con-
sumer the point of primary importance, it will be seen that the second sample
containing nearly one per cent, more than first, it also absorbs a little water, which
by adding to its weight would reduce the per cent, of carbonic acid probably to
the same standard as " Barnard." The latter seems to have absorbed all the
water it contained, and is therefore dry.

Both are excellent preparations, and the first can haidly be distinguished from
the second.

Respectfully,

A. K. HAYS,

, State Assayer.

Best ease of surgical instruments ; Holden, Kemp and Co. Janesville. Diploma.
Best assoitment of wire screnery; S. S. Daggett, Milwaukee. Diploma.
Best assortment of ornamental and fancy books ; J. Morrison, Racine. Diploma.'
Best supporters (shoulders and abdominal) ; Dr. Wh4ton, Chicago, 111. Diploma.
Best platform balance scales ; N, B. Gaston, Beloit. Diploma.
Best brass and fancy clocks; J, W. Stillman, Milwaukee. Diploma.
Best specimen of fancy book-binding (Harper's Bible) ; Sidney L. Rood, Mil-
waukee. Diploma.
Best specimen of blank book-binding ; AVeed and Eberhard, Madison. Diploma.
Best circular saw and arbor; Barker and Love, Beloit. Diploma.
Best specimens of dressed flax; John Galbraith, Mukwonego. Diploma.
Best assortment of hardware ; Henry J. Nazro, Milwaukee. Diploma.
Best copper coffee urn ; H. K. Edgerton, Milwaukee. Diploma.
Best plough-making machine; J. Milton ^lay, Janosvillo. Diploma.

91

PLOUGH MAKING MACHINE.

New and improved macbinery for the purpose of cheapening and rendering
more perfect the implements used by the mechanic and farmer, are important
and vahiable precisely in proportion as they render the article manufactured by
their use more perfect in quality, and tlie amount of labor saved in the facihties
thus aflforded for rapid oonstruction.

92

The above ecgraving is a perspective view of a machine that, in a large
•degree, combines these intrinsic qiiahties. It is used in the construction of those
ploughs which were exhibited at the State Fair, and which were tried with so
much success on that occasion.

The machine is operated by a lever, which when brought to a horizontal posi-
tion, brings into line a series of articulated knuckle-joints, forming a column,
■bringing together with great power the heavy matched iron swedges in which
are formed the steel j>lates constituting the most essential element of the plough,
the plates being regulated \>j sliding adjusting rods during the process ; and the
swedges adjuste.i to the thickness of the steel plates to be wrought, by a wedge
■at the base of the machine, directly beneath the jointed column.

So unusual a machine as this, being exhibited at a Fair, eUcited many inquiries
in regard to the purposes for which it is used, and the manner of working it.

It has great power, capable of giving from fifty to one hundred tons pressure,
almost instantly — is compact, yet simple in its constmction, and not liable to be
out of repair. It is worked by one man, and is of the highest importance " in
giving perfection to the form of the steel plates; and multitudes of farmers are
.indebted to this mechanical contrivance for the excellence of that indispensable
■and most important of all implements — the Plough.

Best show of cabinet furniture ; Levi Moses, Janesville. Diploma.

'Best specimens of sawed and cut stone ; G. W. Taylor, Rock. Diploma.

Best specimens of engraving, seal-cutting, and die-sinking ; P. L. Mossin, Mil-
waukee. Diploma.

l^ew apparatus for raising water from wells ; J. S. Linderman, Manchester, 111.
Diploma.

ANNUAL MEETING, JANUARY 21, 1852.

The Society met in the Senate Chamber, which had been tendered to the
Society by the Honorable the Senate, on the evening of Wednesday, January
21st, A. D. 1852, at seven o'clock, a very large number of members being in
attendance.

The President, Erastits W. Drury, Esq. being absent, the Society was called
to order by Hon. Henry M. Billings, Vice President, from the second con-
gressional district, who took the chair, assisted by Hon. William F. Tompkins,
Vice President, from the third congressional district.

The President presented the report of the Executive Committee, extracts from
which were read by the Secretary.

Mr. Ingham, the Recording Secretary and Acting CoiTespoading Secretary^,
presented and read his report.

Hon. CHAUNCEr Abbott, 'Treasurer, presented his report, wbich was read by
the Secretary.

On motion of A. Hyatt Smith, Esq., of Janes\ille, the several reports were-
accepted.

Hon. E. B. Dean, jr., of Madison, moved that the Society do now proceed
to the election of Officers for the ensuing year, which was carried.

The President announced that a ballot would first be taken for the election of
a President, and appointed Messrs. E. B. Dean, jr., of Madison, and Isaao
WooDLE, of Janesville, as Tellers.

And the roll of members having been called, and the Secretary having
announced that all the members present had voted, Messi-s. Royal Buck and
Philo Dunning, of Madison, claimed the right to have their names called as.
members, and to vote, on the ground that one year had not elapsed since they
became members of the Society.

The Secretary explained that all annual memberships ex|")ired on the thirty-
first day of December of the year of admission, unless previously renewed,,
which those gentlemen had neglected to do as yet.

Messrs. Buck and Dunning, in answer, stated, that their understanding of an
annual membership was a membership of three hundred and sixty-five days,
beginning on the day of admission of the member, and ending one year from
that time.

And some further discussion having taken place, Hon. Thomas T. Whittle-
sey, of Pheasant Branch, offered the following Resolution, which was adopted,
to wit :

Resolved — That those persons who have paid one dollar for membership,
during the year 1851, be allowed to vote by courtesy, at this meeting; but
that hereafter, the fiscal year of the Society, begin on the first day of January,
and all annual memberships expire on the 31st day of December previous.

And several gentlemen having voted, the result of the ballot was announced
as follows :

Whole number of votes cast, 61 ; necessary to a choice, 31.

The Hon. Henry M. Billings, of Highland, having received 58 votes, the
same being a majority of all the votes cast, was declared by Hon. William
F. Tompkins duly elected President of the State Agi-icultural Society for the
ensuing year.

Mr. Billings, in a few appropriate remarks, returned his thanks to the Society
for the honor conferred upon him, pledging his services and labor in its behalf
during the coming year, and giving the assurance that he would lose no opportu-

u

nity to advance and promote its best interests, and the best interests of the cause
for which it was laboring.

Hon. Andrew Palmer, of Janesville, moved that the Society elect the remain-
der of its Officers viva voce, which was carried ; whereupon N. B. Clapp, Esq.,
of Kenosha, was nominated for Vice President, from the first congressional
district, by S. M. Booth, Esq., of Milwaukee.

Orrin Densmore, Esq., of Emerald Grove, was nominated for Vice President,
from the second congressional district, by Isaac Woodle, Esq., of Janesville.

Martin Webster, Esq., of Fox Lake, was nominated for Vice President
from the third congressional district, by Hon. Thomas R. Mott, of Watertown.

And the question being put upon the several nominations, they were declared
unanimously elected.

Albert C. Ingham, Esq., of Madison, was nominated for Recording Secretary,
and also for Corresponding Secretary, by Beriah Brown, Esq., of Madison.

And the question being put upon the nomination, he was declared unani-
mously elected.

Hon. Simeon Mills, of Madison, was nominated for Treasurer, by A. Hyatt
Smith, Esq., of Janesville.

And the question being put upon the the nomination, he was declared una-
nimously elected.

Messrs. Warren Chase, of Fond du Lac; E. B. Dean, jr., of Madison; S. S.
Daggett, of Milwaukee ; H. B. Hawley, of Milford ; and Jacob D. Merritt,
of Grant; were several!}' nominated, and declared elected as additional members
of the Executive Committee.

Hon. E. B. Dean, jr., of Madison, introduced the following Resolution, which
was adopted, to wit :

Resolved — That the unanimous and sincere thanks of this Society be, and the
same are hereby cordially tendei-ed to Albert C. Ingham, Esq., the able and
efficient Secretary of this Society, for his labors during the past year, and for
the valuable services he has rendered in the organization and carrying out of the
objects of the Society.

Hon. Andrew Palmer, of Janesville, offered the following Resolution, which
was adopted, to wit :

Resolved — That the Secretary be, and he is hereby authorized to procure the
printing of the Transactions and Correspondence of the Society for the past year.

On motion of S. M. Booth, Esq., of Milwaukee, the Society adjourned.

HENRY M. BILLINGS,

President.
Madison, January 21st, 1852.

s

r

REPORT OF SECRETARY.

To the Tf^sconsiii State Agricultural Society:

The Secretary of the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society would respectfully
report, that in accepting the office to which he was elected at the fonuation of
the Society in March last, he felt great diffidence and lack of confidence as to his
ability to discharge the duties which devolved upon him, in a manner that would
meet the expectations and wishes, and i-edound to the best interests of the
Society. The experiment of sustaining a State Agricultural Society in Wiscon-
sin was one of doubtful utility; similar organizations- among us had met with a
failure, and by many, any further attempt was regarded as premature, and'
injurious to the prospects for the final formation of a Society that should be of
permanent and lasting benefit to the agriculturist. In the discharge of his
duties, however, he has endeavored at all times to keep in view the important
objects for which the Society was organized, and in every suitable manner to
advance its best interests.

In accordance with this purpose, and acting upon what he conceived to be
required by the wants of the Society, immediately after its formation he opened
a correspondence with numerous intelligent gentlemen, eminent alike for expe-
rience and skill in both this and other States, in relation to the course to be
pui-sued and the plans to be adopted by this Society, in order best to carry out and
accomplish the great ends of its formation. Organizations in many respects
similar to our own, have long had a being in several of the older States of the
Union, and to their influence may be traced much that is of value in the
improvements so manifest in those parts of our confederacy. To profit from their
experience, and to learn wisdom from their example, is the special duty of this-
Society. Organized in a new State, with a sparse population, our farmers nearly
all in moderate circumstances and of limited means, suftering under the failure
of our staple crop for the past three years, and in a time of unexampled pecu-
niary disaster, and agricultui-al depression, we have no time to wait for a long
preparatory training; and it has become to to us a matter of necessity, that this
Society — Minerva like — shall at once step from birth to maturity.

This may be accomplished in a great measure by availing ourselves of the
labors of others, and to this end ha\e the eflbrts of the Secretary been especially
directed. In many instances these eftbrts have met with a hearty response; but
in others, the difficulty of obtaining the proper address, and the shortness of the
time intervening from the commencement of the correspondence up to the pre-
sent time, prevents any adequate results being as yet attained. The carrying

96

out and extension of these plans must, therefore, be left to the Corresponding
Olticer for the next year.

In our own State the labors of the Secretary have been especially directed to
the collection and diffusion of information upon the present agricultural condition
of the various counties — their soils and crops — manner of cultivation — adaptation
to tillage as compared with grazing — and the various other details of the systems
of husbandry practised therein. To this end he has addressed letters of inquiry to
various gentlemen in each county, soliciting con'espondence and information, and
inviting suggestions for improvement. This effort has met with partial success;
hut in many instances the Secretary has to announce with regret, that the efforts
of the Society have met with no return. That this is caused by carelessness, or
the want of interest, he is loth to concede; but surely the Society, acting as
it does gratuitously, has the right to expect from those enjoying the fruits
of its labors, that they will impart, not from their purses, but from their stores
of experience and observation. The value of these contributions does not
end with the present. In future times they will form a portion, and no value-
less portion, of the histoiy of the past. In this respect we are possessed of
a peculiar advantage — we are young — our State is in its infancy; and, as a
distinguished laborer in this common field has remarked, "it is pleasant to
believe that when the substitution of highei- and improved systems of husbandry
shall enable our country to sustain the dense population which wiU one day inha-
bit it, our posterity will revert with gratitude to the labors and efforts of those
who were the pioneers in these improvements." " And he who from his superior
experience, more extended observation, scientific acquirements, or skill in tracing
effects to causes, is competent to point out the steps to such improvements, and
' to show how two blades of grass may be made to grow where only one grew
before' — should never refuse to impart the knowledge to those who are less for-
tunate, or less sagacious." Many contributions, however, have been received
which are of value ; and to those gentlemen who have so kindly furnished them,
the thanks of the Society are due. While the papers herewith submitted, may
be found w^anting in many points of interest and importance, it is indeed a
triumph for us, and one over which we may well rejoice, that we have succeeded
as well as we have, amid such untoward circumstances. We may, indeed, confi-
dently anticipate, that another year we shall meet with still greater success, and
still moi'e encouragement to persevere in the efforts which we, as a Society, have
undertaken.

As another means of arousing the attention of the agriculturists of the State
to the efforts being made by the Society, the Secretary, under the direction of
the Executive Committee, spent some time during the psist summer in visiting
the various counties of the State, and endea\oring by various means to excite an

97

interest therein, and to secure the active co-operation of intelligent and influential
citizens with the Society. The result proved extremely gratifying; and with
pleasure the Secretary has it to report, that in no instance did he fail to receive
the kindest treatment and co-operation at the hands of all. In some parts of the
State, a misapprehension of the objects of the Society seemed to exist ; and, as a
consequence, a feeling of coldness was apparent, but this soon yielded before
the proper statements and explanations, and the kindest feeling seems now to
prevail — indeed the Society has emphatically become the favorite.

It is with much pleasure that the Secretary is enabled to announce that he has
obtained, through the medium of our Senators and Representatives in C<)ii-!e-;s.
the promise of a large supply of native and foreign seeds, of choice varietii;s;
these, as soon as received, will be distributed among the members of the Society,
under the direction of the Executive Committee.

The prosjDCCt of the establishment of an Agricultural department in our State
University, is a matter of encouragement; and it is to be hoped that no very
long period will elapse, before an opportunity will be aftbrded for those who
desire to acquire that instruction which will fit them to excel in the profession
they have chosen.

The undersigned is conscious of having imperfectly discharged the duties of
his position ; but he beaa-s with him the consolation, that he has devoted his best
energies to the advancement of the interests of the Society ; and although he has
not accomplished all that he has desired, or all that might have been done, yet
in all his efforts he feels that he has been actuated by a sincere desire to promote
the great interests of Agriculture, those interests which are second to none other
in our State.

Respectfully submitted,

ALBERT C. INGHAM,

Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. Society.

98

TREASURER'S REPORT.

To the Wisco7ism State Agricultural Society :

The Treasurer of the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society would respectfully
report, that the vvho'e amount of funds received into the Treasury of the Society
for the year ending December 31st, 1851, is as follows:

From Life Members $50 00

From Annual Members 388 00

From Miscellaneous sources 127 00

From Interest on Funds 5 31

Total Receipts * |570 31

The Expenditures for the same time have been as follows:

For Premiums and Diplomas awarded at late Fair ... $140 00

Expenses of the Society incident to the Fair 1V9 00

Contingent Expenses for the year 165 86

Total Expenditures 484 86

Balance in Treasury, December 31st, 1851 ^85 45

By an arrangement entered into with the Rock County Agncultural Society
the proceeds of the sale of tickets of admission to the show grounds at the late
State Fair, were to be applied, under the direction of that Society, first — to the
payment of the expenses of the grounds — and after that, the balance was to be
divided equally between the two Societies. By this arrangement this Society re-
ceived $127 00 as its share of the receipts.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

C. ABBOTT, Treasurer.

Madison, January 21st, 1852.

We, the undersigned, having carefully examined the foregoing Report and
the vouchei's therefoi-, do hereby certify that the same is correct, and that the
amounts are correctly stated.

HENRY M. BILLINGS, )

ANDREW PALMER, \^^ditin 9 Committee.

Madison, January 21st, 1852.

CORRESPONDENCE,

101

COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

The Reports of the County Agricultural Societies herewith presented, while
they are not as full as could be desired, will yet not be found wanting in interest.
The newness of the country, the sparseness of the population, and, in many
instances, the inexperience of those engaged in these associations, while it has
materially lessened the value of their labors, has yet demonstrated that the indus-
trial classes of our State are not content to tread in the beaten track of their
forefathers, but are earnestly seeking for improvement. In most of the counties
wherein Agricultural Societies have been formed, the formation has been of very
recent date, and therefore no striking result can reasonably be anticipated. The im-
portance of these Associations to the cause of agricultural improvement can hardly
be estimated. The operations of the State Agricultural Society, covering as it
does the entire State, must of necessity be somewhat general in their character;
and from the enlarged field of its labors, but little attention comparatively can be
paid to the details of local and neighborhood improvement; these must therefore
mainly be left to the fostering care of the County Societies.

The County Societies, for the sake of uniformity, adopting the plans recom-
mended by the State Agricultural Society, should annually send up full state-
ments of their operations and researches, which becoming disseminated througb-
out the State through the medium of the Society's Transactions, could not fail
to produce a most salutary effect through the information thus imparted, and in
the spirit of friendly emulation thus aroused. Another source of improvement
arising frbm these Associations is found in the assembling together of the intelli-
gent and enterprising farmers of the county. Local feelings and prejudices are
thus broken down, a mutual comparison of views takes place, the improvements
which have been and are being made in the various branches of husbandry, are
carefully observed and closely studied, and the minds and feelings of all become
enlarged and liberalized, fitting them not only for improvement in agriculture,
but makinw them better citizens and better men. At these meetings the wall of
prejudice which has so long separated them from other classes in community is
destroyed, and they are made to place a proper value upon their own labors,
and to assume their just position in the estimation of others.

102

The State Society is not independent of the County Societies, and neither are
the County Societies independent of the State Society. They are co-laborers
•with it, and though the operations of the one are more enlarged than those of
the others, yet they are all parts of the same system, all having one common
object, and all equally important in their respective stations.

COLUMBIA.

During the session of the Board of Supervisors of the county of Columbia,
held at Fort Winnebago, in the month of November, A. D. 1851, it was pro-
posed by some of the members of the Board to form a County Agricultural
Society ; and for this purpose, after notice had been given, a meeting was held
on the evening of November 18th, 1851, at which time a Constitution was
adopted, and officers were elected.

The officers are as follows : — President, Jesse Van Ness, West Point ; Vice-
Presidents, Joseph Kerr, Randolph and T. C. Smith, Columbus; Recording
Secretary, John A. Byrne, Otsego; Corresponding Secretary, Henry Converse,
Wyocena; Treasurer, F. C. Curtiss, Lowville.

No further returns have been received from this Society.

DANE.

"The Dane County Agricultural Society" was fully organized on the l3th
of September, 1851 ; the articles of Association require an annual meeting of
the Society to be held at Madison, (unless otherwise ordered,) on the first Wed-
nesday of October in each year, at Avhich time and place a Cattle Show and Fair
is to be held. Special meetings may be called at any time on two weeks notice.

The following is a list of officers of the Society hv the current year, viz. : —
President, Thomas T. Whittlesey; Vice-Presidents, N. J. Tompkins, William H.
Fox, Jonathan Larkin, Philo Dunning, Charles Wilson, and George Anderson ;
Treasurer, Jehu H. Lewis; Secretary, Robert L. Ream; Standing Committee on
Premiums, Joseph A. Payne, James R. Larkin, and Philo Dunning.

The Society has held several interesting meetings since its organization, and is

rapidly increasing in numbers. The Agriculturists of this county, I am happy

to 'inform you, are awake to their true interests, and we promise you that our

first annual exhibition in 1852 will be second to none in the State.

Very respectfully yoiu's, &c.

ROBERT L. REAM,

Sec. Bane Agl Soc.
To Albert C. Ingham, Esq.

Sec. of the Wif. State Ag'l Soc.

lOlJ

IOWA.

On the 10th of June, 1851, a number of citizens and farmers resident in the
neighborhood of Mineral Point, assembled at that village, in consequence of a
public call having been made upon them, in order to ascertain the feasibiHty of
establishing an Agricultural Society with an annual Exhibition and Fair, for
stock, articles of domestic manufacture, implements of husbandry, mechanical
productions and improvements, and all the cereal crops of the agriculturist. At
this meeting there were a number of horses and cattle of excellent breed, and in
fine order, brought to the ground; and from the general good feeling on the
subject of the organization of an Agricultural Society for the county of Iowa, as
expressed at this meeting, it was determined by the citizens and farmers then
present, that an adjourned meeting should be held at the Court House, in Mine-
ral Point, on Saturday, July 19th, 1851, for the purpose of completing an organi-
zation of the "Iowa County Agricultr.ral Society," and a Committee consisting of
Gen, Wm. R. Smith, Hon. Mortimer M.Jackson, Samuel Crawford, Montgomery
M. Cothren, Henry M. Billings, John Hand, H. L. Leffingwell, Levi Sterling and
George Goldthorp, was appointed to report " Articles of Association, Rules and
Regulations of Premiums, and nomination of officers of the contemplated
Society."

On Saturday, July 19th, 1851, the first meeting of the Society was held at
Mineral Point, at which meeting Francis J. Dunn, Esq. presided ; and General
Smith was appointed Secretary.

The Committee appointed to report Articles of Association, Rules and Regula-
tions of Premiums, and nomination of officers of the Society, made Report by
their chairman, Wm. R. Smith, of the " Articles of Association of the Iowa
County Agricultural Society," which were severally considered, amended, and
unanimously adopted.

By these articles the Society was to be organized by the election, yearly, of a
President, six Vice Presidents, a Secretary and Treasurer; and their several
duties were prescribed. The members were to consist of such persons as should
pay into the treasury the sum of one dollar annually : a failure to make such pay-
ment would work a forfeiture of membership. All persons competing for pre-
miums at any Exhibition or Fair of the Societ}'-, would be admitted as members
of the Society for the time, on payment of one dollar into the treasury ; and this
payment was made imperative on the person so competing for premiums.

Two semi-annual Cattle Shows and Fairs were to be held in each year, at
Mineral Point, or elsewhere, in the county of Iowa, as might be determined on by
a vote of the Society. The prescribed days for holding such Shows and Fairs
are the second Fridays and Saturdays in the months of May and October in each

104

year. At such Exhibitions premiums are to bo awarJod by the several Commit-
tees to be appointed fur such purpose, for horses, cuttle, sheep, swine, jacks,
mules, farming implements, articles of home manufacture, crops, and the produc-
tions of the dairy ; miscellaneous articles not embraced under any of the above
heads, were also (-onstituted the subject of premiums at the discretion of the
Committees. The several rates of premiums in money were established, and the
distribution of diplomas and certificates was provided for. It was also determined
that for the second best of any article exhibited, a premium might be awarded at
the discretion of the Committees, consisting of an approved work on Agriculture.

The same (Jcjmmittee also made report of the nomination of officers of the
Society, and the following named gentlemen were unanimously elected:

Pi'esident, li. L. Loffingwell; Vice Presidents, Henry M. ]3illings, Levi Ster-
ling, Patrick O'Dowd, J(jhn Hand, Francis J. Dunn, George Goldthorp ; Treasurer,
Sauuiel Crawford; Secretjiry, William R. Smith.

Provision was also made for the delivery of an Annual Address by some mem-
ber to be appointed by the Society. F. J. Dunn was aj^pointed to deliver the
first Annual Address.

The meeting was then adjourned until the second Friday in October.

On Friday, October 10th, 1851, the Society held its first semi-annual Fair
and Cattle Show, at Mineral Point ; the several Committees on eight classes of
premium articles were appointed. On five of these namely,

1. On horses, jacks, and mules. — 2. On cattle. — 3. On sheep and swine. —
4. On farming implements — and 8. On miscellaneous articles. The several Com-
mittees made reports, awarding to the exhibitors, in the aggregate, the sum of
ninety dollars in money, and also several certificates of merit. The other three
Committees, namely — 5. On domestic manufactures. — 6. On crops — and 7. On
dairies ; did not report on account of the non-exhibition of articles coming under
these heads.

At this Agricultural Fair there were sixteen competitors for premiums in the
first class, viz., horses, jacks and mules. Six competitors in the second class, viz.
cattle. One exhibitor in the third class, viz. sheep and swine. Three competitors
in the fouith class, viz. farming implements. Four competitors in the eighth class,
viz. miscellaneous ailicles. Several productions of the garden were exhibited,
and the Committee deemed all in this class entitled to certificates of merit.

The Society then adjourned without day.

It was a source of gratification to the friends of tha Society, and the citizens
generally, equal perhaps to the satisfa<"tion felt by all the members of the Asso-
ciation, to observe at this fii-st exhibition, the very numerous fine horses, mides,
and cattle, that appeared on the ground. The very superior stock of Durham
jsbort-horns, raised and cxliib'ifed by Mr. Joseph II. \'an Meter, of the town of

105

Waldwick, admitted of no ccoiipetition on tbe ground. He received no less than
seven distinct premiums on his stock according to the classification of the Com-
mittees. Several valuable grade cows and calves received premiums; and the
horses, mares, colts and mules exhibited, would have retiected much credit on
"any agricultural and cattle show in any part of the Union. Perhaps in no part
of Wisconsin, and in very few parts of the United States, will be found a supe-
rior breed of horses for the turf, the draft, or the farm ; and cattle of the full,
and mixed Durham, Devon, and other valuable breeds, than is to be found in
Iowa county, and particularly in the vicinity of Mineral Point. It was much
to be regretted that no specimens of the very superior stock of Mr. Thomas
Ansley, and Mr. Francis J. Dunn were exhibited at this time. It is well known,
not only in WisGonsin, but wherever a turf register can be inspected, that Mr,
Dunn's breed of horses are the best in the United States, and his breed of cattle
and swine would confer great credit on any raiser of stock in the country. It is
to be hoped that, at a future exhibition of the Society, the whole farming commu-
nity may receive the benefit of examining the stock of those gentlemen, and reap
the profit of their excellent and deserving example.

At some future Show and Fair we may reasonably expect to see many of the
various shmbs, fruits, and flowers, from Barnham gardens, the residence of Mr,
John Hand, at Dover, in Iowa county, near the Wisconsin river. Mr. Hand is
a professed horticulturist, and his productions of fniits, flowers, and garden seeds,
have deservedly made Barnham gardens, as well as the gardener, well known to
all the surrounding counties.

In the county of Iowa, situated in the heart of the lead-bearing region, it might
have been expected to see statements laid before the Society, of the mineral
production of the soil. As a general remark, it may be observed, that the late
emigration to California has, within two years, taken from the labor of the mines
more than three hundred industrial producers. Such a deprivation would be felt
in any community, where the product of the soil was a great item in the source
of wealth. The neighborhood of Mineral Point, and in truth all Iowa county,
has seriously been affected in their condition of prosperity by the emigration
alluded to, although the mines are in no worse condition than they were two
years since, and mineral has commanded an average price of $21 per 1000 lbs.
during the past year. But the labor which has left the mines, must be replaced
by other producers of mineral, to insure any continued prosperity; or perhaps it
would bo more conducive to permanent wealth, that the attention' of the whole
cornnumity should be immediately directed to the cultivation of the soil and the
raising of stock, as the surest foundation on which an industrious people might
build their hopes of ample remuneration.

A few observations on the crops of Iowa county during the last year might.

106

witli much propriety, liave been laid before the Association. They may still be
•considered as a component part of their proceedings, as they have lately been
communicated to me by Hon. Hemy M. Billings, Vice President of the Asso-
ciation.

Winter Wheat. — This crop has been gradually failing for the last five or six
years, owing more to bad cultivation than any other cause. The average crop
this year (1851) is fifteen bushels to the acre; a few fields have yielded twenty-
five or thirty bushels. The kinds are, the common white, and red chafi" — bald
and bearded — the Mediterranean, and Hutchinson ; the two last have proved to be
much the best. Our winter wheat is liable to spring kill in the month of March,
by freezing, and thawing, and dry cold winds. This may be prevented by proper
cultivation — deep ploughing, thorough harrowing or rolling, or by drilling, and
by early sowing, the latter part of August, or first part of Sej^tember.

Spring Wheat. — The average crop this year (1851) twelve bushels per acre.
Kinds grown — black sea, red river, common Avhite and red chafi" — bald and
bearded — hedge-row, and Canada club. This last received a premium at the
State Agricultural Fair, and is a very fine wheat. The hedge-row was an entire
failure; very few of the fields harvested — the}' were aftected by what is called
the spot.

Oats. — This crop was veiy heavy this year (1851) ; average sixty bushels per
acre. Many of our oldest farmers have very much reduced their lauds by con-
tinuous cropping ; they have seen their error, and are now adopting the system
of rotation of crops.

Barley. — This has become quite an important crop ; average thirty bushels per
acre this year (1851.)

Buck-Wheat. — Few farmere cultivate this grain ; the average crop this year
(1851) twenty-five bushels per acre.

Corn. — This great and important staple crop of our country, which is depended
on for stock feed, is light compared with former years; the usual crop then was,
from forty to fifty bushels per acre; this year (1851) the average crop was only
twenty five bushels per acre, owing to a cold wet spring, and an extremely wet
summer.

Potatoe. — This crop was an entire failure from rot, except in the sandy lands
bordering on the Wisconsin river, where the rot did not appear.

Ruta Baga. — This esculent yields well, and is an important crop; average five
hundred bushels per acre.

Roots. — These succeed and grow well, of all kinds.

WILLIA]\I R. SMITH,
Sec. of Iowa County Agr. Society.

To the Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society.

107

KENOSHA.

Dear Sir — In reply to your letter requesting the same, I will give you the
rise and progress of the Farmer's Club, and of the Kenosha County Agricultural
Society, growing out of the same.

January 3, 1850, a few of us neighbors (farmers) met at the tavern then kept
by Peter Martin, in the town of Pleasant Prairie, (some dozen persons in all,) and
formed ourselves into a club known as the " Farmers' Club of Kenosha County,"
having for its object mutual benefits in Agriculture, by consultation and inter-
change of opinion on that subject exclusively. This I believe to be the first
aorricultural association in Wisconsin, and it remains still in existence. That Club
met, and still meets weekly during the winter months. The meetings usually
begin with a dissertation from some member; on each evening two Committees
are appointed to visit the farms of certain members previously selected, and at
the next meeting report their condition, &c. After these Committees have re-
ported, any member may propose a subject for investigation, or ask any question
he pleases of the Club, to w^hich any member can reply, &c. The Club is then
free and easy, and any or all talk who wish, one at a time of course. The first
President was Hiram Marsh, of Pike, (now Somers,) and the first Secretary was
Henry Johnson, of the same place ; the latter resigned some little time thereafter,
and his son, Hii'am Johnson, was chosen to fill his place, and still holds the office.
Leonard Crocker, of Somers, is now President. Tlie fee for membership is one
dollar for life, subject to assessments when funds are required. They have a good
library, and considerable interest is kept up.

At a meeting of the Club in the spring of A. D. 1850, it was resolved " That
this Club use all its exertions to form a County Agricultural Society."

In pursuance of this resolution, a meeting was called at Jackson's tavern, in
the town of Bristol, on the third day of June, A. D. 1850, at which Z. P. Rich,
of Paris, was called to the chair, and T. J. Rand was elected Secretary. A Society
was then formed ; and twenty-four farmers enrolled their names as members. The
following persons were elected as officers, to wit:

President, Henry Johnson, of Somers; Vice Presidents, Thomas Slade, of
Wheatland, and Lathrop Burgess, of Brighton ; Recording Secretary, T. J. Rand,
of Pleasant Prairie; Corresponding Secretary, A. B. Jackson, of Bristol; Trea-
surer, George S. Blackman, of Paris.

The Society has from that time held quarterly meetings, at which much
interest is manifested. The first Fair came off at Jackson's tavern, in the town
of Bristol, on the 10th day of October, A. D. 1850, but under very unfavorable
circumstances; it had rained for two days, as also on that day, and it was almost
impossible to get along for mud. Dri\ing cattle was almost out of the question ;

108

still tliere was a fair show, 'and about six^hundred persons were present. There
were at this time ninety-eight paying members. Premiums were awarded ; a
farmers' dinner, speeches, &g., filled up the business of the day.

The next operation of importance was an Exchange Fair, held at Dalton's
tavern, in the town of Paris, on the twenty-fifth day of February, A. D. 1851.
The object of the Fair was the exchange and purchase and sale of any and all
agricultural or mechanical productions. Grains were sold by sample, farming
utensils, cattle, hoi-ses and sheep, were also bought and sold, or exchanged, as the
parties might agree.

This was considered one of the best and most useful features of a county
Agricultural Society ; but here again this Society was unfortunate in the weather,
which had been stormy, with very bad travelling. There was, however, an
attendance of some seven hundred or eight hundred persons, and considerable
business was done. This kind of a Fair rose high in the estimation of all con-
cerned, as productive of more real good than any Show and Fair that can be
got up, as almost all attend for some real interest, one wishing to sell, and
another wishing to purchase.

The annual meeting of the Society is held in June. At the last annual
meeting the following ofticers were elected for the fiscal year, to wit :

President, Samuel R. McClellan, of Wheatland ; Vice Presidents, Nathaniel
B. Clapp, of Somers, and Luman Marsh, of Paris ; Recording Secretary, T. J.
Rand, of Pleasant Prairie; Corresponding Secretary, Levi Grant, of Bristol;
Treasurer, Harvey Durkee, of Kenosha.

This Society held its Annual Fair at Wood's tavern, in the town of Bristol, on
the twenty-third and twenty-fourth days of September, A. D. 1851, at which
time there was a very good show of agricultural and mechanical productions. It
was estimated that two thousand persons visited the Fair. On the second day
four hundred persons sat down to dinnei', and afterwards listened to a very elo-
quent and instructive Address from the President. The premiums were then
declared, which closed the exercises.

Thei-e were two hundred and thirty-eight offers for premiums. The first
premiums varying from two dollars to five dollars; the second awards were paid
in agricultural and horticultural books : and I would here remark, that the books,
as premiums, gave more general satisfaction than money, the former being kept
and preserved as a memento, while the latter is expended and forgotten. Judging
from the general expi-ession of those who received these, I am of opinion that
good standard works on agriculture, horticulture, and mechanics, would be esti-
mated as more valuable than any other award, as it results in placing practical
works in the hands of many who would not otherwise have them, and not
unfrequently opens a spring whr-'nce flows a stream of intellectual water, that will

109

refresh and irrigate a vast extent of dry and parched soil, aud will give it life

and vigor.

We have now about two hundred regular members of this Society, and great

zeal is manifested. Our meetings are well attended, and interesting subjects are

discussed, rendering this Society not only agricultural but intellectual ; and if it

were not for the pressure of the times, and the migrating disposition at present

prevalent among us, we should muster a Society of five hundred members at

least. If you should require any further information I shall be most happy to

furnish it.

Yours very truly,

T. J. RAND,

Sec. of the Kenosha Agr. Society.
To Albert C. Ingham, Esq.

Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. Society.

ADDRESS OF DR. SAMUEL R. McCLELLAN,

PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETV,

Delivered before the Kenosha County Agricultural Society, at its Annual Fair,
held September 23d and 24th, A.D. 1851.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

By the by-laws of the Agricultural Society of the county of Kenosha,
it is my duty to address you.

We have met under circumstances at once novel and interesting ; novel, from
the fact that not one of us who are here participating in this agricultural exhibi-
tion is a native of the soil we inhabit.

We have come not only from the several States of the American Union, but
almost every country of Europe has here its representatives. From the green Isle
of Erin — they are here; from the chalky cliffs of England — they are here; from
the high lands and the low lands of Scotland — they are here ; from the sunny
banks of the Rhine ; from the vine-clad hills of France ; yea, and from the ice-
bound coasts of Sweden, and of Norway — they are here ; presenting the inter-
esting spectacle of a people dissimilar in language, education and habits, hanno-
niously uniting for the upbuilding of a sovereign state under the broad banner
of. republican independence.

A practical commentary, this, on man's capacity for self-government.

Our progress hitherto has been unrivalled. — A few short years ago, our fields,
now waving with the golden harvest, lay in all the original solitude of Nature,

110

undisturbed by the foot of man, save the occasional stealthy tread of the red
man of the forest.

Now how changed the scene — oixr hill tops and our prairies dotted all over
with comfortable dwellings ; school houses in every neighbourhood ; cities have
sprung up along our borders ; internal improvements going on to successful com-
pletion ; the magnetic telegraph, the great 2^ar Darjtim of the body politic, has
shot across the trail of the savage ; commerce is pouring in upon us the products
of other climes, and we are enjoying all the blessings of a refined civilization.

"Whence all this prosperity ? These unequivocal signs of progress ? The foun-
dation of it all is Agriculture. It is Agriculture that freights our steamboats,
swells the sail of commerce, pays for our imports, nerves the ai-m of our me-
chanics.

Without Agriculture, mankind would be savages, thinly scattered through in-
terminable forests.

Yet, notwithstanding its vast importance in a physical point of view, to the
well-being of the human race, the science of Agriculture has been the last to feel
the influence and receive the impulse of our modern crusade after light and
knowledge. It is true, poets have sang the praise of agriculture from the time
of Virgil down to the present day; politicians have been enthusiastic in their
admiration of it, and have taken great pains to shake hands with the hard-fisted
yeomanry, particularly on the eve of an important election ; executive messages
from year to year are regularly interlarded with eulogies upon it ; and yet, for
all this, nothing has been done by legislative enactment to raise it to a level with
the other sciences. The State has done nothing for the education of its children
for farmers. It is true, we have in prospect an ample school fund, but no law
regulating its application. Our children should be educated with reference to the
business they are to follow. Chemistry, Geology, Botany, and their kindred
sciences, should be taught in our common schools. — The State should lend its
aid in furnishing the necessary books and apparatus, and in other ways ; in our
University an Agricultural department should be established, this would do much
to elevate the standard of ao-ricultural education.

I am willing to admit the fault is somewhat our own, for a lack of unity of
purpose and of action, and of earnest demands for our i-ights. — Nor do we
expect good farmers can be made by legislative enactment; but it is nevertheless
ti-ue that the aid and patronage of the State would tend to elevate and encourage
agiiculturists, and enable them to take rank among the most intelligent, as they
are now among the most virtuous.

From our State Agricultural Society a vast amount of benefit is to be antici-
pated — their transactions, it is to be hoped, will be liberally distributed ; and
there is no doubt but that they will be sought for with a\'idity, and perused

Ill

with care ; they will create discussions, and lessons of practical utility will be in-
culcated ; tliey will Lave a tendency to excite an appetite for agricultural and
horticultural knowledge, and induce thinking, reasoning men, to examine more
attentively the pages of those works devoted to the interest of the farmer.

Although our occupation has in it much of toil and labor, it has likewise much,
of pleasure and enjoyment.

The inhabitants of cities live in a constant state of feverish excitement — every
event that happens on any point of the globe's surface is transmitted to them
like an electric shock, the consequence is, a morbid sensibility is generated
throughout the whole community ; the nervous system is unstrung ; predisposi-
tion to disease ensues, which lays them at the mercy of almost every breath of
heaven.

Not so with us — in the retirement of our homes we are exempt from the daily
shocks which agitate a mercantile community.

Necessary labor invigorates our physical constitutions, and we realize, nearer
than any other class, the blessings for which the prophet of old prayed for, when
he said, " Give me neither poverty nor riches." And if our gains are small, we
feel that they are secure, not liable to be swept away by the next arrival from
Europe, or the next telegraphic dispatch.

The farmer who with a philosophic eye can watch the development and
growth of his domestic animals, and trace the progress of vegetation from the
bursting of the bulb to the perfection of fruit, is in possession of sources of enjoy-
ment to which the denizen of a city is a stranger.

In the economy of vegetation alone there is enough to claim our unceasing
wonder and praise.

Thouo-h discord may pervade human organizations and thwart their ends, it
never interferes with the operations of the Deity, whose works are characterized
by perfection of movement in all their parts, each atom fulfilling its proper des-
tiny.

It is the happy province of the agriculturist to watch and study the operations
of this mechanism, and when, by the aid of science, he can comprehend its sim-
plicity and perfection, there is a charm thrown around his pursuit commanding
his most fervent admiration and praise.

The infinite variety interwoven in earth's garland, from the' humble lichen
that clings to the sterile rock, to the lofty tree whose towering branches shelter
us from the noon-day sun, affords numberless examj^les of wise adaptation, all
tending directly or indirectly to promote the progress and prosperity of man.

And when we reflect upon the great variety of plants, some of which are
adapted to the particular wants of each species of animal and insect, during
every successive period of their existence, we are overcome with a mute feeling

112

of awe and adoration tliat aaoends upward to the Gr«at iifst Cause; and the
farther we investigate, new developments and discoveries are opened out before
us, some of which have, and others promise to effect great and beneficial changes
on civihzed society.

The time was when tliat valuable tuber, the potatoe, which has added millions
of lives to the densely populated counti-ies of Europe, grew only in the unknown
regions of South Auierica. The time was when that important crop to us, the
Indian Corn, was known only to the red man of this western world. The time
was when the coffee plant, which now furnishes the civilized world a most deli-
cious beverage, grew only on the mountain slopes of Upper Ethiopia and Arabia
Felix, its merits all unknown ; and, perchance, there now dwell in obscurity plants
that future genei-ations may marvel that we could dispense with.

Again, when we reflect upon the improvements already made in the vegetable
kingdom by cultivation, we are lost in wonder and admiration.

For instance, in the culinary dej^artment, the cabbage, a species of the genus
Brassica, that now finds a place in every farmer's garden, was once a nauseous
bitter plant growing wild upon the sea coast; and so of fruits, when we feast
upon the luscious plumb, or the rich and juicy apple, we should reflect that these
are the offspring of scientific cultivation derived originally from the wild stock.

I might go on and enumerate, but time would fail me did I attempt even a
sketch of the progress of improvements, made by cultivation in the vegetable
kingdom.

Again, the same law of progress is observable in the animal kingdom, but as
it would require volumes to trace it out, I shall not attempt it at this time, it is a
subject of interest, and I would commend it to the consideration of every farmer.

In view of the importance of these subjects, we feel our mutual dependance ;
we see the benefit of associating ourselves together, and lending our aid to Agri-
cultural Societies, and should reflect while so doing, we are advancing our favorite
pursuit.

These periodical meetings of farmers afford a valuable opportunity for an
interchange of sentiment, and often hints of great practical importance are thrown
out and treasured up to be acted on at our future convenience, the result of
which is the upward and onwai'd tendency of the science of agriculture.

It is gratifying to reflect that Kenosha County was the first in the State to
form an Agricultural Society. 1 looli upon it as an evidence of our progress in
the method of conducting our farming operations, and feel confident that the
result will be productive of still farther improvement beneficial to ourselves and
to the communit}' in which we live, since it is a duty we owe to ourselves and
to our profession, not only to keep pace with the improvements of the age, but
to add something to the stock of knowledge already acquiied.

11

o

Hitherto we have had the benefit of a virgin soil, that yielded its pro-
ducts with comparatively little labor, but in the last two years we have received
a check that should prove a salutary lesson to us.

The failure of our great staple, calamity as it is, may be the means of making
better farmers of us — we have followed this one idea until we have literally run it
into the ground — we have depended upon one product almost to the entire
neglect of all othei-s.

Now, if we would place our agricultural interest upon a permanent basis of
prosperity, we must retrace our steps, diversify our labor, and direct our energies
to the production of eveiy article of value of which our climate and soil will
permit; in short, we must pursue a more mixed system of agriculture.

It is generally conceded that we have canied our farming operations to an
unprofitable extreme ; it is not necessary for us to hack and scratch over our
whole farms as an evidence of title.

By cultivating well those parts naturally the most fertile, and laying tho
remainder down to permanent pasture, we shall thereby derive an annual profit
requiring but little labor.

The ancients illustrated the importance of thorough tillage by the following
apologue : A vine-dresser had two daughters and a vineyard ; when his oldest
daughter was married he gave her a third of his vineyard for a portion, notwith-
standing which he had the same quantity of fruit as formerly ; when his youngest
daughter was married he gave her half of what remained, still the produce of his
vineyard was undiminished.

This result was the consequence of his bestowing as much labor on the third
part left after his daughters had received their portions as he had been accus-
tomed to give to the whole vineyai-d.

It is a well established fact that all soils lose a portion of their productive
powers by constant cropping, unless as much be returned to the soil as is ex-
tracted from it.

It is true, by a judicious rotation of crops we may succeed for a while, but
eventually we shall be obliged to resort to manure or some other method of fer-
tilization.

Permit me to commend to your favorable consideration wool growing as a
rotation and fertilizer that combines favorably with other interests.

I know this recommendation is unnecessaiy to many members of this Society,
as the splendid specimens of sheep here exhibited will amply testify ; but I would
like to have the subject appreciated by the whole farming community.

I am fully of the opinion, that a field well sheeped and once ploughed is better
fitted for a crop of wheat than with any number of ploughings without the
-sheep.

8

114

A writer on this subject, in the Patent Office Reports, says, sheep are to be
admired for various reason?, for the warm and healthy artiele of clothing they
produce, for their valuable mutton, for their ability to produce two crops in one
year, viz., wool and lambs, for their quietness, and for various other reasons.
Unlike other animals they have no disposition to injure one another, the stronger
will not oppress the weaker, and the stranger may eat at the same rack. In this
respect what a valuable lesson is taught the shepherd by his flock, a sheep may
die in debt to his purchaser, but it cannot to him who raised it. The reason for
this is plain. It pays all charges once a year, and the moment it has settled for
arrearages it commences to accumulate at a rate which is sure not to fail where-
withal to meet the next annual settlement, and die when it may, it always
leaves a fair compensation to its owner for what little it has consumed of hia
substance. Notwithstanding the opinion of some men to the contrary, sheep are
a greater benefit to a farm than any other stock I have ever kept. They wiU
turn thorns, and briars, and noxious weeds, (curses pronounced on Adam and his
seed,) into useful substances, and in the end cause them to become extinct and
valuable grass to grow in their stead. — Thus do they lighten the toils of man —
thus do they turn the curse into a double blessing — yea a treble ; his thorny fields
into green rich pastures, into warm clothing for his body, and into wholesome
food for his subsistence.

One other subject before I close, it is this, I would suggest to you the propriety
of petitioning the legislature for a law establishing a State Board of Agriculture ;
also an Agricultural Board in each of the several counties, and to provide by law
for the collection of the Agiicultural Statistics of the State, through the instru-
mentality of the town assessors.

The great importance of information to be thus derived must be admitted by
all. It would give us the condition of our whole State, and the comparative
advantages of each county.

By this knowledge spread out before us, we could more readily avail ourselves
of the benefits enjoyed by our sister counties, and impart to them any peculiar
benefit possessed by our own.

From the several town reports a table could be compiled by the county board,
and by them transmitted to the state board, exhibiting the principal products of
the county, the number of acres devoted to the several crops, the quantity of
seed per acre, and the cost of production from these data and others given ; the
profit derived from each crop could be ascertained and noted, both per acre and
per bushel ; this ta'ble should also embrace the number of horses, cattle, sheep
and swine.

Vai'ious valuable inferences might be drawn from a careful examination of such
a table, which would cost the State comparatively but a trifle.

115

In conclusion, in behalf of tins Society I would thank the ladies who liave
participated in this exhibition for their presence and their co-operation with us iu
this, our peaceful and honorable pursuit ; we feel that their influence and efibrta
are indispensible to our success, and that the education of our daughters is of no
less importance than of our sons. And we appeal to mothers to strive to give
them an education at once. Solid, useful, and practical, that shall fully prepare
them to fill every appropriate station to which they may be called. This is em-
phatically a practical age, woman is restored to her natural rights, and is justly
esteemed the ornament and refiner of society, the companion and friend of
man.

Her influence, although not acknowledged, has controlled the acts of man in
every age of the world ; in the days of chivalry she presided over the sports of
the tournament and bestowed the prize upon the successfid knight ; and at a still
earlier period the poet tells us

"Tho world was sad, the garden was a wild,

" And man, the hermit, sighed tiU woman smiled."

RACINE.

In this county a Society has been organized and several meetings held, but no
direct report has been received of its doings. A Fair was held during the passt
year, at which much enthusiasm was manifested, and the promise given that the
Society would be well sustained.

ROCK.

The Rock County Agricultural Society was organized at a meeting held under
a call for a convention of Farmers, to be held at Janesville, on Monday, January
6th, A. D. 1851, which call was signed by J. P. Wheeler, Esq. and Hon. Wm.
F. Tompkins.

The meeting was organized by calling J. P. Wheeler, Esq. of La Prairie, to
the chair, and appointing Orrin Densmore, Esq. of Bradford, Secretary.

The objects of the meeting having been stated in a brief address from the
chair, remarks were made by several gentlemen.

On motion of C. C. Cheney, Esq. it was Resolved, that this meeting proceed
to form an Agricultural Society for the county of Rock.

A Committee was thereupon appointed to draft a Constitution, which was
subsequently adopted, and the following officers were elected :

President, J. P. Wheeler, Esq. ; Vice Presidents, Messrs. Wm. F. Tompkins,

1U>

Auscl Dickinson, Orrin Densiuore, Joseph Goodrich, James M. Burgess, and
Anson W. Pope ; Recording Secretary, Josiah F. Willard ; Corresponding Secre-
tary, Andrew Pahner ; Treasurer, John Russell ; and a Board of twenty Direc-
toi-s, being one for each town in the county.

By its Constitution it is provided that the Society shall hold an Annual
Fair on the second Tuesday and the Wednesday following in October of each
year.

Its first Fair was held at Janesville, at which the attendance and display was
such as to surprise and delight all.

At the Annual Meeting held on the first Monday of December, A, D. 1851,
the following gentlemen were elected officers for the' ensuing year :

President, Hon. Josiah F. Willard ; Vice Presidents, Messi-s. Z. P. Burdick,
John A. Fletcher, James M. Burgess, I. S. Love, John Winston, and Jesse Mills ;
Recording Secretary, Orrin Guernsey; Corresponding Secretary, John P. Dick-
son ; Treasurer, John P. Dickson ; and a Board of twenty Directors, being one
from each town in the county.

The Society received during the year 1851, from all sources, the sum of
§292 91. Its expenditures for the same time were, for premiums awarded and
paid at its Fair, $166 00; for printing, stationery, &c. $40 00; lea^^ng a balance
in the treasury of about $86 00 to be carried to the credit of the next year.

SHEBOYGAN.

On the 9th day of April, 1851, a meeting of the citizens of Sheboygan
county was held at Sheboygan Falls, for the purpose of organizing a County
Agricultural Society. At this meeting officere were elected, and a Committee of
one from each town in the county was appointed to report to the Society upon
the soils of the several towns of the county.

At a subsequent meeting, held July 4th, 1851, a Constitution for the perma-
nent government of the Society was adopted, and the following named persons
were elected officers under its pro\'isions.

President, Dr. J. F. Seeley ; Vice Presidents, A. G. Dye, of Lima, and Hiram
Smith, of Sheboygan Falls ; Secretary, H. S. Anable, of Sheboygan ; Treasurer,
L. W. Davis ; Executive Committee, Messrs. Huntington Lyman, of Sheboygan,
Reed C. Brazelton, of Scott, S. Lombard, of Greenbush, B. L. Gibbs, of Lima,
and N. C. Harmon, of Linden.

The Executive Committee subsequently fixed upon Wednesday and Thursday,
the 24th and 25th days of September, as the time for holding the First Annual
Fair and Cattle Show, and appointed the President, Dr. J. F. Seeley, to deliver
the Address.

11

H

111 accordance with this action a Fair was held at the appointed time and
jDlace, of which the Executive Committee thus speak : — " The result of the first
Fair held in Sheboygan count}^, has more than equalled the expectations of the
Executive Committee; the people have responded to their efforts with a zeal
worthy of commendation. Another year will, without doubt, treble the number
of members, and another Fair will be looked forward to with joyful aiaticipations.
Soon we shall be able to take part in the State Fairs, when Sheboygan county
will be brought into competition with the older counties of the State, and, with-
out donbt, with honor. It is to be hoped that at the Annual Meeting of the
Society, in March next, each member will make it a point to be present, to take
part in the election of a new board of officers, and be 2)repared to renew their
subscriptions. Much inconvenience has been felt by the Executive Committee in
not knowing what to depend upon. They published a list of premiums, with but
$10 in the treasury, trusting to the interest that might be awakened among the
people. They have responded, and the Committee have been enabled to pay
seventy-five i^er cent of the published premiums.

The whole amount of cash received was eighty-five dollars, the amount of
premiums paid was sixty-seven dollars and sixty-five cents, and the amount of
expenses incurred for printing, stationery, • &c., was sixteen dollars and thirteen
cents; leaving a balance in the treasury of one dollar and twenty-two cents. The
whole number of members is ninety-four.

The Committee on Soils have not yet reported.

H. S. AN ABLE, Secretary,

WALWORTH.

Elkhorn, December 31st, 1851.

Dear Sir — Your communication inquiring as to the origin, jjrogress, and
present condition of the Walworth County Agricultural Society is received ; and
below I give you a rough and hasty statement of the same, from such materials
as I have in my possession.

The inhabitants of East Troy, under the lead of Messrs. S. Brooks, J, Burgit,
E.Thayer, and others, in the spring of the year 1850, resolved to associate
themselves together, under the name of " The East Troy Agricultural Societ}-,"
to promote agriculture, horticulture, household manufactures, and mechanical
work. To carry out the objects above expressed, many citizens of the towns ad-
joining East Troy assisted, by subscribing their names to the constitution, paying
their initiation fee, and lending their intlufinoe to create a spirit of ambition
among the farmers in thf-ir several neighborhoods, to como too-pthcr in the fall,

116

at East Troy, ami exhibit such articles of stock, farming implements, dairy
products, &c., as each might have, by way of competition for premiums.

The officers of the Society at this time were : President, Augustus Smith,
Troy; Vice President, Jacob Burgit, East Troy; Secretaries, Seymour Brooks
and C. L. Oatman, East Troy ; Treasurer, T. Mower, jr., Troy ; Managers, Wm.
Child, Hiram Brewster, Emery Thayer, Elias Hibbard, Joseph Bishop, William
Watt, Samuel P. Cole, James W. Baitolf, and James Mother.

The first Cattle Show and Fair of the said Society was held at East Troy
village on the 16th day of October, 1850, and was well attended, not only by
those living in East Troy and the adjacent towns, but also by residents of almost
every town in the count}'. There was a good exhibition of stock, both native
and blooded, and premiums were awarded in all the departments of the Society.
The day being unpleasant, the ploughing match was postponed to a future day
of the same month, at which time several competitors entered their names, and
gained for themselves great praise by their skill in ploughing.

The Society then met for the election of officers, and several gentlemen being
present from different parts of the county, who were desirous of having the
" East Troy Society'' (heretofore, in a great measure, local in its character and
influence) change its name to the Walworth County Agricultural Society, and
those who had put the ball in motion, in East Troy, being desirous to embrace
the whole county, and increase the benefits growing out of an Agricultural Asso-
ciation, a vote, after much discussion, was had and carried, that the Society,
heretofore known as the East Troy Agricultural Society, should take the name
of the " Walworth County Agricultural Society."

The ofticers elected for the year 1851, were: President, William Child,
Spring Prairie ; Vice President, Robert R. Potter, La Fayette ; Secretaries, Edw.
Elderkin, Elkhorn, and Seymour Brooks, East Troy ; Treasurer, Sherman M.
Rockwood, Lafayette; Managers, Jacob Burgit, E. Thayer, and William Hollins-
head.

The Executive Committee of the Walworth County Agricultural Society
determined to hold the first Cattle Show and Fair of the said Society, at the
villao:e of Elkhorn, on the 14th and loth davs of October, 1851.

The exhibition of horses, neat stock, sheep, hogs, dairy products, and house-
hol<l manufactures, at this Fair, surpassed the expectations of the most sanguine
in the success of the enterprize. The concourse of people was very large ; but
many came with fjiint hopes and doubting hearts, and did not participate in the
proceedings. When all was over, in all probability, their hopes received new
strength, and their hearts were established in the belief that the movement in the
county of Walworth to promote Agriculture, Are. was by no means premature,
jis had been tho connnou saying through the county up to that time.

119

The receipts of the Soci^y, and on hand, up to the first day
of the last Fair, 1 am obhged to estimate, no report of the
same being in my possession, at $25 00

Receipts by initiation fees in 1851, about . ., 130 00

$155 00

The expenses of the Society for the same time have been — on

account of printing, &c $10 00

Contingent expenses, such as postage, &o 6 00

Amount of premiums awarded in 1851 139 00

$155 00

The officers elect, for the current year, are as follows : President, David Wil-
liams, Geneva; Vice President, Augustus Smith, Troy; Secretaries, Edward
Elderkin Ai Seymour Brooks; Treasurer, Edwin Hodges; Managers, H. J. Starin,
Whitewater ; M. R. Brittain, Spring Prairie, and William Hollinshead, Delavan.

The prospects of the Society for the present year are flattering, if we may be
allowed to judge of the same from hearsay evidence. It is certain, that the
Society has accomplished much more during the past year, than any of its
members claimed, or believed it would or could do ; and the public sentiment of
the county being now established in its favor, I know no reason why the Wal-
worth County Agricultural Society may not look forward to the time, and that
not far distant, when a great portion of the inhabitants of the county shall be
enrolled among its members, and the influence of its organization shall be seen
and felt in every school district within the county limits.

No small degree of the credit for this organization is due to Messrs. Brooks,
Thayer, and Burgit, of East Troy, whose efibrts in behalf of their town organ-
ization have had the eflect of awakening au interest in the cause of agriculture
throughout the length and breadth of Walworth county, proverbially called the
" model county of the State."

Permit me to add, in conclusion, that the State Fair may be held sufliciently
late in 1852, to succeed the various County Fairs in the State, so that the interest
got up at the Cotmty Fair may be developed at the State Fair, by a full repre-
sentation; and if the time and place of the State Fair is fixed upon at an early
date, it will enable County Societies to make their arrangements accordingly.

I am, dear Sir,

Your very obedient servant,

EDWARD ELDERKIN,
To Albert C. Tngiiam, Esq. Sec. Walworth Co. Ar/r. Society.

Sec. nf thr HV.'J. Strrft/ A'jr. Snciptj/.

rjo

WAUKESHA.

In this county a meeting was held at the Court House in the ullage of
Waukesha, October 11th, 1851, for the purpose of forming a County Agricul-
tural Society for the county of Waukesha, at which Aai-on Putnam, of Vernon,
was called to the chair, and Henry D. Barron, of Waukesha, appointed Secretary.

A. W. Randall, Esq., from a Committee appointed on that subject, reported a
Constitution which was adopted, and the following officers were elected :

President, T. C. Dousman, of Ottawa; Vice Presidents, Aaron Putnam, of
Vernon, and George McWhorter, of New Berlin ; Recording Secretary, G. C.
Cone, of Waukesha ; Corresponding Secretary, A. W. Randall, of Waukesha ;
Treasurer, H. N. Davis, of Waukesha; Executive Committee, Martin Field, of
Mukwonago, John Hodgson, of Pewaukee, G. C. Pratt, of Waukesha, E. W.
Edgerton, of Summit, and C. H. Purple, of Brookfield.

On motion of A. W. Randall, it was Resolved, that the Executive Commit-
tee correspond with the Agricultural Society of Milwaukee county on the subject
of an imion of the two Societies, and report at a special meeting to be called by
the Executive Committee.

This union was subsequently brought about, and the Society is now known as
the " Milwaukee and Waukesha Countv As;ricidtural Society."

WISCOXSIX HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
MILWAUKEE AXD WAUKESHA.

With a view to an organization for the piu-pose of advancing the interests of
Horticulture in the above counties, and the State generally, a caU was issued
about the middle of October, 1851, for a meeting of Citizens, to be held at the
rooms of the Merchants' Insurance Company, in the city of Milwaukee. The
following account of the proceedings, under the call, has been furnished us by
by the Secretary :

At a meeting of the Citizens of Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties, held in
pursuance of a call, at the rooms of the Merchant's Insurance Company, on Tues-
day afternoon, October 27th, 1851, L. H. Cotton, Esc|., was chosen Chairman,
and W. H. Watson. Secretary.

The object of the meeting wa*; stated to he for the formation of an Hortictil-
turnl Society.

121

On motion of Hans Crocker, Esq^ a Committee of the following gentlemen
was appointed to draft a Constitution and By-Laws for the proposed Society : —
Cyms Hawley, S. P. Beecher, Charles Gifford, L. W. Weeks, and G. 0. Tiffany.
The Committee then retired for a short time, and returned, reporting the fol-
lowing Constitution :

" This Association shall be called the Wisconsin Horticultural Society, and shall
be composed of such persons as shall subscribe to the rules and regulations of
the Society, and pay an entrance fee of one dollar, and annually thereafter the
sum of fifty cents, to be paid at such time as may be designated.

" Its objects shall be to encourage the growth and culture of Fruit and Orna-
mental trees, Flowers and Vegetables, and to disseminate useful knowledge in
reference thereto.

" Its officers shall be a President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and an Executive
Committee of seven, who shall be chosen at the first meeting, and hold their
offices for one year.

" The several officers shall perform such duties as are incident to such offices
in similar Societies.

"The Executive Committee shall have the general control of the aftairs and
funds of the Society, and subject to such regulations as the members may adopt.
They shall designate the times and places for holding exhibitions and fairs, and
prescribe the rules and regulations therefor. They shall purchase such standard
works and periodicals upon Horticulture, Fruit, Trees, &c., as they may deem pro-
per, and procure from the different Nurseries, catalogues of Fruits, Flowers,
Trees and Shrubs, and shall, from time to time, cause to be published such
extracts therefrom as they may deem useful. They shall give due notice of the
time and ])laee of holdmg the annual meetings of the Society, and at such meet-
ing shall make a report of all their acts."

On motion of S. M. Booth, the report of the Committee was accepted, and the
Constitution adopted.

On motion of C. Gifford, the following Committee was appointed to nominate
officers for the Society : Charles GitFord, Amos Sawyer, Rufus King, S. M. Booth,
Geo. 0. Tiffany.

The Committee reported the following names :

For President, Benjamin McVicker; for Secretary, W. H. Watson; for Trea-
surer, Hans Crocker; and recommended that the appointment of the Executive
Committee be deferred to a future meeting.

On motion of I. A. Lapham, the report of the Committee was accepted, and
unanimously adopted. The Society then adjourned to meet at the call of the officers.

It is expected, that early action will be taken to earry nut the objects of the
Association.

122

AGRICUI.TURAL CONDITION AND CAPACITY.

The following papers are designed to give some general ideas of the cnpacity
and present agricultural condition of the several counties of the State. As but
a short time has elapsed since the virgin soil of our State was first broken by the
plough, and as organized efforts for the improvement of its Agricultural condi-
tion are of very recent date among us, the papers, of necessity, partake somewhat
of an historical character rather than of records of the experience and skill of
those engaged in the cultivation of the arts of husbandry.

While they are not presented as perfect agricultural surveys, yet they will be
found of interest, and valuable as exhibiting the leading and general peculiari-
ties of the counties, and as preparing the way for the more thorough extended and
scientific survey, which it is the intention of the Society to institute hereafter.

GEOLOGICAL FORMATION OF WISCONSIN.

Milwaukee, December 31st, 185L

Dear Sir — I have received your favor of 1st instant, asking for a general
statement of the geological formations and constituent elements of the earths of
the various sections of the State, their agricultural properties and capacities, and
adaptation to tillage or stock grazing, &c. ; and regret that want of time will
prevent me from making as full a statement of the geological formations of the
State as could be wished, or as you will probably expect.

If, however, the following very general summary, shall be deemed of suffi-
cient importance, it may be inserted in the proposed volume of " Transactions."

We may divide the State into three geological districts, and denominate them
the Primary — the Sandstone — and the Limestone districts.

It is undei-stood that nearly all of the northern part of this State abounds in
primary rocks, and other rocks of igneous origin, as trap dykes, (fee. This kind of
country extends from near Lake Superior to the lower or principal rapids of the
several streams running south — the St. Croix, Red Cedar, Chippewa, Black,
Wisconsin, Oconto, and Menomonee. It is not to be understood, however, that
this district is exclusively occupied by pi'imary rocks^ for it is often interspei-sed

123

«

Avith smaller tracts of sandstone, and perhaps in a few cases with hnaestone. The
great " pine region" of Wisconsin lies mostly in this part of the State ; and
although there are some tracts covered with hard wood, it may in general be
characterized as a country of pine ridges and cranberry marshes. It is but little
settled, or occupied, except for the purposes of the lumber trade. Whether it
possesses any material value as an agricultural district remains to be ascertained
by future explorations. In this division of the State we find the most elevated
land, constituting the southern margin of the great basin of Lake Superior.
About the sources of the Montreal river this " divide" has an elevation of about
eleven hundred and fifty feet above the level of Lake Michigan ; and towards
the west it gradually descends, until at the western boundary of the State it is
only about five hundred feet above the same level. This whole region may be
considered an elevated plateau. It is remarkable for the very great number of
small lakes, varying from a few rods to several miles in diameter, scattered pro-
fusely over the whole surface. These lakes constitute the "head springs" of the
numerous streams that run northward into Lake Superior, or in an opposite di-
rection to the Mississippi. So much water in shallow basins, subject to rapid
evaporation during the summer, must have a very decided efiect upon the cli-
mate, rendering it more suitable for the purposes of the farmer, than it would
be otherwise.

The Sandstone district occupies the country immediately south of the Primary,
and varies in width from ten to sixty miles. Its general form is that of a cres-
cent with its horns on the Menomonee and St. Croix, while its greatest breadth
is in the region of the Wisconsin river, near the middle of the State. The
Sandstone is the oldest of the fossil-bearing rocks, called Pottsdam Sandstone,*
and shows itself in high clift's and isolated rocks. In places where the sand, re-
sulting from the disintegration of this rock, constitutes its chief element, the soil
is not very inviting to the farmer and settler. It is warm, mellow, easily worked,
and is doubtless well adapted to the culture of some kinds of crops. It is highly
probable, however, that it will be found wanting in durability. It will here be
more necessary for farmers to adopt the system best suited to the soil ; and by a
judicious rotation of crops, and application of manures, to keep up its fertility.
If a Buel could restore a sandy waste to a fertile and highly productive farm^
surely it cannot be difficult to maintain the sandy soils of Wisconsin in their
present state of productiveness. But as we approach the southern margin of the
sandstone district we find in the cliti's, altei'nating layers of soft limestone, which
by its decay simultaneously viith the sandstone, produces a soil of the very best

* The identity of tliis rock witli the Pottsdam sandstone of New York is jirovecl
beyond a doubt, by the discovery of a characteristic fossil (Scolithus linearis, of Hall,
Pal. of N. Y. vol. 1, p. 2,) one mile north of Lyons, in Sauk county.

124

kind. Indeed, ranch that at first sight is suppo96<.l to be silicious sand, by apply-
ing the magnifyer, is found to be made up in a considerable degree of particles
of limestone ; and we cease to wonder at its productiveness. Instances are known
where banks of this kind of sand have produced better crops than the ordinary
soil adjacent. Much of this sandstone is so pure that it might be used in the
manufjicture of glass. It consists of particles of quartz, or pure silex, adhering
without any apparent cement.

But there is another portion of the State where the sandstone, supposed to be
quite distinct from that above described, is red ; and, according to Dr. Norwood,
contains 3.9 per cent of alumnia and iron, and one per cent of carbonate of lime.
It eftervesces when acids are applied to it. This sandstone lies along the south
shore of Lake Superior, extending from the mouth of the Montreal river to be-
yond the western limits of the State. It has an average breadth of about twenty
or twenty five miles.

The red marly clay found throughout the northern part of the State, and ex-
tending, in limited tracts, south of the N eenah, may be supposed to result from
the destruction of this red sandstone, and perhaps of other rocks of a similar
character.

This marl every where furnishes a good soil as might be inferred from its
composition. Dr. jSTorwood"^' analyzed a sjDecimen from the Bois Brule river,
and found its constituent elements to be as follows : ^Yater, 8.0 — Silica, 41.1 —
Clay, 31.1 — Carbonate of lime, 4.1 — Carbonate of magnesia, 4.7 — Alumina
and oxide of iron, 9.0 — Loss, 2.0.

The third division of the State, embracing all the southern and south-eastern
portions, and extending up the immediate valley of the Mississippi, is based upon
calcareous rocks. They consist of yellow, blue, and gi'ey varieties of limestone,
and are classed by o-eoloo-ists as " Silurian rocks," beina' of an affe lone: anterior
to the rocks of the coal formation. Although to the casual observer they appear
to lie in horizontal beds, it will be found upon closer examination that they have
a gentle dip or inclination. Those lying east of Rock river dip eastwardly to-
wards Lake Michigan, while those on the west dip towards the Mississippi. In
northern Illinois the same rocks dip towards the south and pass under the great
" coal basin"' of that State.

The limestones in the western part of the State are composed of from forty-
seven to fifty-two per cent of carbonate of lime, combined with from thirty -eight
to forty-seven per cent of carbonate of magnesia. The other ingi-edients are,
principally, about six per cent of silex and two of oxide of iron. The limestones
of the eastern portion of the State have not been chemically examined, but they

See Owen's Report, 1848, page .ST.

125

are believed to be more nearly a pure carbonate of lime; at least they do not
contain so large a proportion of carbonate of magnesia.

The rocks that form the solid basis of the State are usually covered with loose
materials, consisting of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders, constituting what is
known among geologists as the " northern drift." These materials, of course,
greatly modify the nature of the soil. You may find, at any place, fragments of
various kinds of rock mingled together, and forming, by their decay, a very dif-
ferent soil from that 2:)roduced by the solid rock below. Thus nature has equal-
ized her gifts and bestowed a rich soil upon districts where we would otherwise
only look for sterility and barrenness.

In many localities the clay, sand, and gravel, are arranged in regular order of
superposition, and in strata, like those of the more solid rocks. At Fond du Lac
these layers are so arranged as to give origin to the ever-flowing fountains so
readily and fortunately obtained by penetrating the impervious clay. These-
regular deposites appear to be a distinct formation, subsequent to the drift pro-
perly so called, and in some cases cover deposites of marl with recent shells, peat,
and even sticks of wood, (fee. There are places where this clay, sand, or gravel,
impart their peculiar character to the soil ; there being a predominance of some
one of these ingredients. In each of these cases a difi'erent system of agriculture
should be adopted, suited to the nature of the soil ; or eftbrts should be made tO'
render the soil uniform by supplying the deficient materials. When the soil
consists mostly of clay, it assumes upon exposure to the sun and the weather, a
whitish color, and is but poorly adapted to the culture of winter wheat, though
the various spring crops flourish well.

If your Society could discover and make known some cheap and simple-
remedy for this defect in in a portion of our soils, so as to enable the farmers to
raise winter instead of spring wheat, it would add vastly to the annual production
of the State, as a little calculation will show. If we suppose there are one hun-
dred thousand acres of this land yielding twenty bushels per acre, or two millions
of bushels, and multiply this by fifteen cents, as about the average diflerence in
the market value of spring and winter wheat, we shall find that Wisconsin sus-
tains an annual loss of three hundred thousand dollars for want of such a remedy.
This is a matter deemed to be worthy of attention and investigation ; and it
should stimulate every good citizen to aid and encourage this Society in its
eftbrts to benefit the farming interests of the State. There are, doubtless, nu*
merous other cases, where a little investigation by competent persons, and the
publication of the results, would prove equally beneficial.

A portion of the limestone district of Wisconsin, lying west of Sugar River,
and south of the great dividing ridge running' parallel with, and a few miles
south of the Wisconsin River, is known as " the mineral region," and is destitute

#

12G *

of diU't materials. It possesses the two advantages Lul seldom united, namely, of
being a rich mining, and, at the same time, a highly productive farming district *
While the miners bring up from tifty to seventy millions of pounds of lead annu-
ally, from beneath the surface, the soil is made to yield its accustomed bounties.

It will be seen that in many important particulars, Wisconsin bears a close
analogy to the State of New York. We have a similar primary, elevated region
at the north; and south of us is the coal basin of Illinois, corresponding to that
of Pennsylvania. We have the same Silurian rocks, extending from the Potts-
dam sandstone to the Cornlferous hmestone, inclusive; and we have also run-
ning nearly through the State, a very remarkable prolongation of the same
" Mountain Ridge" that in Western New York causes the great cataracts of
Niagara, the Gennesee, &c. ; and it is composed of rocks of the same geological
acre. Those, therefore, who have studied the very valuable reports of the geolo-
gists and agriculturists of that great State, will readily understand the geological
and agricultural interests of Wisconsin.

There are numerous natural meadows scattered over a large portion of the
State, covered annually with a rich growth of a coarse kind of grass (species of
the genus Carex,) which constitute a very valuable resource in the eariy settle-
ment of the country. These meadows furnish the " feed" for cattle, &c., until
farms can be opened properiy ; and they have been one of the essential causes
of the rapid growth of our State in population and wealth. Without their aid
the farming interests of the State would have been far behind what they are at
the present time. These meadows can, with proper management, be easily covered
with the more nutritious and valuable " tame grasses," and thus add still more to
our means of wealth.

Many of these natural meadows, and many of the tamarack swamps are
underiaid by extensive beads of peat, resting upon equally extensive beds of shell
mad. These beds constitute a great bank, not liable to be broken or to suspend
payment, from which to draw future supphes of the food of plants, whenever our
present soils shall exhibit signs of exhaustion, in consequence of over-cropping, or
injudicious management on the part of the farmer.

There is a species of wild grassf growing very abundantly in the woods in
some portions of the State (whose long, coarse leaves retain their life and nutri-
tious qualities during the winter,) that has rendered essential service in hastening
our rapid progress, by reducing the labor and expense necessary in wintering
stock in a newly settled country. It prefers high and dry soils, but will not
flourish except in the shade of forest trees.

* For the analysis of soils in this district, see Table I.
t The mountaiu rice— Orjzopsis adperitblia, of Michaux.

It' 127

The following Tables show that our soils will bear a favorable comparison with
those of other States. They are from Dr. Owen's reports to the General
Government, and are all the analyses of Wisconsin soils within my reach. It is
much to be regretted that so few of our soils have been examined, and that they
are not more generally distributed over the State.

TABLE I.

ANALYSIS OF SOILS FROM THE " MINERAL REGION" OF WISCONSIN.
From Dr. D. D. Owen's Report, 1839, page 49.

Localities.

Prairie YaUey Soil, E. hf. T. 5, R. 6, E. Dane Co.

Sections, T. 6, R. 8, E do....

Township 2 (V) R. 6, E Green Co.

Section 34, T. 4, R. 4, E Lafayette Co.

N. E. qr.of Sec. 7, T. 2, R. I.E... .do

Township 1, R. 1, E do

Rich VaUey soil, Sec. 33, T. 4, R. 2. W. Grant Co.
N. W. qr. of Sec. 15, T. 5, R. 1, W....do....

N.E. qr.of Sec. 8, T. 6, R. 3, W do....

Section 22, T. 7, R. 4, W do....

Mean of 10 Soils

C3

6.5
1.5
3.0
0.6
2.5
3.5
7.5
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.7

rt

a

rt

13

CO rt

m

12.0

3.0

1.0

1.5

11.5

3.0

3.3

0.9

10.0

2.0

10.5

2.0

26.0

4.5

11.5

2.0

9.2

1.8

13.5

2.0

10.9

2.3

•J^-d

p-3

a<\

'S.H

^ ca 1

"i^

K/l Ql

;^ -i^

rt 3

m^

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.8

0.7

1.0

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.0

0.9

«3

3
O

m

75.0
95.0
82.0
93.0

84.0
83.0
60.0
80.0
83.0
79.0
81.4

rt

o

eg

m

1.30

2.82
1.68
2.32
1.80
1.64
1.24
1.44
1.92
1.66
1.78

TABLE II.

'«

ANALYSIS OF SOILS FROM THE NORTH^JRN (UNSETTLED) PORTION
OF WISCONSIN. From Dr. Owen's Report 1848.

Localities.

Sandy Soil 9 miles above mouth of Chippewa

From the Eau GaUi

Falls of St. Croix, near a trap range

From New Wood River

Madaline Island, Lake Superior

Mean of 5 Soils

rt

1.02
2.50
2.25
2.35
4.32
2.49

rt

rt

2.00
8.20
7.25
6.67
8.98
6.62

rt

f3

1.11
5.25
4.57
3.29
0.98
3.04

^

o

-l-l

pj

4-1

S

!Z3

tM

P

O

o

ffl

•3

Tl

■^

"•A

m

o

93.00

1.65

77.10

2.68

81.49

1..50

84.45

1.67

75.20

4.55

82.25

2.41

re
a

a

3

1.22
4.04
2.97
1.57
5.97
3.15

128 m

The average quantity of organic matter, which in general may be deemed a
measure of the value of a soil, in these fifteen specimens is 9.44 per cent.

In twenty-four specimens of the soil of Western New York, analysed by Pro-
fessor E. Emmons,* the mean quantity of oi-ganic matter is reported as 6.64 per
cent — those of Wisconsin being nearly one-half more.

In one hundred specimens of the soil of Massachusetts, analysed by Professor
Hitchcock,f the average quantity of this matter is stated to be 7.60 per cent. —
those of our State being one-fourth more.

It will be seen, then, that there is of organic matter, the proper food of plants,
in the soils —

Of Wisconsin 9.44 per cent.

Of Massachusetts 7.60 per cent

Of Western New York . 6.64 per cent.
It is quite probable that the examination of a greater number of soils from
this State would yield similar results. Would it not be well for the State Agri-
cultural Society to apply a portion of its means in obtaining the analysis of spe-
cimens from every county in the State ?

Very respectfully,

I. A. LAPHAM.

To Albert C. Ingham, Esq.

Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. Society.

AGRICULTURE OF BROWN COUNTY.

Brown County, as now organized, contains what is equivalent to about
fourteen and a half townships of land, besides the area of two and a half
townships, covered by the waters forming the head of Green Bay. Fox River
enters the county in town 21, range 19, and running a north-easterly direction
about twenty-three miles, discharges its waters into Green Bay, in town 34,
range 21, so that the river and bay divide the county into two jparts of nearly
equal extent. As this river is not subject to much vaiiation between high and
low stages of water, there is very little of what may be call«id " fii'st bottom
land."

The face of the country is generally level, or gently undulating, with uo swamps
or waste land of consequence, except in the marshes bordering upon the Bay. A

• Report on the Agriculture of the State.of New York, vol. 1, pp. 274-29G.
t Report on the Economical Geology of Massachusetts. 1838.

*» 129

limestone ridge runs through the county from S. W. to N. E., at a distance of
from five to seven miles east of Fox River. This serves as a dividing ridge
between the waters running into Green Bay and Lake Michigan. In its geologi-
cal character, this ridge is of primary formation, compact, amorphous, of a bluish-
gray color, and without organic remains. There is, however, in several localities
in the county, limestone of organic formation, of early and more recent date,
affording some very fine specimens.

Timber and Soil. — On the high bants near the river, the timber is light and
dwarfish, and in many places the soil is thin ; but further back on either side,
the timber becomes heavy, and the soil deep and strong, producing all the varie-
ties of hard wood to be found in this latitude, interspersed with pine, and in
some towns a good proportion of hemlock. The county generally is heavily tim-
bered with sugar maple, beech, oak, elm, birch, and bass-wood. The sub-soil is
mostly of a heavy or clayey loam, containing more or less limestone pebbles.
Pine ridges are of frequent occurrence, particularly through the eastern, centre,
northern, and north-western parts of the county. The soil here is generally
sandy and light, but will produce grain well with a thorough course of tillage.

Crops. — Brown county is well adapted to the growth of wheat, rye, oats,
barley, buckwheat, Indian corn, &,c., but grass is the most natural to the soil,
hence it is much better adapted to stock-raising and grazing, than it is to produc-
ing grain, or to such branches ofhusbandry sk involve a constant tillage of the soil.
Oats and rye produce well with little care, and wheat amply repays the laborer
when he does justice in preparing the ground and putting in the seed. By a
judicious system of tillage, wheat may be made a leading crop, and will be
reliable. The greatest trouble with it now is, liability to rust and winter-kill.
The last will be obviated by cultivating the ground better and sowing earlier i
the first will be benefitted by the same means, and fuijther improved by obser-
ving the effects of different kinds of manure upon the crop. The hardier varieties
of Indian corn are cultivated with success, but pwing to the coldness of occasional
seasons, it is not altogether reliable as a leading crop upon the high lands,
although Judge Arndt has successfully cultivated corn in the same field for
twenty-three years in succession. This was near #B river, in the town of Green
Bay. The potatoe disease has aftected this crop considerably for the last few
years, particularly when grown upon low, moist groun^ or a clayey soil ; but in
dry, sandy or gravelly soils, they have generally escaped the rot, and proved a
good crop. Other roots produce bountifully.

Mode of Cultivation. — With few exceptions, a systematic course of agricul-
ture has not been pursued in Brown County, until within the last two or three
years ; and, even now, the best specimens of cultivated farms are very imperfect
efforts. Hence little can be said with reference to pattern farming. Captain J.
9

130

W. Cotton, until recently of the U. B. army, a few years ago resigned his com-
mission and sword and the excitement of the camp, to pursue in quiet a life
devoted to agriculture. His farm (Beauprey Place,) is situated on the highland
one and a-half miles from Green Bay, upon the east side of the river, and until
Capt. Cotton undertook its culture, was truly an unpromising tract. In 1850,
the first year of his efibrts, with one coat of manure upon land that had been
" worn out," of a sandy soil, and a clayey-mari sub-soil, with deep ploughing, and
thoroughly pulverizing the surface, he raised from thirty-five to forty bushels of
winter wheat to the acre, and remunerating crops of corn and oats. Upon one-
fifth of an acre, with field culture, he raised 335 bushels of carrots, the largest of
which, when trimmed, weighed six pounds each. The past summer, from a field
of four and a half acres, that had been " run to death" by the French mode of
tillage, by the plan of culture he had pursued the year previous, he raised and
harvested 340 bushels of ears of corn, and about 1800 pumpkins. These results,
compared with the make-shift culture that has prevailed with most of those who
have pretended to cultivate the soil, serve to prove that Brown County may,
when her forests have been removed, and the land brought under the genial
influence of the sun, raise at least her own substantial of life, and not depend
for her supply upon the fruit of the husbandman's labor elsewhere. Very many
of the inhabitants who have lived here for years, and who have pretended to
gather their scanty crops from their exhausted fields, seem to have had no idea of
the value of manure, for they permitted it to accumulate as if accident had thrown
it together, or, if it was in the way, they hauled it to the river, marsh, or slough-
hole, and got rid of it the easiest way possible. But example upon this class of
farmers has not been lost, there having been for the past two years an obvious
and general improvement. The virgin soil is proverbially quick and strong, and
new farms when opened have not seemed to require any artificial stimulus. This
fact, connected with the hitherto unconquerable propensity of the Indian race to
avoid systematic labor, and the imitative faculty of the French people, led their
descendants to the adoption and pursuit of a course of farming very nearly
resembling the rudest eftbrts of the aborigines. This unprofitable waste of time
and labor is beginning to bo realized, and as intelligence advances, will be among
the things of the past.

Stock. — Very httle attention has ever been paid to stock raising. Colonel
Tuller- brought a drove of cattle to Green Bay from Illinois, in 1836 or '37,
which was the basis for most of the neat cattle that have been raised here. In
1839, the Hon. M. L. Martin obtained and brought here a full bred Durham
short horn bull, which he kept five years ; and although no pains have been
taken in raising cattle, the benefits resulting from Mr. Martin's enterprise, are dis-
tinctly visible. Many of the cows from this stoi'k are excellent milkers, and in

131

their form and symmetry sliow their origin. Mr. Martin, and also some others,
have attempted to introduce improved breeds of swine, but with little permanent
success ; and a large proportion of the hogs raised are of inferior stock. There
are no sheep in the county except those that have been brought here for the
shambles. The horses raised are Indian and Canadian ponies, good specimens
of the breed, a hardy race of animals, easily kept, and capable of enduring mucii
fatigue. Three years ago, quite a number were purchased for the California
emigration, and they are said to have endured the fatigues of the journey across
the plains as well or better than any other animals.

Adaptation to Stock-raising as compared to Tillage. — Stock-raising and
its concomitant pursuits, will unquestionably become a leading business with agri-
culturists in this county. Wherever the land has been cleared, and cattle have
been permitted to range over it, English grasses, and particularly white clover,
have kept an even pace with the improvement, and by their rich and nourishing
juices, gladdened the heart of the husbandman, by imparting to his animals
vigor and fatness. The vernal grass upon the Schuylkill, near Philadelphia, is
world-renowned for its nutritious properties ; but there is a similar semi-native
grass here, that comes in almost unbidden as soon as the forest is removed, of
nearly, or quite equal value, and well adapted to mowing or pasturage. But
this grass is not exclusive, for white and red clover, and red top and timothy,
have a peculiar tenacity to life when introduced into the soil.

The steady cold of our winters seems to be well adapted to secure the health
of stock, much better than alternate snow and rain storms, — consequently, if pro-
perly fed, stock will be active and vigorous, and can be made as fine by breed-
ing and feeding as any where else in the State.

Horticulture and Fruit growing. — The spring season is uniformly cold
and backward, and garden vegetables grow very little until after the 20th of
May. Peas, onions, and such hardy vegetables, may be planted before this time,
but such as are liable to be injured by the frost, should not be planted until later.
When the earth gets warm, there is probably no country where vegetable growth
is more rapid. In the Fox River valley and along the shores of the bay, garden
vegetables are obtained grown in the open air within two weeks of as early as
when cultivated in the same manner upon the lake shore at Chicago. Melons
grow luxuriantly, and ripen in August. Plums and cherries, of the hardier
varieties, grow with little trouble. Peaches have never been successfully culti-
vated, but apples Avill be a certain crop, whenever the trees get large enough to
bear. Most of the sub-soil, where the land is level, being impervious to water,
fruit trees, in order to do well, should be planted upon rolling land, or land that is
well drained, as the influence of much water around the roots at any season of
the year is highly deleterious. There are now many young orchards, as well aa

133

fruit gardens, well located ; and there is no doubt but a few years will prove
that " the grand-child hath planted, and his ancestor hath eaten of the fiuit of
his labor,"

Markets. — Should the natural facilities for manufacturing which abound in
this region be ever improved, the agriculturist will have a home market ; but, as
we are now situated, if there was a surplus raised, it could be shipped to an
Eastern market, or to the lumbering and fishing regions north of us, or to the
mining region on Lake Superior, with as much facility as it could from any of
the lake towns. Or when the Fox and Wisconsin improvement shall be com-
pleted, Brown Coimty will also pai'ticipate in the advantages of a southern
market. Green Bay seems to be the only natural channel for the winter trade
of those who are engaged in business north of this count}', so that the producer
here, must be well situated for a market for any surplus he may have; and this
market, if we include the mining region of Lake Superior, is already quite exten-
sive and constantly improving; and Green Bay may as properly be considered
the head of the market, as any port west of Buffalo.

Miscellaneous Remarks. — The husbandman and agriculturist, in this sec-
tion of country, by adopting and pui'suing a strict course of industry, frugality,
and economy, will steadily but surely accumulate property. Very few of the
resources of the country are yet developed. Lumbering and trade have chiefly
occupied the attention of those citizens from the Eastern States who have
heretofore settled here, and they could purchase and ship such supplies as they
needed, cheaper than they could raise them, taking into consideration the
expense of clearing the land. But now, farmers are beginning to settle here, and
after a few years of privation, such as is incident to the settlement of every new ,
country, their labor will almost imperceptibly become invested capital, from
which tbev Avill realize an accumulated interest. In addition to the advantaofes
that Brown County possesses for raising grain and grazing combined, the seasons
and soil are peculiarly congenial to the growth of flax. And should the alleged
discovery for separating the lint from the woody stalk, prove as well adapted to
the object as it is represented to be, the raising of flax will become an important
business. Under favorable circumstances the growth of flax is very rapid, and
if sown here about the first of June, the seed will ripen so that it can be har-
vested in August.

In most instances, the farmer here cultivates his own fields, his condition in life
being such that he cannot command means to employ much help, consequently
the improvements will progress slowly, but "patience and perseverence will
remove mountains."

Yours respectfully.
To Albert C. Ingham, Esq. L. B. BKAINARD.

Sec, of (he Wis. State Ayr. Society.

133

AGRICULTURE OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

t
Kandolpii, December 25tL, 1851.

Dear Sir — Your communication of December 1st, 1851, asking a general
account of the agricultural condition of Columbia county, its manner of culti-
vation and crops, its facilities for market, <fec., together with my opinion as
regards its adaptation to tillage compared with grazing, came to hand by due
course of mail.

In reply, I have to say, that the greater part of our citizens came here poor, con-
sequently could raise wheat easier than any thing else, that staple requiring a less
outlay in cash than stock of any kind, and some farmers seemed to be doing
very well so long as they could get from eighty to one hundred cents per bushel
at Milwaukee ; but for the last two or three years the crop has been short, and
this year the price very low, a great many have anticipated good crops and have
purchased teams, tools, and made improvements on time, expecting to meet their
engagements with their crops: but instead of being able to do so, have been
obliged to loan money at a high rate of interest, and now find themselves in
straightened circumstances — how to get right again seems to be a subject for
general conversation.

Some are of opinion that it will not pay to grow wheat ; others, that it will
not pay to grow stock in this high latitude, requiring so large an amount of feed
for winter.

I am fully satisfied that neither branch would be practicable alone, but by con-
necting the two branches, both can be made to pay well.

Suppose a farmer cultivates eighty acres in M'heat, oats and barley, and twenty
acres of corn, the straw, chatf, and corn stalks, will very nearly winter thirty head
of cattle ; whereas if he kept no stock, the coarse food from his farm would be
very nearly, if not quite lost to him, and he would receive no profit except from
the grain. On the other hand he would get the growth of his cattle.

A good yearling calf is worth five dollars; at two, it is worth ten; and at
three, fifteen dollars — one hundred per cent on the first cost.

Twelve or fifteen cows on a farm, properly managed, will yield a profit of fifteen
dollars per head, besides raising the calf, and using milk, butter, and cheese, for
a small family; the surplus milk makes fine pigs.

The farmer, while cultivating his hundred acres, can take care of his thirty
head of cattle at the same time, with very little extra expense ; the milking can
be done in the morning, while breakfast is being prepared ; and so in evening ;
it will require from thirty to sixty minutes.

I have kept from five to twelve cows per annum for the last ten years — hare

134

kept an account of the product — and after deducting what was used In the
family, they have averaged sixteen dollars per head ; we make butter and cheese.

There is a large profit in raisiirg horses. I bought a yearling mare colt, for
twenty five dollars, ten years ago last spring. I' sold her at six years old for sixty
dollars ; have since sold two colts, at two years old, for ninety-five dollars, and
have eight on hand of her stock, valued at a low estimate at 470 dollars.

There is also a fair profit in keeping sheep. A friend of mine, in Walworth
county, told me last Vinter that he sheared one hundred and thirty sheep the
season before ; got one hundred and thirty dollars for the wool at his door, and
raised seventy lambs — the lambs would more than pay the expenses.

There is also a profit on hogs, properly managed. There is no profit in keep-
ing a poor breed of hogs, nor in half-feeding a good breed ; no more hogs
should be kept, than can be kept well — they should be fatted early while the
weather is warm ; in order to do so, our farmers should have old corn to com-
mence feeding in August, and raise barley, which by the way is a very good
substitute for corn ; it should be ground and soured while the weather is warm.
Pumpkins, potatoes, and other roots, boiled and fed with barley, are very good.

It appears therefore to be bad economy for the farmer to devote his whole time
and attention to raising wheat and other grains, or to raise stock exclusively ; but
when he can blend the two branches together he will reap golden harvests.

Our market heretofore has been at IMilwaukee. Grain this year, however, will
not bear transportation. Our best market at present is the Pinery ; we are anti-
cipating one at Fort Winnebago and other ports on Fox River, when the
northern improvement is completed — the extreme south eastern corner of the
county is about thirty miles from Fort Winnebago.

About one-half of om* county is rather sandy for grasses, though well adapted
to grain ; the balance seems to be well adapted to both. I have seen several
pieces of timothy and clover that appeared fine on the prairie. There is a great
deal of laud in the older settled parts of the county that should be seeded down
now, in order to rest the land and make a good fallow for wheat.

We fonned a County Agricultural Society some time in November last, and
elected Hon. Jesse Van Ness, of Westpoint, P. 0. Lodi, President ; and Hon.
John A. Byrne, of Otsego, Secretary.

The science of Agriculture is steadily progressing, and the day is not far dis-
tant when it will not be thought disreputable to till the soil.

In conclusion, permit me to say, you have my best wishes for the success of

the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society.

Veiy respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOSEPH KERR.
To Albkrt C. Ingham, Esq.

Sec. of the Wis. State Jgr. Society.

186

AGRICULTURE OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

Prairie Du Chien, December 26th, 1651,

Dear Sir — In answer to the request made in yotir letter, I proceed to give a
brief account of Crawford county : — First, as to its size, boundaries, number of
square miles, and extent of land susceptible of cultivation.

As the present limits of this county are quite small when compared with itg
original boundaries ; and as you extend your inquiries to " the north-western
portion of the State," which was originally included in Crawford county; and aa
it is doubtful whether you will receive the desired information from some of the
counties which have been taken from old Crawford ; I trust a more general
range in this communication will be acceptable, rather than one confined to our
present narrow limits.

Crawford county, as constituted and organized, I think it was in October 1818,
by proclamation of Governor . Cass, of Michigan Territory, to which it then
belonged, included all that portion of what is now Wisconsin and Minnesota,
which lies west of a line drawn north and south through the Portage, between
the Wisconsin and the Fox rivers, now the site of the town of Fort Winnebago,
or Portage city, extending north to Lake Superior and the northern boundary of
the United States, and west to the Mississippi river.

Within this boundary is included what is called " the Carver Grant," which,
having excited some attention, and acquired some thousands of owners, within
fifty years past, it may not be improper here to notice : The pretended grant
was " from the Falls of St. Anthony, running along the east bank of the Missis-
sippi nearly south east, as far as the mouth of Lake Pepin, where the Chippewa
river joins the Mississippi, and from thence eastward five days travel, accounting
twenty English miles per day, and from thence north six days travel, at twenty
English miles per day, and from thence back again to the Falls of St. Anthony,
on a direct straight line." Within these boundaries would be at least six millions
of acres, or about ten thousand square miles.

This grant is said to have been made to Captain Carver, on the first day of
May, 1767, for and in consideration of- his services to the Nau-do-wissies — the
Dakota, or Sioux, by Haw-no-paw-ja-tin, the Turtle, and 0-toh-ton-goom-lish-eau,
the Snake, two chiefs of that tribe or nation. This deed was in Captain Carver's
own hand writing, as appears from Dr. Peter's testimony before a committee of
Congress, in 1805, and without witnesses, because no one was present who could
write his name. In 1769, Captain Carver went to England, and presented the
matter to the King, probably in 1770, and prayed a confirmation of the grant;
which, as Dr. Peters says, was promised, but the matter was delayed until the

13G

news of the battle of Bunker Hill reached England, when the whole matter was
suspended until the American troubles should subside ; and before this, that is in
1780, Captain Carver died, and the grant was never confirmed by the British Crown.

In 1806, Dr. Samuel Peters, who it seems b)^ marriage became an heir to this
claim, presented the matter to Congress, and prayed for its confirmation ; but it
was rejected. In 1821, February 17, a confirmation of "the Carver Grant" was
made at Lac Traverse on the St. Peter's river, by Chateau Houmans, Little Crow,
and three other Chiefs. On the 13th day of August, 1824, it seems that Eesh-
tali-hum-bak, or Sleepy Eyes, who claimed to be a Sioux Chief, was in the city
of New York, and confirmed the said grant. And at the ensuing session of
Congress another petition was presented for a confirmation of this grant by that
body, which was again refused ; and among other reasons assigned for its rejection
was the fact, that no such Indians as the first signers of the grant were known,
and no tradition of the grant was to be found among the Sioux.

In 1821 a keel boat load of goods was sent up to the Sioux, and the deed of
that date was obtained by this means. But as soon as the United States Indian
agent and the ofiicers of the L^nited States army at Fort Snelling, St. Peters,
were informed that the keel boat men were dickering with the Indians about the
land in question, the boat and men were ordered out of the country, which they
left in double quick time. This I learned from the traders, on my first '\nsit
to the country in 1837.

In 1837 the Indian title to the pretended grant was extinguished by treaties
with both the Chippewas and Sioux; and on the 7th day of December of that
year the claimants, under Carver's heirs, made another attempt to secure the
confirmation of the grant. And the deposition of Kenneth McKenzie, who wit-
nessed the deed of confirmation in 1821, as to the fact of the said grant; and
also the deposition of Ramsey Crooks, as to the identity of said McKenzie, were
taken in New York city, and I think were presented to Congress, or an attempt
made to do so ; but it seems this apphcation succeeded no better than the former
ones.

The claimants of this pretended gi-ant may be called legion, for they are many.
The first deed of this claim is without date, in history, but must have been given
within the past century. It is said that Martha, a daughter of captain Carver,
and the only one of his children then in England, and under their laws deemed
the only heir, was induced to marry, and then with her husband (whose name
is not given) gave a deed therefor, to the mercantile house of Conly & Co. in
London, who soon after sent one Clarke, with a stock of goods to obtain and
keep possession of the grant ; but he being robbed and murdered on the Niagara,
the expedition failed, by which Conly &; Co, lost £3,000 sterling.

On the 9th of May, 1794, Jonathan and Rufus Carver, together with four of

187

their sisters, (not including Martha,) heirs of Captain Carver, all living in Ver-
mont and Massachusetts, quit claimed the said grant unto Edward Houghton, of
Vermont, for and in consideration of the sum of £50,000, Vermont currency,
or $166,666 66.

On the 20th of February, 1822, the said Edward. Houghton and wife, for
and in consideration of the sum of five dollars to them in hand paid, (a great
falling off in price,) aliened, remised, and released, the said grant unto James L.
Bell and Charles Graham, of the city of New York, and George Blake, of
Boston, in trust for " The Mississippi Land Company of New York." But how
many deeds have been given to others, and how many claimants may now be
found, it is probably impossible to tell.

The grant was at one time surveyed, on paper, and laid off into townships,
and one or two village plats, and lots in town and country, sold by their num-
bers, to an extent which would probably cover double the number of acres in
the grant. After the Indian title was extinguished in 1837, several companies
of surveyors went upon the pretended grant to survey and plat the land, or to
look up the hnes previously laid, or pretended to have been run, marked and
staked off, but were required to leave by the U. S. authorities ; the claim being
of no value, not having been recognized' by either the British or American
governments.

A number of deeds are on record in Crawford County, Wisconsin, and a
number more have been sent to the county to be recorded, which not being
accompanied with the necessary fee therefor, were not honored with a record.
One of the latter class is in my possession, which recites the sale of a million and
a half of acres.*

To return from this digression. About the year 1830, all that part of Craw-
ford County lying south of the Wisconsin River, was cut otf^ and organized into
the county of Iowa, by the legislative council of Michigan Territory. In 1840,
the county of St. Croix was taken from Crawford ; out of which the county of
La Pointe was organized in 1845.

In 1841, the county of Portage took all that part of Crawford County which
lay east of range No. 1, east of the 4th principal meridian; out of which, since
that date, the counties of Sauk, Adams, and parts of Richland and some other
new counties, have been formed. In 1842, Richland County was formed on the
north side of the Wisconsin River, taking all of Crawford County which lay
east of range 3, and south of towns 13 : that is to say, two ranges each side of
the fourth principal meridian, including towns 1 2 north.

* For a more full account of this grant, see Harper's New York edition of Carver's
Travels, 1838, Addenda pp. :M5-362. Also, American State Papers, Tublic Lands, vol.
4, pp. 29-34.

138

In 1843, the county of Chippewa was organized out of Crawford, so as to
He between the latter and St. Croix, embracing ail the country which is watered
by the Chippewa River and its tributaries. And in 1851, the counties of La
Crosse aud Bad Ax were organized out of Crawford, which leaves the latter of
but a limited space, being from the middle of towns 1 1 north, to the Wisconsin
River south) and from and including range 3 west, to the Mississippi River.
The entire area of the county as it is now bounded and limited is about 558
square mjles.

" The history and date of the first settlements, together with the present popu-
lation," is a more difficult question to answer, and requires more research than
the limits prescribed for this communication will authorize or justify.

The first inhabitants of this region, included in the original county of Craw-
ford, of whom we have any knowledge, except from the ancient tumuli, were the
Dakota or Sioux Indians. The builders of those tumuli are so far lost in the
past, that no j^retence is made to a history of them, except in the pretended
visions of Joe Smith, in his so called Golden Bible. When the French mis-
sionaries and traders from Canada first visited the country south of Lake Supe-
rior, east of the Mississippi, and north and west of the Wisconsin, the Sioux were
the lords of the soil.

I learned from the Chippewas at La Pointe, when I was agent for the U. S.
among them in 1842-43, that previous to their crossing Lake Superior to
settle upon its southern shores, the Sioux occupied the whole country south of
it, and as far east, at least, as Ke-we-wa-non Bay, then called Che-goi-me-gon ;
for there, in 1661, it seems they captured and killed the missionary Rene Mes-
Dard, whose cassock and breviary were afterwards found among the Sioux, kept
by them as amulets.*

At what period the Chippewas began to occupy that portion of the country
south of Lake Superior, and within the ancient limits of Crawford County, it is
difficult to ascertain. Their first council fire within these limits, w^as kindled on
the Island of Magdalene, now La Pointe — but when, neither history or their tra-
ditions definitely inform us. Whenever it was, the Sioux occupied the main
land ; and I was shown points and places on the Island, as well as on the main,
where the severest of battles were fouofht between these warlike tribes. From
the best data I have, the Chippewas were on this Island in 1722, for about that
time a trading post existed there, and how long previously is not determined. In
1665, the Missionary Claude AUouez reached Kewcwana, and interposed his
influence in preventing a party of young warriors from going against the Sioux ;
from which it would appear that Kewcwana was then the western limit of the
Chippewas, on the south shore of that Lake,f

• Bancroft's History of the United States, Vol 3, p. 147. t Ibid, p. 150.

139

After the Chijjpewas had gained a foot hold upon the Magdalene Island, their
fii-st move " inland" was towards the head branches of the Chippewa, and resulted
in planting a colony at Lake Flambeau. As early as 1659, the Chippewas were
near Green Bay, and west and north-west of it to the Wisconsin and Lake
Superior, from which the Flambeau colony probably received accessions. And
by degrees they extended their conquest down the Chippewa, until the battle
field between them and the Sioux was between the falls of Chippewa and Lak^
Pepin.

In the meantime, this warlike and conquering people extended their excursions
to, the head of the Lake, and up the St. Louis River; and passing the falls by a
nine mile portage, they continued to ascend that river, and the Savannah branch
of it, — and by a five mile portage reached the waters of Sandy Lake, on the Mis-
sissippi, where they planted a colony. And this region became the battle ground
betweei>ithem and the Sioux in that direction, until the line was pushed down
the river to the Sauk rapids. In 1825, when General Cass, as Governor of Michi-
gan and Superintendent of Indian affairs, had a general congress of Indian
nations at Prairie du Chien, to settle the boundaries of their respective lands, a
dispute arose between the Sioux and Chippewas, as to the line between them.
The latter claimed to the St. Peter and the Mississippi rivers, while the former
claimed to Lake Superior, and averred that their fathers had always occupied
and owned the country to that point. General Cass inquired of the Chippewas
" on what ground they claimed the country, the Sioux having occupied it before
the Chippewas came to it." Upon this Hole-in-the-day, then but a young man, rose
and said, " we claim it on the same ground that you claim this country from the
King of England — by conquest.'' "Then," said Governor Cass, "you are entitled
to it." One of the most sanguine battles fought between these tribes was at the
mouth of the Crow Wing River, as near as I could learn, from Indian tradition,
about the year 1768. The battle lasted four days between 70 Chippewas and 400
Sioux, the most of the latter being killed. In 1843, the remains of the fortifica-
tions, such as holes dug in the ground, and breast works thrown up by the Chip-
pewas, were plainly visible; and the affair was explained to me by William
Aitkin, Esq.

The next Indian occupants of a portion of the soil in this orig-inal county,
seem to have been the Sacs, (Sauks or Saukies) and the Foxes, the latter called
Ottigaumies by Carver. At what time they commenced their occupation is
uncertain. In 1673, and for some time before, they lived on Fox River, not far
from Green Bay. But in 1766, Carver found the Sauks at Sauk Prairie, and
the Foxes at Prairie du Chien. And, according to his account of the time of
building their village— it being thirty years previous to his reaching the place —
it must have been as early a^ 1736, and perhaps eariier. These confederated

140

tribes, who had been like Lshmael, their bands against every body, and, of course, in
self defence, every body's hand against them, were driven from the St. Lawrence
step by step, until they were reduced in numbers, and compelled to unite their
fragments of bands for mutual defence and self-protection, and settle on Fox River,
fifty miles from Green Bay, where in l706, they were defeated by the French
and some allied Indians, who killed and took most of them prisoners.* It
is probable that soon after this event they moved over upon the Wisconsin
River, and wrested the country from the Sioux ; with whom and tbe Chippewas ■
they kept a continual war, until, as Black Hawk says, in his life by Le Clerc, they
discovered the beautiful country on Rock River, the occupants of which, were
weak and unable to defend themselves. Of this country they took possession,
driving oft" the former occupants. This being the way this banded confederated
tribe got possession of the countries they occupied, we can have the less pity for
them, even if their sorrowful story of frauds practised upon them by the whites
were true.

Some where between 1706 and 1736, they must have moved to the Wiscon-
sin; and they were there as late as 1790, as I was informed by Michael Cadotte,
who showed me mounds with holes in them for breast-works, about five miles
north of the Falls of Chippewa River, which were made by the Sacs and Foxes
when warring against the Chippewas. The chief of the Foxes, who was first
found by the whites at Prairie du Chien, Avas named Dog ; and the Prairie
upon which he built his town, was called his, or Dog's Prairie.

After the Sauks and Foxes left the Wisconsin and the country north of it, and
took up their abode on Rock River and west of the Mississippi, the Winnebagoes
moved from the vicinity of the Lake of their name, to the countiy vacated
by the former ; at what date is uncertain. But as the Sauks and Foxes were
here in 1790, and not here in 1805 when Lieutenant Pike ascended the river,
the Winnebagoes came here probably about the beginning of the present cen-
tury. At this period tlie Sioux, Chippewas and Winnebagoes, were the occu-
pants of the soil as hunting grounds. The Menomonees claiming a part of the
country west of the Wisconsin, and above the Portage. In 1825, the metes
and bounds of these respective claimants were settled, in a general council of all
the tribes within reach; and continued so until 1837, when the Sioux and Win-
nebagoes sold out to the United States all of their claims east of the Mississippi,
and the Chippewas sold all that they claimed to it, south of 46" N. latitude.
And within ten years the Chippewas and Menomonees have sold out the
remainder of their claims, so that the Indian title to the soil is now fully extin-
guished.

Carver's Travels, p. 45.

141

The first visit of white men to the country within our original limits, appears
to have been made by Marquette and Joliet, who descended the Wisconsin River'
in 1673; but they do not appear to have made any stop, not even to have
aseended the Mississippi four miles from the mouth of the Wisconsin, so as to
see this beautiful Prairie — if, indeed, it was then occupied by any one.

In 1680, Hennepin ascended the Mississippi from the mouth of the Illinois to
above the Falls of St. Anthony, and must, of coiu'se, have passed this place,
(Prairie du Chien,) and he could hardly have passed it without stopping. But as
there is no mention made by him of any settlement, or even of an Indian village,
at that time it is probable that there was none. Hennepin says he was released
from being a prisoner to the Sioux at Itasti, on the St. Francis River, by a
trader, but does not tell where the trader resided. But as, on being released, he
returned to Quebec by ascending the Wisconsin, it seems most probable that this
trader lived at or near Prairie du Chien. And if so, he being here in 1680, was
probably the first trader here.

When Carver visited this place in 1766, he found an Indian village of about
thirty years standing, and a ti-ading post of great commercial importance. One
of the traders who accompanied him from Mackana, wintered at Yellow River,
on the west side of the Mississippi, about three miles above our upper landing.
But the site of the Aallage of which Carver speaks, must have been the same as
that of our " lower town" at this time. Here we have the tradition of the
French, that their fathers first settled and built then" fort ; and, in attempting to
dig a well, they left a cotton-wood stick in the shape of a handspike remaining
in it, which, taking root, grew, and is now (the well being filled up) a tree of
more than a foot in diameter.

The first regular settlers at this place, were those who came here in the employ
of the traders, and leaving that trade settled to farm, fish, hunt or voyar/e, as
opportunity occurred. These regular settlers must have been here previous to
the Revolutionary War, at least some of them. For the whole Prairie, including
forty-four farm lots, and twenty-six village and other lots, was divided off, and
claimed by as many claimants in 1793.*

These claims, except two farm lots, lie on this prairie, which is seven miles in
extent from north to south ; and in width, one and three-fourths of a mile on the
south end, from whence it runs to a point on the north. The original claimants
occupied by common consent of the Indians ; it being a kind of common trading
and neutral ground, on which all the neighboring tribes frequently, if not annually,
met for trade or other interceurse. In 1818, Congress confirmed these claims to
the settlers who were in possession in 1793. The proofs of ownership were taken
in 1823; and the farm and village lots surveyed by order of Congress, in 1828.

" American State Papers, Vol. 4. '

142

From all I can learn, tLere must ha\e been a trading post established at La
Pointe on or before 1722, which was probably as early as any permanent estab-
lishment of the kind at this place. But as the immense trade on this river and
its numerous branches, brought more voijageurs to this country than to the Lake
at that eai-Iy day, and especially as the country here oflered greater facilities for
farming than the Lake country, the settlement here became larger and more per-
manent than that of the Lake.

There were but few Americans in this settlement, previous to the occupancy
of the Foi-t by the United States army in 1816. In 1805, Lieutenant Pike
found a few Americans here ; but the most of the traders and settlers were
Canadian French. When I moved my family to this place in 1836, there were
but three or four American families in the place, out of the garrison and the
Indian department. At that time the Indian title had not been extinguished to
any portion of the country north of the Wisconsin, except to this prairie, as
above stated, by common consent.

In 1830, or thereabout. Judge J. H. Lockwood, under a heense from the War
Department, and by consent of the Sioux, to whom he paid an annual ground
rent, built a saw mill on the Red Cedar branch of the Chippewa, at which estab-
lishment some gardening, but no farming was done. In 1838, after the treaties
with the Indians of 1837 had been ratified, one company ascended the St. Croix
to the Falls; another to the Falls of Chippewa; and, in 1839, another company
went to the Falls of Black River — all of them to build and run saw mills. But
each became the nucleus of more extended settlements, which have been ex-
tending themselves wider and wider, until they settled a part of Minnesota,
which has been taken from us ; and the counties of La Pointe, St. Croix, Chip-
pewa, La Crosse and Bad Ax, which have been organized from the w^estern por-
tion ; and the counties of Richland, Sauk and Adams, from the eastern poition
of what was originally Crawford County. Leaving the present county to contain
658 square miles; and, in 1850, 2399 inhabitants. But as the tide of emi-
gration is rushing in upon us at a rapid rate, there is probably from one-fouith
to one-third more inhabitants now than then.

" The general formation of the country" is hilly. Some portion of our ori-
ginal county is level, but more of it undulating. The level portions of it are
at the heads of the largest streams, where it is apt to be swampy and marsh3\
Near the ^Mississippi the hills or blufts rise in some places 500 feet above the
river; but as you ascend the streams, the hills lessen down to a gentle undula-
tion on the small streams, and to a level or marsh and swamp on the larger ones.
In the present limits of the county the land is generally hilly or rolling. The
level Or marshy portions are on the margins or bottoms of the great rivers.
The whole of the original, as well as the present county, abounds in streams of

143

pure water, and abundance of water power. The purity of the waters in the
smaller streams and lakes — those that are fed entirely from springs — may be
judged of from the fact that they abound with speckled trout. But those larger
streams which rise in swamps and marshes, many of them being tamerack swamps,
show the effects thereof in the highly colored state of the water.

The Prairie region extends from the Wisconsin, north, by a width of from
thirty to fifty miles from the Mississippi, to within ten miles of Lake Superior at
its western extremity, with sufficient timber for farming purposes the most of the
way. Between the Black and Chippewa Rivers, on the present mail route, the
timber is too scarce to encourage a general settlement ; but along the river hills,
and also east of the mail route, timber is more abundant. East of the Kickapoo,
and on the head waters of the St. Croix, Chippewa, and Black Rivers, and on
the western branches of the Wisconsin — all within the original county of Craw-
ford — there is no lack of timber ; indeed it is generally a dense forest of pine,
mixed with hard wood.

Within the present limits of the county, except a dense forest on the east side of
the Kickapoo, the country is divided between prairie and timber, and open wood
land, so that no portion of it can suffer for Avant of timber ; and except along the
precipitous bluffs of the river, there is but little waste land. It can mostly be
ploughed, gi-azed, or kept for timber ; and is not more uneven than S2!me of the
best cultivated portions of western Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio, along the
Ohio River.

" The general character of the soil" is good ; within the present limits of Crawford
County, in Bad Ax, La Crosse, the western portions of Chippewa, and southern
parts of St. Croix, it may be considered as first rate. Indeed, it is hard to imagine
how it can be improved. Further east and north, when you reach the pine region,
the soil becomes of less value, except in places where the pine does not grow.

The soil in that portion of the country fii-st named, is mostly a vegetable
mould, formed from the decay of vegetable matter, or its ashes, Avhen burnt over.
It is mixed with sand sufficient to give it warmth ; and this seems to increase as
we go north, showing that nature, or nature's God has proAided against the vis-
cissitudes of the climate. The poorer soils spoken of are, in the pines too sandy,
and in the marshes too wet, and in a few instances a cold clay.

" Of the crops and the general yield," it would be difBcult for me to speak,
because I have not sufiicient data. Much depends on the mode of cultivation
and the season ; fifty, forty, thirty, and twenty bushels of wheat to the acre have
been raised. So far as I know, thirty of wheat, fifty of corn and oats, and from
one to two hundred bushels of potatoes, are considered an average crop.

In the cranberry marshes, which are found at the head of the larger streams,
the crops in good seasons are said to average several hundred bushels per acre.

144

" Of the Manner of Cultivation, and of lUi defects,'' 1 can say but little. The
old French settlers, when the Americans first came among them, wrought things
as their fathers did two hundred years before. To yoke oxen, they tied a pole
across the back of their horns. They had no waggDns, and their one-horse carts
were without tires, boxes, or skenes on the axles. They usually put in only
spring crops. Their wheat, oats, bai-ley, and peas, were sown on the ground,
with no other preparation than burning off the weeds, stubble, and grass, of the
last year's growth, and ploughed in — the ploughing being usually in the same
direction — no crossing, and no manuring.

The ground cultivated was in a narrow strip at the foot of the bluffs, where
was the best soil, say from forty to eighty rods wide, and enclosed in one com-
mon field from five to seven miles long, having but one fence on the west side,
and across each end — the bluffs on the east answering for a fence on that side.
The corn planted was of the early Indian variety, which ripens in the early part
of September ; yielding from thirty to fifty bushels per acre, according to the
mode of cultivation. The wheat, oats, barley, and peas, being harvested in
August, and the corn in September, the field was usually thrown open in October
as soon as the potatoes were gathered, as common pasture. If wood was
searce in the ensuing winter, or before the ice became good for procuring it from
the islands and bottom lands of the river, most likely the fence would be used in
their stoves, being dry, and the place of the rails would be supplied before spring
by new and green ones. These annual changes of the rails, rendered it of little
consequence whether they were made of oak, ash, maple, or willow, the three
latter being usually the easiest obtained, composed the most of the fencing mate-
rial of the farms.

The grain cradle was not known here until the arrival of Americans, the scythe
and sickle being the only instrument used for that purpose. The French bind
their grain with wiUow withs to this day. In other respeets, they have availed
themselves of the improvements introduced by the American immigrants, and
some of them are now amonsf our best fai-mers. Most of the new inventions for
ploughs, harvesters, and threshing machines, are now in use.

" The Markets are good, and also the facilities for reaching them." From
the earliest settlement of the country, the military and Indian departments, in-
cluding the fur trade, always furnished a good market for our surplus produce,
until a short time since when the amount produced has been greater than the
demand from that source. To supply the deficiency, the lumber trade since 1838
has kept the demand more than equal to the supply ; add to this, the demand
growing out of the immigration ; so that hitherto the demand for every thing,
except wheat, in the two last years, has much more than equalled the home
supply. And our prospects for a market are good for a long time to come in our

145

own country, and nearly at our own dooi's. The lumber trade; the Indian trade
and annuities; the miUtary posts at the north and west of us, together with the
continued tide of emigration; to which may also be added the mining interests;
all together, bid fair to consume the most of our surplus produce, except, perhaps,
■wheat.

Within two or three years past, the produce of wheat has been larger than the
demand in the country. But the facilities for transportation by steam-boat on the
Mississippi, has supplied us with a market in St. Louis. Our merchants pur-
chased the wheat, cleaned it thoroughly, had sacks made of coarse domestic cotton,
holding over a bushel each, and sent it to St. Louis, where its superior quality
and clean state commanded the highest price, making it pi'ofitable for both the
producer and the merchant.

The opening of the navigation of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, already gives
us a choice of markets, between St. Louis and the Lakes, for all we have to spara
over and above the up river and home demand. And if, as is expected, the Mil-
waukee and Mississippi railroad should reach the river at this point, we should
have an additional facility for reaching an eastern market. Nor will it make
much difference, if any, whether that road reaches the river at this point, or not,
so far as the surrounding country is concerned. The road must reach the river
somewhere, but if not, some other one will, within a short distance, by steam;
so that before our surplus produce gluts the market on this great river, we shall
have the double facility of steamboat and railroad whereby to reach an eastern
market, and that too at but a trifling expense. As it is well known, that the
average of our crops exceed that of the eastern part of our State, after deduct-
ing the expense of reaching the Lake, we shall have equal, if not greater profit,
per acre, than will our more eastern neighbors.

" Our Stock" is that which is most common to the country. We have no ani-
mals of special note, unless it is the pony breed of horses; and not many of them.
Our early French settlers came to the country by water, and in bark canoes, or
Makanaw boats, and could not bring with them the real Canadian or Norman
horse. Indeed I do not remember of seeing one of that breed in this country.
If there is one, or more, they must have come by land from some State border-
ing on Lower Canada. The original stock of horses here, probably came from
the South and West, and were from the stock introduced by the Spanish into
Mexico, Santa Fe, &c., and from thence spread among the Indians. Carver
mentions an expedition of the Winnebagoes towards Santa Fe, and the capture
of eighty horses at one time, which they brought home with them. The French
settlers here may have obtained horses from their brethren at Kaskaskia, or in
Missouri. But in either case they were onginaliy obtained, most probably, from
the Indians to the south and west of them.
10

14G

The present bleed of horses, or ponies, are not generally of an extraordinary
character. Only a few very great travellers have been found among them. I
lia\'e, however, seen one of but moderate size, Avhich is said to have travelled
before a light train on the ice, from Mount Trompelau to this place, 120 miles,
between sun rise and sun down, in February, and that without any visible injury.
But whether any of such bottom can be now obtained I am unable to state. Our
stock of horses has greatly improved of late from immigration.

The horned cattled in this country, originally came from the States of Illinois
and Missouri, and were not of the first quality. Some few of a good quality
were obtained from the droves brought up, but generally they were of the ordi-
nary character. Immigiation has lately brought some of good quality among us,
but I know of none of the imported breeds of the day; though, no doubt, we
have some of mixed bloods, which are quite valuable.

Sheep have done remarkably ■well, so far as they have been tried ; they are
very hardy, and produce good and heavy fleeces. To show their hardiness and
the adaptation of the climate to their growth, I will give the following fact : —
In 1837 a drove of sheep was brought to this place for slaughter. One of them,
a wether, strayed fiorn the flock and took up its abode in the liiHs east of this
prairie, and within three-fourths of a mile of my house; and strange to tell, but
nevertheless true, he escaped notice of men, dogs, and wolves, through two win-
ters, and was discovered and killed in spring of 1839, in good eating order. His
hoofs were so worn by travelling over the rocks, that they were but square stubbs.
We know that he must have straved from the said flock, because there had been
at that time no other such drove on the Prairie from which he could haxe strayed.
At this time there are a few small flocks of sheep which do exceedingly Avell, and
show, most conclusively, that our hilly and healthy country is well adapted to
raising them on a large scale. I have never heard of any disease among them.

As for Hogs, we have some Berkshires, but they have become so mixed and
crossed with other kinds, that but few of them can be distinguished. Poultry of
of all kinds do well.

" The adaptation of the country to grazing, as compared with tillage," is a
question I am not as well prepared to decide as are those of more experience. A
few facts, howerei', may serve to show the gi-azing qualities of the country. The
French here who usually own large droves of horses, seldom, and some of them
never feed them in winter, except such as they use; and, in the spring, they are
in tolerable order. In our low bottoms and ravines, where the wild grasses gi-ow
high and rank, they are sometimes beaten down by the fall rains and snow; in
which case the snow usually covei^s a large quantity of green substance which
the hoises reach by pawing away the snow, if snow is thei"C. If the grass is not
beaten down by the tnow, but stands up and reaches above if, then they eat oflf

147

the tops. And what is remarkable in this country, this dry j^-rass, reachino- above
the snow, is eaten with avidity by the liorses; and from the fact that they keep
in good order on it, it must have considerable nutrition in it, even in that dead
and dry condition.

There are, however, other means of grazing in the country. On some of the
islands and river bottoms, there are not only thickets of under-brush on which the
animals browse, but rushes abound in many places on which horses and cattle
will even thrive through the winter. These rush beds are not very numerous ;
they abound most in the thick timbered regions where the wild grass is thin, or
does not grow at all. In the winter of 1842-3, when the hay failed at the Falls
of the Chippewa, the cattle not wanted for immediate use were driven to, and
watched in, the rush bottoms. In the same winter, a party of us voyaging with
horses through to Lake Superior and back, our hay and oats having failed we
were obliged to resoi-t to the rushes, on which our horses subsisted three days
before we reached the settlement.

The quality of our prairie hay is said to be better than the same article further
south. Those who have lived in the southern parts of Illinois and Missouri,
say that they can winter cattle easier in this region than in the former places.
They think the grass here makes more substantial hay, probably from not being
so much drenched in summer by the rains. But a principal reason why cattle
can be easier wintered, is the character of our winters. We are not one day in
mud and wet snow, nor being drenched with rain, and the next day frozen into
icicles. Cattle under such sudden and repeated changes, cannot do as well as
with us, where but few such changes occur, probably not more than one or two,
and sometimes not one through the whole winter. Diy snow, and dry cold
weather, even if somewhat severe, when it comes on gradually, and is uniform,,
does not effect man or beast, as does the contrary kind of weather. If it requires
nnich labor to provide a winter's stock of provender, we have good health and
])hysical strength to perform it. And we are satisfied to woi'k if we have health,
rather than get along without it, and shake half the year with the ague and
fever. If our cattle cost us more to raise and keep, they bring a better price
when raised, than do those that eome up themselves in sickly regions.

As between grazing and tillage, I think there is but little to choose, if
either is to be pursued by itself. But both togethei- is certainly pi'eferable;
because the straw and stalks from tillage go far in wintering cattle, which
would be a loss if we had no cattle to eat them.

" Of Dairies" we cannot say a gi-eat d<ial, having but few ; but we could say
much in favor of their establishment. What few dailies we have ai'e on a small
scale, but have been and ai'e very profitable, and would, no doubt, be more so on
a lai^e scale. I have already sUited the facility we have for raising and winter-

14S

iDg cattle ; these, of course, are necessary to a dairy, and so far it is an encour-
agement. The next, and indeed the great question is, as to the market for the
products of the dairy. And of this, let facts answer. The most of the cheese
consumed in our mines, our pineries, and on this entire frontier, is made on the
Western Reserve in Ohio, and transported 2000 miles by the rivers; and having
changed hands several times, each of which must have some profit to pay for
freight, storage, commission, Arc, the price realized by the producer cannot equal
more than half the cost to the consumer. Having lived myself on that Reserve,
and having some knowledge, by experience, of the cost of clearing land, and get-
ting it into grass, the crops obtained, &c., I am certain that cattle can be raised
and kept in this region for one-half the expense necessary to be incurred for the
same purpose in that country; and, of course, if the products of the dairy here
equal the products there, per head of cattle, and the producer here realizes no more
than the producer does there, the business must be much more profitable here
than there. But if the producer here realizes double what the producer does
there, and that too at one half the expense for raising and keeping cattle, then
the business is proportionally more profitable. The only difterence, and the only
drawback in this country in this business, is the diflference in the wages of hired
help. But the difference in costs and prices in favor of this country, will more
than balance the difterence in wages.

The extent of our "Horti cultural" experiments are but limited. That the
country is adapted to the growth of fruits, is evident from the fact, that the wild
fruits indigenous to this climate are very adundant: such as crab apple, plum of
.some dozen or twenty varieties, grapes, cherries, currant.s, raspberries, blackberries,
strawberries, and several other varieties.

The French who first settled Detroit, planted apple trees, pear trees, and
various other kinds of fruits. And judging from that fact, I expected to find
such trees in abundance in this region. But in this I was disappointed ; finding
of their planting but a few- apple trees, and these of an indiflferent quality.

About the year 1830, General Street, the Indian agent, brought a lot of apple
trees from Kentucky to this place, and set them out on a lot at the north end of
this prairie. They have had but little care, and are natural fruit, yet they have
grown well, and are very fruitful, when not injured by the frost. In 1838, 1 pro-
cured fifty grafted fruit trees from Kentucky, the nearest place from which I
could then procure them. But the distance of transportation and change of cli-
mate must have aftected them. Furthermore, the warmth of the steamboat
caused them to bud in the moss in which they w'ere done up, so that but four or
five of them lived. I have since tried seedlings of this country's growth, and
thoiigh I have had bad luck — the mice and careless ploughmen injuring the trees —
yet there are some fine and very promisirig orchards in the country. What is

149

wanted is a nursery iu the country, so that the tiees will become acclimated, and
there can be no doubt but that apples, pears, and plums, will do as well as in
any country as far north as this.

As for peaches, our hopes and prospects are not so flattering. Tn 1846, I had
twenty peach trees, which, in March, showed buds for as many bushels of fmit ; but
a severe frost in April killed them down to the very roots. A neighbor of mine
had beat me, in that he had thirty or forty bushels of the fi'uit the season before,
and had hopes of a hundred at the time, but his shared the fate of mine, or nearly
so. A few sprouted, and made a great effort to live. We could raise peaches
here, if we could prevent the sap from starting before the late severe frosts in the
spi-ing. I do not agree with the theory, that hard freezing before the sap has
started kills these trees. For forty yoars I have watched these trees in the west,
and I have never been satisfied that either the fruit or the tree has been injured
by the frost before the sap starts in the spring. But invariably, if the sap has
started, and is followed by a black frost, that is, something liarder than a mere
white frost, the fruit, if not the tree, is killed.

Various remedies have been tried and recommended for this evil — a northern
declivity, covering the roots with straw when the ground is frozen, &.c. Cut
the best, as I think, is engrafting the peach upon the wild plum. The plum, we
know seldom fails of bearing fruit on account of frost, because it is late in putting
forth its sap; and if the peach top is dependent on the plum root for sap it can-
not get it, nor start its buds, until the plum root — according to the law of its
nature — gives it. And as that period is so late, that the frost usually does not
injure the plum, neither can it injure the peach. Another advantage of this
mode of grafting is, that the worm has sometimes killed the peach by goring its
root; but that occurrence, as far as I know, never happened to the plum.

The raising of peaches in this climate, is a desideratum of which most per-
sons despair. It is laid to the climate; but in this I think they are mistaken.
Lower Canada, Vermont, New York, Northern Pennsylvania, Ohio, and I think
Michigan, once were favored witli abundance of this delicious fruit. In 1812,
when I first emigrated to Northern Ohio, those farms which had been long
enough cleared to have peaches on them, abounded in tliis fruit. And the trees
and fruit continued to grow and do well until about the year 1830, when the
late spring frosts began to kill — not merely the fruit, but the trees themselves.
And what is singular, the frost took those in the vallies in one year, and those on
the hills iu another. And so on from one location to another; until, in 1836,
when I left that country, there were but few ])eaehes left. And from the
newspapers I learn that since then, this same cause has worked farther and
farther south, until fears are entertained of tlip loss of this fruit as far as Pliila-
deljihia and Baltimore.

150

Now, from all this, the evil appeai-s to be in tlie changes in the seasons, aiul
not in tlie climate. The climate in the same place must be the same. But
seasons have changed and re-changed since the settlement of America, and favor-
able seasons may yet come round to us again in this matter.

Respectfully yours,

ALFRED BRUNSON.
To Albert C. Ingham, Esq.

Sec. of the Wis. State Ayr. SodeUj.

AGRICULTURE OF DANE COUNTY.
BY JOHN Y. SMITH, MADISON..

6EOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

Dane County, so called in honor of Nathan Dane,, of Massachusetts, who
drafted tlie celebrated ordinance- of 1787, for the government of the North-west
Territor}', and imder which five free and vigorous States have grown into exist-
ence, fs situated midway between Lake Michigan and the Mi.ssissippi river, its-
southern boundary being twenty-four miles north of the south line of the State^
It is bounded on the north by Columbia county, on the east by Dodge and
Jetferson, on the south by Rock and G-reen, and on the- west and north-west by
Iowa and the Wisconsin river. Its extent is forty-two miles from east to west,,
and thirty-five miles from north to south, containing a fraction less than thirty-
townships, or one thousand two hundred and sixty square miles.

Lakes. — The principal Lakes in the county, are the Four Lakes,, designated;
as the First, Second, Third and Fourth Lake. The First and Second each cover
an area of five or six; the Third about ten, and the Fourth about fifteen square
miles. This chain of Lakes extends from north-east to south-west, a distance- of
about seventeen miles. Madison, the county seat of tl>e county and capital of
the State, is situated between the Third and Fourth Lakes, upon a high rolling
strip of ground, from one-half to three-fourths of a mile in breadth, and com-
mandincr a fine view of the Third and Fourth Lakes. Accordina: to the census
of 1850 the town contained 1871 inhabitants, and the population of the county
was 16,654.

Streams. — The pi'incipal streams in the county are the Catfish, Koshkonong,
Black Earth, and Sugar River. These streams furnish sufficient water-power to
jueet the ordinary wants of the country, but not adequate to exteiv^ive mauufac-

IT)!

turiiig operations. Tlie Catfish luis its rise in the northern part of the county,
and runs in a south-easterly direction througli the four Lakes, and unites with
Rock River, in Rock county. The Koshkouong rises in the eastern part of the
county, and runs in a south-eastern direction, and discharges its waters into the
Koshkonong Lake. Sugar River rises in the south-western part of the county,
and runs in a south-eastern direction through Green and a corner of Rock, and
unites with Rock River in the State of Ilhnois. Black Eai'th Creek has its rise
near the centre of the county, a little west of the Fourth Lake, running in a
north-westerly direction, and uniting with the Wisconsin ri\cr near the north-east
corner of Iowa county. These streams and their tributaries, together witli many
other streams of less magnitude, Avater most parts of the county abundantly for
agricultural purposes.

Mills. — There are ten or twelve saw mills in the county, propelled by water,
and two propelled by steam, and eight flouring mills, the most extensive of which
is that of Leonai'd J. Farwell Ai Co., at the outlet of the Fourth Lake, near
Madison.

Face of the Country. — The general surface of the country is of a gently
undulating character, the exceptions being found in the vicinity of the Wisconsin
River, and such of its tributaries as have their rise within the county. In these
localities, particularly along the Black Earth Creek, are found the bold, precipitous
blurts and deep ravines peculiar to the valley of the W^isconsin, with these excep-
tions, there is but very little ground in the county too rough for cultivation. The
Blue Mounds are two high hills rising out of a surrounding plain, united at their
bases, but terminating in separate peaks at an elevation of about one thousand
feet above the level of the Wisconsin river. They are located twenty-five miles
west of Madison, and the county line between Dane and Iowa, passes aorth and
south between the two mounds. The summit of the east mound, which is the
higher one, is the highest point of land in Dane countj^ and may be seen from
many positions in the central, northern, and eastern portions of the county, at a
distance of twenty-five or thirty-five miles.

Prairie and Timber. — With the exception of a narrow belt around the north-
eastern shore of the Fourth Lake, there are no nati\e forests in the coui^ty. Ih
the northern and western portions of the county there ai'e extensive prairies, and
consequently (especially in the northern townships) a scarcity of timber; but in
the eastern and southern portions of the county tlie burr and white oak openings
predominate, and aftbrd an adequate supply of timber, though not of th<3 best
quality for building purposes.

Marshes.— With the exception of some irreclaimable specimens about the
sources of the Koshkonong, in the east part of the county, marshes are not in-
conveniently numerous nor extensive. They are valued for the supplies of hay

15-2 ^

they furnish, which, when propeily oured, is consiilered nearly or quite as gooJ
as English grass. It is also observable, that the marshes are gradually being
recovered from the dominion of the waters, the drier portions becoming suscep-
tible of tillage, and other portions which were formerly too wet for mowing,
becoming adapted to that process. This change is being effected, not by the
expensive process of draining, but as the natural result of opening the soil of the
adjacent land for cidtivation, in consequence of which it absorbs a large portion
of the water which the hide-bound soil was wont to shed ofl" into the marshes
and streams. And we may confidently expect that this reclaiming efiect upon
the marshes will continue to be felt, until the arable land is all brought under cul-
tivation. The advantage which the farmer will derive from this fortunate circum-
stance, will be, that much of his marsh land, which was once too wet even for
the wild grass, will be recovered for that product, while the drier portion will
become prepared for the reception of English- grass, which, if not materially
better in quality, will excel the wild grass in quantity, in the ratio of about three
to one upon the same area.

General Character of the Soil. — The soil is generally a sandy loam — the
proportions of sand, clay and vegetable mould, of which it is composed, vary in
different localities, and with the undulations of the surface, vegetable mould being
most abundant in the prairie and bottom lands, sand in the burr oak, and clay in
the white oak openings. As the soil is penetrated, clay becomes more predomi-
nant, until, at the depth of from twelve to eighteen inches, a subsoil of brown
clay is reached. This deposit is from two to five feet in depth, and sufficiently
compact to prevent the leaching of the soil. Below it various formations are
found in dift'erent localities ; but the most common, so far as observations have
been extended, is a sandy gravel of great compactness. As we approach the
Wisconsin River, the sandy quality of the soil becomes more predominant. In the
eastern part of the county and extending a little west of the center, granite boul-
ders of almost every variety abound; but in the western portions these myste-
rious strangers disappear. Limestone, more or less mixed with sand and flint, is
very abundant in every part of the county, and the soil, of course, is well supplied
with lime. In the vicinity of Madison, and in some other localities, sand-stone
of excellent quality for building purposes is found.

Agrictltural Products. — From the foregoing description of the soil, it will
readily be inferred that it produces, in greater or less perfection, all the varieties of
grains, grasses, esculent roots and fruits, commonly found in the temperate latitudes ;
but as some of those products flourish much better than othei-s, some notice of
particular products, and the causes of their success or failure, may be profitable.

Wheat. — During the first few years of the settlement of Dane County, (and
the remarks which follow will apply to the whole of Southern Wisconsin, (this

1 r.o

important staple succeeded well; but for the last four years, it lias proved almost
an entire failure. The chief causes of this failure have been three- fold : First, the
slovenly and ruinous practice of sowing small grains, and in many instances wheat
after wheat, three or four years in succession, upon the same ground, without
seedino- or summer fallowing, which gives the infant plant a feeble constitution,
choked and poisoned by noxious weeds. Second, the changeable temperature of
the winters, and the absence of snow to protect the roots from the destructive
effects of alternate freezing and thawing. Third, the further injury of the sickly
product by untimely rains during the harvest season. The existence of the two
first named causes is shown by the fact, that during these years of failure the
crop has generally succeeded best upon sod ground, or ground newly broken up.
In such cases the ground is clear, and the wheat gains undisputed possession,
whilst the compactness of the soil and the firmness with which the whole mass
is held together by the complicated interlacings of the roots of the native grass,
prevents the roots from being thrown out of bed by the process of freezing and
thawing.

It is obvious that the first of these causes of failure may be entirely removed
by a more thorough and scientific system of cultivation, which will readily sug-
gest itself to every farmer. The effects of the second cause may, to some extent
at least, be guarded against. The soil of the prairies and openings is very loose
and porous, and the roots of the wheat are, consequently, \erj much exposed,
under the most favorable circumstances in respect to season ; and by the alterna-
tions of freezing and thawing, this exposure is proportionally increased. The
concurrence of these unfavorable circumstances may be avoided by ploughing in
the seed, or, perhaps, by the use of the cultivator instead of the harrow, and
then comp£icting the soil by the free use of the roller. The repeated failure of
winter wheat, has induced many experiments with spring wheat, and a variety
called the hedge-row, has been quite popular; but it is found to deteriorate very
rapidly in places where it has been tried a few years in succession — the heads
becoming shorter every year and the product less. This is evidently a migratory
species which will not flourish in a fixed locality. But spring wheat, of whatever
variety, is a poor crop to depend upon for expoilation out of the State, as the
very best quality cannot compete in the market with good winter wheat. From
observation and reflection, I am of the opinion that Wisconsin farmers cannot
depend upon the culture of wheat to balance their trade with other States. I
have been a careful obser\er of the climate of Wisconsin, and judging from the
experience of twenty-four winters, I am satisfied that in two winters out of three
there is not snow enough to afford the necessary protection to winter wheat. The
product requires a snowy country, a peculiarity which is rarely identified with
that uniformity of surface observable in Wisconsin.

154

The coarser grains, adapted to the i-earing and fattening of cattle and liogs,
•uniformly succeed well. The yellow deiit Indian corn succeeds better in Dane
and some of the adjoining counties, than in most iocalities in the same latitude,
and is generally cultivated in preference to other varieties. The quantity of black
sand mixed with the soil, in the prairies and openings, has the eflect to bring
fonvard and mature this crop with great rapidity, when the warm season an-ives.
The soil yields large crops of rye, barley, oats, <fec., with rare instances of failure.
Flax flourishes well ; and so soon as mills are erected for the manufacture of lin-
seed oil, it is believed that it will be a profitable crop to raise for the seed.

The usual variety of esculent roots are produced in the county in great abun-
dance and with but little expense, the soil being peculiarly adapted to their
growth. The potatoe crop, for the past two or three yeai-s, has sutt^red much
from the potatoe disease. In this region, potatoes planted on new ground have
suflered less from the disease than those planted on old ground ; and some of
our farmers are of the opinion, that entirely new gi-ound broken up in the month
of June, with seed dropped in the furrows as the breaking progTesses, so as to be
left near the crevices of the sod, will uniformly produce a middling crop, and a
sound and healthy product ; and«that while the disease continues to prevail, this
is the only sure method of obtaining a supply of this indispensable vegetable.
The fact that this product is less liable to disease in new ground than in old, (so
far as it may prove to be a tact,) would seem to indicate that the cause of the
disease resides in the soil rather than in the seed; and this indication is corrobo-
rated by the well known fact, that old grounds, or those which have been
ploughed for a number of years in succession, are frequently infested by insects
which are seldom found in grounds newly broken up. The striped bug, so des-
tructive to vines, and the cut-worm, are examples in point. But this indication
is not to be relied upon with absolute certainty, for the cause of the disease may
reside in the seed, while some conditions of soil may be favoi-able, and others
unfavorable to its development. The mystery in which this singular disease seems
to be involved, and the great value of the potatoe crop, should admonish the
farmer to use every precaution, both in respect to seed and soiL, which promises
€ven a mitio-ation of the evil.

I do not recollect to have seen any account of this, or any similar disease,
attacking other vegetables; but last fall I noticed in my garden, apparently the
same disease preying upon the ruta baga. I sowed a patch of ground, upon
which, for three years in succession, I had tried in vain to raise potatoes, which
were as often destroyed by the rot. The ruta baga plants gi-ew well until the
bottoms were about two inches in diametei', when the outside leaves turned
black, withei'ed and dropped oft', and from tiiat time forward the bulbs grew
slowly, and the necks of the plants spindled up, in many cases a foot above the

155

bulb. In gathering tliem, I discovered tliat nearly every plant wliich had been
thus aflected was decayed or decaying in the center, and many of theui were-
reduced to a mere shell. The year previous, I planted some winter squashes on,
or so near the same ground, that the vines ran over it, and the fruit was pro-
duced amongst the potatoe vines, which were badly smitten with the disease.
The result was, that although the squashes attained their usual size, (being the
large, oblong, green-shelled variety,) yet when I came to gather them, I found
about half of tbem were in a decaying state, and in some cases, nothing was left
but a thin shell. The appearance and smell of the decayed matter in both cases,.
were very similar to that observable in the diseased potatoe, and the disease wa&
doubtless the same. In the latter case, the disease may have been communicated
fi-om the potatoe to the squash, and furnishes no direct evidence that it originated
from the soil, or any insect infesting it. But the appearance of the disease in the-
ruta baga the succeeding year, M'hen there was not a potatoe growing in the
enclosure, corroborates further the evidence before adduced, that the cause of the-
disease exists in the soil and not in the seed. It seems probable that similar phe-
nomena must have been observed elsewhere, and may have been noticed in agri-
cultural journals which I have not been accustomed to read. At all events, the-
liability of other plants to the potatoe disease, is worthy of careful investigation^
as it may lead to the discovery and removal of the cause.

Dairy. — The dairy business is much neglected in Dane,, as well as in most
other counties of the State. The products are not sufficient to meet the home-
demand, and large quantities of butter and cheese, especially the latter, are-
annually imported from other States, and bear a higher price than in most
©f the Eastern. States. The deficiency in these products is attributable to a
variety of causes. First, the importance of this branch of husbandry is not
duly appreciated. Second, many are pi-evented from engaging in it for want
of the necessary capital. Third, a large portion of our farming population.
are foreigners, who have not sufficient knowledge of the business to enable-
them to produce a saleable article. A fourth, and more effectual cause of the-
deficiency is, the habit of depending upon the wild grass of the prairies ands
openings for feed. From about the first of May till the middle or last of Jxdy^
the wild grass is as good as any, and, in most localities, sufticiently abundant; but
the difficulty is, that this resource fails at the very time when feed is most needed-
The soil, in its natural state, is so hide-bound by the accumulation of grassy
roots, that the grass is thin and light, and unless the range- is very extensive m
proportion to the number of cattle gi-azing it, the supply is soon exhausted, audi
is not usually replenished by a new growth, as is the case of cultivated grass;;
and where the supply does not become exhausted, the grass, about the first of
August, becomes dry and tough, and not adapted to the secretion of milk, even

15(5

if cows would feed wholly upon it, which, usually, they will not, but prefer to
range far and wide, and crop the seedy heads of the endless variety of wild
plants which abound in the open country, and which furnishes them with nutri-
ment much better adapted to the secretion of fat than of milk. The consequence
is, that during the fall months, and season for laying down butter, the cows fail
of their milk, and what should be the mast profitable part of the year for the
dairy business is lost.

The obvious remedy for this evil is, the cultivation of English grass for
purposes of pasturage. The advantages of such cultivation will be, that one acre
of good English grass will afford as much food in the course of the season, as
five or ten acres of wild grass, and enable cows to fill themselves without
working off" half the aliment they obtain in efforts to find it, and the feed will
continue fresh and good until Avinter sets in, and keep the cows in milk through
the season in wduch it can be turned to the best account. But here a difficulty
presents itself. The soil, in most localities, is poorly adapted to the production
of English grass. The soil of the open country is too loose and porous for the
ready production of a sod to shield it from the rays of the sun, and keep in the
moisture. But this difficulty will be overcome as the laud gets older, and manure
is applied, and the subsoil becomes mingled with the surface by deep ploughing.
It has often been observed that the clay found from two to four feet below the
surface, when thrown from excavations and spread upon the surface, will produce
a very rank growth of timothy grass, or red clover ; and I have seen wheat grow-
ing upon earth thrown from a depth of five or sii feet below the surface, which
appeared as strong and thrifty as that growing in the surface soil. These facts
illustrate, at once, the inexhaustible powers of the soil and the advantage of deep
ploughing, as the soil becomes worn, or when seeding becomes desirable; and
suggests the query w^hether, as seeding becomes necessary, any better dressing
could be applied to the loose soil of the prairie and burr oak lands, than the clay
which is found immediately below it; and also, whether deep ploughing, or a
dressing of clay, would not be advantageous to the wheat crop. But even with the
natural capacity of the surface soil for the production of grass by ordinary ma-
nagement, its cultivation cannot be a matter of indifference to the dairy interest.

Fruit Trees. — It has been sufficiently demonstrated that the soil and climate
of this country are well adapted to the growth of all the vaiieties of fruit trees
common to the northern and middle States of the Union, with the exception,
perhaps, of the peach, which has generally failed from a peculiarity of the climate
and not of the soil. The tree thrives well during the growing season, but kills
down in the spring. The warm days which usually occur early in INIarch, starts
the sap prematurely, which, being frozen by subsequent frosts, burst.s the bark
and destroys the limbs, and fi-equently the entire truuk of the tree. This catas-

167

trophe may be, as it often has been, avoided by placing chaft', straw, or chips
around the roots of each tree early in the spring, so as to protect the roots from
the influence of the sun during the early warm days above alluded to, and keep
the sap down until the frosty season is past. I have seen instances in which
the tree has succeeded well without these precautions, as in village door yards,
where they have been planted in soil covered with a dressing of clay thrown
from the cellar, and spread over the yard in the way of levelling up, and upon
which grass had been sown, and a heavy sod formed. It is also remarkable that
trees which have been protected through the spring by artificial means, until
the roots have struck deep in the soil, are less liable to injury from spring frosts
than in the early stages of their growth. These facts seem to suggest the pro-
priety of setting peach trees deep in the soil, and that tliey will succeed with
greater certainty and less care, though their growth may be more tardy, if the
ground is well seeded to grass.

Apples, Pears, Plums, and Cherries, uniformly succeed well, and come
forward much the most rapidly in cultivated ground. One great defect in the
horticulture of Dane, and, in fact, of the whole State, is the neglect of the
pruning-knife. I. have often been pained, and so has my jack-knife, as I have
travelled about the State, to see young orchards,* evidently of several years
standing, presenting a dwarfish, scrawny, scrubby appearance, and all for want
of seasonable pruning. Some suppose this course to be necessary to avoid inju-
ries from the high winds which prevail during the spring and autumn ; but the
perfect safety with which the opposite course has been pursued, in some instances,
is a sufficient refutation of such a notion. The fii'st object should be to train up
a smooth, healthy trunk, of sufiicient height and size to protect the fruit from
the cattle, and afford sustenance to a capacious top, which Avill form fast enough
when the proper time arrises.

Apportionment of Labor to Surface. — The large amount of surface
usually cultivated by many of our farmers, and the imperfect manner in which
it is done, has been the subject of general remark ; and various opinions prevail
as to the degree of perfection in cultivation which should be arrived at by western
farmers. Many, and amongst them some agricultural journalist of high respect-
ability, observing the comparatively small crops, per acre, in extreme cases, of
the imperfect cultivation of a lai'ge surface, have run to the opposite extreme,
and insisted upon taking the highest examples of English agriculture for imitation
amongst ua. Admitting that, in western agriculture, the labor a];)plied is gene-
rally spread over too great a surface, it by no means follows that the system of
high cultivation adopted in the .crowded countries of Europe, is suited to our
condition and circumstances. Where land is abundant and cheap, the desider-
atum should be, to obtain the greatest amount of produce from a given amount

158

of labor, witliout much regard to the quantity of land used, if it be so used as
not to exhaust its productive powers. On the otlier hand, where laud is scarce
and bears a high price, and labor is comparatively abundant and cheap, the de-
sideratum naturally is, to obtain the greatest amount of produce from a given
quantity of land, without much regard to the amount of labor bestowed upon it.
The former is our condition at present When our public domain all becomes
occupied, and as population begins to crowd upon the means of subsistence, it
■will become our interest to apply more labor to the same surface. And as popu-
lation goes on increasing, the proportion of labor which may be applied to a
given surface will continue to increase, until the increased product will no longer
sustain the labor necessary to its production ; and here the utmost limit of popu-
lation will be arrived at. It is quite conceivable that labor may be spread over
too great a surface to secure the first desideratum — the greatest quantity of pro-
duce to a o-iven amount of labor, and the wisdom of our farmers will best be
iiianifested by observing a rational medium.

AGRICULTURE OF DANE COUNTY.

Bv T. T. WHITTLESEY, Pheasant Buaxch.

Dane County contains over 1,000 square miles, most of it good arable land,
'and excellently well adapted to farming purposes — endowed with a fertile soil,
suitably apportioned between rolling prairie of moderate extent and woodland,
not heavily timbered nor hard to be subdued, yet furnishing a sufiicient supply
of fuel and materials for building — free from sterile tracts and mountainous
regions, with very little waste land or unreclaimable marsh — favored with nu-
merous lakes supplying fish of the finest flavor, with water-courses for mills and
manufactories, and copious springs of water — with low meadow yielding annually
abundance of good native grasses, and a soil adapted to the growth of all of the
ordinary agricultural products. Situated midway between the Lakes and the
Mississip])i, it has the advantage of the Eastern and Southern markets. Possessed
of a healthy climate, a productive soil and central position, nothing is wanted to
make this county rich and populous but to have her capacities properly under-
stood and rightly developed.

Our soil contains varied proportions of the primitive earths — some parts have
an excess of clay and some of sand — but lime stone is found in gi-eat abundance
and can easily be supplied in a })ul\erized state to correct the deficiencies of a
superabundance of either. We have strong and light soils, dry and inuisl, with
a greater or less depth, all productive, but each requiring a difierent cultivation,

159

and suited to the growth of difterent products. The substratum under the sur-
face and subsoils, as is (nidenced in digging wells, changes in some localities
from a pure sand to a stitl' clay, requiring in the one case a strong curbing, in
the other none at all, and within short distances of each other. The knowledare'
of the character of the soil is necessary to cultivate it aright, and to insure
a certain return crop. The failure in production is more owing to the misappli-
cation of seed to its appropriate soil than is generally imagined. Potatoes have
grown well the last season in a sandy soil, when they have failed and rotted in a
stiff clay. The Agricultural Societies of this State are organized to present the
essays made by the agriculturist in every kind of culture, to make known the
best mode of tillage, of making and applying manures, and the most improved
mode of husbandry in its largest extent. Every farmer ought to lend his aid to
these Societies which are formed in all agi'icultural districts, and which, through
the medium of agricultural papers, ai'e cheaply disseminating that knowledge
which all culti^atoi's of land require.

Writers on agriculture mention four kinds of earths which enter into the com-
position of soil. These earths they term primitive, because there are only four
kinds, viz. — clay, sand, hme, and magnesia. The latter ingredient is seldom
found, but the former three are every where abundant. The coat, or outer cover-
ing of the earth, denominated soil, is found to consist of a mixture of these
earths, forming a stratum or layer varying from a few inches to several feet in
depth, and takes its color from the admixture with it of the decomposed animal
and vegetable substance upon its surface. This decomposition of vegetable and
animal matter is termed mould, and the fertility of the soil is indicated by the
greater or smaller proportion of mould which enters into their composition.
Beneath this upper stratum of soil, in which plants are produced, is a mass of
earth to which the term subsoil is applied, and is distinguished by the absence
of mould, or vegetable and animal matter in a state of decomposition ; and on
the nature of this subsoil depends much of the value of the surface soil. These
primitive earths although when combined form a fertile soil, yet in their simple
and pure state individually are entirely barren. A plant '^1 not grow in clay,
sand, or lime, in their pure or original state ; but when these earths are combined
in proper proportions with each other, they constitute the most productive soils.
It is important, therefore, to the farmer to ascertain the relati\'e combinations of
the various earths in the farm he is to till, so as to be able to cure any defects in
his soil. There is no mode of improving the fertility of a soil so permanently effi-
cacious as that of adding to the land a proportion of the earthy ingredient of which
it is natui'ally deficient. If the soil is clayey and too adhesive when soaked with
rain, it then dries and bakes, it may be improved by the application of lime, sand,
or animal manures. If the soil is too saudy or silicious, and too porous to retain

IGO

moisture, this defect uiay be cured and the soil rendered more cohesive by ashes,
lime, clay, and vegetable earth. Lime is an important agent, and is ia necessary
ingredient in the organization of plants; it is closer than sand, and much less
adhesive than clay, and occupies a middle region between the two, free from
their imperfections, and blending their common qualities — each kind of soil is
adapted to the growth of pailicular plants. A rich sandy soil is best fitted for
the production of rye, barley, and roots; while they yield to the richer clays in
the power of producing wheat. The farmer then should understand the nature
and properties of his soil, that he may know how to improve it, and be regulated
by a correct knowledge of its ingredients, and their adaptation to the plants he
is desirous of cultivating.

The Dane county farmer can produce every thing that is wanted for home
consumption, and much for the foreign market. In Middleton, a farmer raised
forty bushels of wheat to the acre. Oats yield from forty to sixty bushels,
and I think some tracts have gone as high as eighty bushels. Unfavorable
as was the last season some farmers have succeeded better in their corn crops
than in any past season. Barley does well, fruit trees grow vigorously, the tame
grasses are easily cultivated, and this county is as highly favored for stock raising
as any country can be. But owing to the unsettled state of our population, our
farmers have not had time and leisure to fix upon that inode of tillage which
will yield the greatest profit. Their first object seems to have been to raise that
which is soonest convertible into cash, to meet current expenses, and for that
purpose have relied on wheat The causes of our failure to raise this staple must
be investigated, but at present we have not time to examine it. My aim is to
exonerate the soil from censure, because the culture of it may have been unpi-o-
fitable — our lands are too fertile and too cheap to be well cultivated. The waste-
ful improvidence and bad husbandry of the farmer stands out in bold relief all
round the farm, iu the place of good ploughing, good seed, and good fences —
good ploughs and good ploughing constitute the great secret of good crops ; but
this most important part of successful tillage is passed over to incompetent hands.
Agricultural labor 4i far less remunerative than it should be, and less than me-
chanical labor from the want of that division of labor which is so successfully
applied in other arts. These embarrassments, peculiar to the first settlement of
a country, will be relieved by time and experience. It is enough now for us to
know that our soil contains all the elements of wealth; and it remains to science,
industry, and economy, to form them into rich sources of affluence and indepen-
dence to their possessors.

That the agricultural class in this county is depressed, and the farmer discour-
aged is a fact It may be proper to inquire into the cause — how men, in the^
midst of all the elements of wealth, can be loo poor In pay their dcbt:^ and thou-

IGl

taxes. The farmers of tins coTinty, and I tLink in otlier counties, are senslbla
that their tendency is downward ; or rather, as their lands are notwithstanding
most certainly advancing in value, that they lack present means to meet present
expenses. A common ordinary farmer is not inclined to read a philosophical
essay on the analysis of soils, nor can he recognize in poetic fancies on the plea-
se ^ sures of a country life, any counterpart to his own experience. He can realize,
W however, that he is or is not getting ahead, and that some change is demanded
to render his condition more hopeful than it now is. Men have come here to
settle on farms because land Avas cheap — have little or no capital — poor houses,
and no barns — a small supply of stock — some land under the plough and
fenced — embai-rassed with the payment of interest, taxes, and store debts — and
,'Jk depending on the next crop of wheat for relief, which, when gathered and taken
'^ to market, atford no profit on the cost of production ; and yet our climate is one
of the most healthful in any country — our soil fertile — plenty of fuel and mate-
rials for building — good roads for intercommunication — ample provision for
schools; but while high priced lands, manured and fenced at a great expense, in
older States, yield an ample revenue from which can be erected costly houses and
barns, our farmers, from cheap lands aud soils of virgin mould, derive little sur-
plus on the cost of production, is it not time to inquire into the causes of this
great depression and their extraordinary condition.

I assume it as a fact, that an industrious farmer having a team, can cultivate
forty acres of land without hiring much laboi'. From this tract he can raise
enough to supply his family and stock. By owning no more land than he can
cultivate witli profit, he avoids the payment of an excess of interest and taxes
which are exorbitant in every new settled country. By his labor he can supply
himself M'ith firewood ; and if he keeps a few sheep, he can also supply himself,
by exchange or manufacture, with cloth. By abstaining carefully from contract-
ing debts, he will be able to hold on to his surplus products, and sell them in the
hirrhest market. If he regards time as moucA', he will be as saving of one as
the other, and will constantly be preparing by small advances to build his barn,
^- "fl fences, and out-buildings, which are indispensable to the prosecution of his work.
He must reflect that the wealthiest men have begun at the bottom and worke \
upwards. Now it seems to me that the ownei'ship and cultivation of too much
land is one cause of the farmer's embarrassment — his interest, his taxes, his hired
labor are all increased. These, added to the debts of the merchant, the physi-
cian, and perhaps the lawyer, swells his indebtedness beyond his ability to pay.
Another cause of the farmer's embarrassment is bad husbandry. If the article pro-
duced will not pay the cost of production, it must be pronounced bad husbandry
to produce it. Wheat has been the great staple of this country, and our soil will
raise wheat; but it will not pay to take wheat to market at the present prices.

li

162

We have depended on wheat for cash, but we have leaned on a broken re^ —
What else could we liave raised at a handsome profit ? Ten tons of broom corn,
cleaned from the seed, would have brought at Milwaukee the past season, in cash,
seven hundred dollars. I suppose two acres will produce a ton. It is as easily raised
as Indian corn. Has a single load been carried to the Lake this past year from
Dane County ? The culture of tobacco is profitable. I have been informed
that one acre will produce $100 in tobacco. Flax and grass seed are cash articles.
The dairy business is a source of profit. Wool-growing is also profitable; wool
being easy of transportation. It is estimated that Michigan has received seven
millions of dollars for her w^ool. Indian corn is a more valuable article to raise
than wheat, it is convertible into beef and pork ; and stock raising is better than
raising wheat. Fi-uit trees will be a source of great profit, and now is the time
to plant them. Now what does Dane County produce to get a return for what
she expends? We buy our brooms — not make them. We buy our cloth instead
of manufacturing it. We purchase from abroad our cheese, and make but little.
And if farmers will raise wheat, have they subsoil ploughs, rollers, and do they
change their seed ? — do they spread their straw over the land, or burn it in the
stack? — do we attend to rotation of crops, or consider that a plant will not grow
in rich soil, if the aliment for the nourishment of that plant is exhausted by
repeated cultivation ? We are on the great ocean of life, and if breakers are
a-head, like good sailors, we must tack about or perish — for we shall labor for
that which is not bread. '

A well cultivated farm must have a constant and permanent owner. And to
this end it must be paid for, and then it will be cared for. Durable fences, sub-
stantial buildings, and all the outfits auxiliary to the right accomplishment of the
farmer's plan of husbandry will then be erected — orchards will be planted —
improvement will follow improvement. He will not only endeavor to make his
grounds profitable, but pleasant and ornamental. It then becomes an object of
attachment, and the farmer enjoys his comfortable home. He not only has
enough, but something to spare, and helps onward the great cause of tempe-
rance and benevolence in this age of progress.

Our imports exceed our exports — we pay out more than is paid in. This
county has paid out suras of money for threshing machines, reapers, fan mills,
and nearly all the implements of husbandry except ploughs. We import our
rakes, brooms, pails, all our earthen and stone ware, cloth, cheese, and frequently
butter and pork ; our grass seed, cattle and horses, besides foreign merchandize
brought in by the merchants. Our indebtedness is immensely heavy ; we manu-
facture comparatively nothing. This policy is ruinous, and will conduct to inevi-
table bankruptcy. My advice is, keep from debt, change and im.prove your
m( de of husbandry, own and cultivate less land, and expend your profits and

163

time on your farin. Corn husks will make beds superior to feathers — the sugar
beet will make sugar equal to the cane — your sheep will clothe you in the winter.
"Why then plunge into debt? Our country is well adapted to agricultural pur-
poses. It is true that the great disproportion in wages, between professional
and agricultural labor, falls most heavily on the producing classes. If the farmer
is crushed beneath the pressure, under which he now lies, the crash, if it comes,
will react on the other classes, and all oth^r interests will be buried in his
ruin.

AGRICULTURE OF DODGE COUNTY.

Dodge Center, December 31st, 1861.

Dear Sir — Your favor of the 1st inst. was duly received; but other occu-
pations have prevented an earlier reply. And my means for acquiring the infor-
mation called for by your inquiries have not been such as to eaable me to go into
detail, but must be confined to generalities.

The soil of this county is well adapted to the growing of all the usual pro-
ductions of the northern States. During the first few years after the settle-
ment of this county, wheat was the principal crop, and yielded in abundance,
and of the first quality; but the last two seasons have been unfavorable to
wheat, the winters have been severe on the plant, succeeded by rust, which has
ruined what escaped the severity of the winter. As summer crops, corn, oats and
barley, are grown pretty extensively, the soil being well adapted to the growth of
these grains, and the vicissitudes of our climate appear to affect them less fatally
than the wheat crop, hence they are beginning to be looked upon by our farmers
as the reliable grain crops upon which they must depend ; and mucfi less winter
wheat is sown now than was sown a few years past. Spring wheat has been
pretty generally substituted for winter wheat; but the distance from Milwaukeee
(that being the principal mart for our surplus,) and the low price of the article,
renders it not a valuable crop for this section of the State.

When the county was first settled, the principal attention of the farmer was
given to the raising of wheat; and a bad system was followed, that is, sowing
wheat on the same ground for several years in succession. This seemed to be the
result of necessity, in the first instance, in improving a new farm, rather than an
approval of the course under different circumstances; but as the amount of land
broke and put under cultivation has increased, they are enabled to commence a
system of rotation, which, where it has been tested, has produced very satisfac-
torv repults.

164

A large portion of this county is probably as well, if not better, adapted to
gi'azing than that of any equal area in any portion of the State. That portion
of the county lying west of Rock River is mainly oak openings, and prairie inter-
spersed with marsh land, producing an abundant supply of hay far beyond tlie
wants of the county as yet. The upland yields an abundant supply of pasturage,
whilst it is as yet left in the natural state ; and experience has shown, that after a
few years cultivation the soil becomes suited to the growth of English grasses.
That portion of the county lying east of Rock River is heavily covered w^ith
timber, which after it is removed by the labor of the farmer, the soil is found to
produce all the grain crops, with equal abundance, as in the other pai-ts of the
county ; and although there is generally an absence of those natural meadows
that are so genei'ally interspersed through the openings and prairies, yet the soil
appears to be more naturally adapted to the growth of the cultivated grasses, and
I think will be found, when brought under cultivation, well adapted to the raising
of grain, or to grazing.

So sensible are our farmers of the adaptation of our county to the raising of
stock and wool, that they are changing their system and embarking in its differ-
ent branches as fast as their circumstances will admit. I have no means of ascer-
taining the number, nor no data by which I might arrive at any thing like a
certainty, as to the increase of sheep and cattle in this county during the past
season ; but it must have been very considerable, as very many droves have been
driven here from the south, and sold or disposed of in some way among the
farming community.

There has been some attention paid during the past season to the cultivation
of flax ; but from the extreme wet season, I understand it was not as successful
as with a difterent season there is every reason to suppose it would have been.
The abundance of rain during the past summer was detrimental to many of our
summer crops ; the gi'eat abundance prevented the planting of corn in season for
its proper maturity, and whilst small, the wet hindered the growth of the plant,
and produced at the same time a rapid growth of weeds which it was about
impossible to destroy. Much of the hedge-row wheat sown last spring was
destroyed by the blight in the head, which is supposed in some way to be caused
by the great quantity of rain which fell during its growth.

The potatoe crop, which is usually very abundant, has been almost a total
failure for the past season. Experience has shown that our soil is one of vast
productive energy, subject however to the influences of the climate, which the
past two seasons have shown is susceptible of very great extremes, which aft'ect
materially the prospect of the farmer who devotes his attention mainly to the
raising of grain. The opinion seems to be generally entertained by those who
lla^e engaged in the business, that (^ther systems of farming, particularly stock

1G5

anil wool ^rowing, if not, more profitable in ordinary seasons, will be less likely
to be injuriously ejected when such extremes do occur.

Respectfully yours,

To Albert C. Ingham, Esq. HIRAM BARBER.

Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. Society. •

AGRICULTURE OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

Ceresc'O, December Sth, 185L

Dear Sir — Your letter of December 1st, askino; for ao-ricultural statistics of
the county of Fond du Lac for ptiblication in your aimual report, came duly to
hand, and I cheerfully forward you such as I deem useful from my limited re-
sources. I shall confine my remarks to the west part of our county, comprising
nine townships, which in soil and surface differs materially from the eastern town-
ships. Nature seems to have indicated a ditlerence by extending the bed of Lake
Winnebago southward, in part dividing ns on the borders of the timber and
praiiie.

Our western portion is mostly diversified, prairie and openings, dry rolling'
lands, as well adapted to agriculture as any in the State. It has several small
groves of forest timber, but as a whole, is not well timbered. It is well and
sufficiently watered, mostly by si)rings, brooks, and small rapid streams of pure
water; the largest of which are a branch of Rock River, passing through Spring
Valley and Waupun — the two branches of the Fond du Lac stream, one passing
south-easterly, and thence north through Lamartin and Oakfield, and the other
easterly through Rosendale and Eldorado — and Chrystal Creek, (or the Green
Lake inlet,) passing north-westerly through Ceresco, atibrding the best water-
powei's in the county — and Grand River, running south-westerly through Meto-
mon. Six of the nine towns have already water-powers improved. The soil is
an argillaceous loam moderatel}^ mixed with sand and lime, and resting on a thin
layer of mountain lime stone much broken and occasionally interspersed with
knobs of drift gravel ; underlaying the whole is red sand stone, which occasion-
ally crops out in the ravines. On a few of the highest points of the Prairie,
mostly in Ceresco and Metomon, the lime stone comes to the surface; and in
some of the higher points in the openings the drift appears at the surface. This
portion of the county can date the commencement of its settlement in 1844-5,
there being only Seymour Wilcox, Peter V. Sang, and two or three other per-
sons on the tract previous to that time. In the spring of 1844, the settlement

160

of Ceresco was commenced by an association or joint stock company; and in the
same, and succeeding season, settlements were commenced in the other towns;
since which they have rapidly improved, and yet there is abundant room for
good practical farmers. Most of the farmers are natives of New England and
New Yoik, and have adopted mostly the eastern mode of cultivation. Of the
various grains, our past experience would indicate Indian corn as occupying the
first rank; in seven seasons, six have given good crops yielding from forty to
eighty bushels per acre, and averaging about fifty bushels to the acre. Oats
"would, perhaps, come next in order as the crop never fails to grow, and yields
■well, in most cases ranging from thirty to seventy bushels per acre; but the straw
is often too weak for the head. And one season (1849) the crop was much
injured by a worm which attacked it in swarms, twining up the straw and
heads before the crop was ripe. This singular phenomena was to me entirely
new, and is now nearly forgotten except by those who suffered mostly by
them.

The Oat Crop is not esteemed as highly as the maize, in consequence of its
limited use, and as its price usually ranges lower; corn ranging from twenty-five
cents to fifty cents per bushel, and oats from fifteen to forty cents per bushel,
for the last five years. Barley has not been much raised, but has yielded well
when tried, and finds a ready market at from twenty-five cents to fifty cents per
bushel. Flax has only been tried for experiment, and never fails to do well, and
many believe it will soon be ranked among our most impoitant crops.

Wheat, which many suppose to stand first among our cereals, has been relied
on by most of our fiirmers as their principal crop, until the partial failure for
several years has called their attention to other crops. In the harvest of 1845-6,
winter wheat yielded about half a crop, say from ten to fifteen bushels per acre;
1847 turned out a great yield, from thirty to forty bushels per acre. The Wis-
consin Phalanx in Ceresco that year harvested twelve thousand bushels from three
hundred and ninety acres of land ; and this was not above but rather below the
average in the distinct. In 1848 the ci'op was small, say about fifteen bushels
per acre; in 1849 a little better, coming up to perhaps twenty bushels per acre;
in 1850 and 1851 almosta total failure. Several varieties have been tried with no
settled preference for any one; in good seasons all do well, and in poor seasons
all fail about ahke. The failure is by no means attributable to the soil, but to our
winters, which have been cold and dry, with light snows soon gone, and frequent
thaws ; the ground does not heave, but the root seems rather to die from con-
stant freezing and thawing. Spring wheat has yielded better, but is not so nmch
esteemed as a crop. The last two seasons this too has suffered, or at least some
varieties, (the hedge-row most,) from what the farmers call rot. Spring Vi'heat
may be estimated to yield, on an aveiage for the last six years, one-third more

167

per acre tbau winter — not counting the large fields of sviuLer wheat ploughed up
and never harvested — and it will usually average ten cents per bushel less in our
market.

Our soils seem well adapted to a luxurious growth of straw, and are not want-
ing in ingredients to form the berry — all other obstacles can be overcome by our
farmers; Avhen sufficient attention s given to the subject, they will doubtless
find some variety which their skill can carry safely through our winters, and
thus make winter wheat one of our most important crops. Of sprincr wheat
many expect more, but I expect less.

Our markets for Grain have thus far been found in the immigration and
rapidly increasing towns along the Fox, Wolf, and Wisconsin Rivei-s, and in the
lumbering regions of the two latter, and their tributaries. Such has been the
system of barter that it would be difficult to say what has been the price. As
soon after this time as a good crop of wheat is received, it will have to seek an
Eastern market, and thus establish a market price for us on the Fox River;
which I'iver must make our shipping channel for produce.

Of our other agricultural products, Wool I'anks fiist. Every experiment at
keeping sheep in our district has been successful. They winter well and do well
in summer; wolves are not tj'ouhlesome ; and disorders have scarcely appeared.
There are several good flocks in our district; one in Ceresco, belonging to Russell
Smith, which may be taken as an example. In 1851 his flock consisted of 350
sheep — clip, three pounds of wool per head; and sold at home at thirty-eight
cents per pound at the time of shearing. Our district is yet too newly settled for
much attention to be turned to wool-growing or stock-raising. Of stock, the
district is not yet supplied — hence none are raised for a foreign market; but our
lands are well adapted to grazing, and the raising of horses, mules, and neat cattle.
For Butter and Cheese no part of the West is more favorable. Butter is
packed here to a considerable extent, and finds the same market as our grains,
ranging usually from ten to twenty-five cerits per pound. I will give one instance
only : — A neighbor of mine, Mr. H. W. Walcott, of Rosendale, packed six hun-
dred pounds fi-om four cows, and used both milk and butter for a family of three
persons from the same cows; he sold at twelve and a half cents per pound — the
cows have had no extra feed or care.

Pork, which is no favorite of mine, ' should have its place next ; it is raised to
some extent for the lumber market, but is not packed for an Eastern market.
It usually brings, at the time of slaughtei'ing, from three cents to five cents per
pound, and helps to turn the corn crop into cash or other necessaries. Hogs thrive
well on our burr oak and white oak acorns, and will eat the black oak ; there are,
however, not euouQ-h in our district to do more than fairlv start and fit them for
shutting up to fatten — corn is the principal fattening food.

168

01' the lloot Crops, pot.-itoes rank foremost; our soil seems well adapted to
their growth, but cannot save them from the rot — hence the crop is not raised
much except for family use. There has not been much variation in the crop
during the past six years; new or sod ground is said to rot least, and to yield
the least and best potatoes ; and the sandiest places yield better than clayey.
Carrots yield abundantly and are raised to feed. Ruta baga and flat turnips
usually yield more — these are harvested, except by turning in stock to harvest
for themselves.

Of Fruit Trees nothing can yet be said, except that young trees look and
grow remarkably well. A large Nursery of Messrs. Wright and Baker, in
Ceresco, is in excellent condition, and looks as well as any of its age with which
I have been acquainted in the East. Peach trees have usually killed in winter,
but have escaped for the two past seasons ; apples, cherrictS, (common kinds,) and
plums, fare better ; and our wild plums, crab apples, gooseberries, and eurrants,
indicate a fruit country.

Our farmers have had their attention called of late to deep ploughing, as favor-
able to the production of grasses and grains, the former of which has hardly
been commenced yet. The best of the farmers nre talking of ploughing deeper —
result not yet known. Much is also said about turning attention to fruit-raising,
but the want of convenient and comfortable buildings as yet prevents much time
or means being given to accomplish that object. Much is also said of wool and
stock raising, and abandoning wheat as a staple and reliable crop, and doubtless
many will try the change and do well in raising wool and stock ; but I anticipate
a favorable change in raising winter wheat, and am still confident it will, for
many years to come, be among our most successful and important crops.

With my best wishes for the prosperity of your Society, and my kind regards

to yourself,

I am, yours truly.

To Albert C. Ingham, Esq. WARREN CHASE.

Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. SocieUj.

AGRICULTURE OF GREEN COUNTY.

Exeter, December 30th, 1851.

Dear Sir — I have to acknowledge the receipt of yours of 1st instant, asking
for information upon the agricultural condition of Green county; with pleasure
I offer you the following remarks : Green County was first settled in the year
1831, but for many years the settlement was very slow, in consequence of its

^ 109

distance from the markets. For the last six years its progress lias, however, been
quite rapid, and it hjis now a population of about ten thousand. It is situated
upon the soutliern boundary of the State, and is bounded on the north by Dane
county, on the east by Rock county, on the south by the State of Illinois, and
on the west by La Fayette county. It contains sixteen townships of land, cover-
ing an area of about five hundred and seventy-six square miles, but little of
which comparatively is waste land. The surface is somewhat broken, not hilly,
but forming gentle slopes and undulations, nearly all susceptible of cultivation. It
is well watered by the Sugar River and its numerous tributai-ies, and also by the
Pecatonica which passes through its south-western portion.

The soil differs in the northern and southern portions of the county. In the
north it is generally a sandy loam and very productive, while in the south it is
mostly prairie, with a clay subsoil. Most of the crops usually raised do well; the
average yield of wheat being twenty-five bushels per acre — corn usually averages
fifty bushels — oats fifty bushels — barley forty bushels — and potatoes two hundred
bushels to the acre.

The manner of cultivation doe^ not differ materially from that practised in the
East. Its greatest defect is the want of attention, farmers being too much dis-
posed to hurry over a great number of acres rather than to cultivate a few, and
those few acres cultivate well. Deeper ploughing, no doubt, is advisable, toge-
ther with a more general use of the harrow, and roller. Small grains should be
covered deeper than at present.

Our markets as yet are distant, but they are good in prospect. Janesville, it is
expected, will soon become the market for the nothern part of the county, and
Freeport, Illinois, the market for the southern portion.

In Stock we have an abundance, though but little of the improved blood.
Some half-blood Durham cattle have been brouo-ht amono; us which will, without
doubt, be of benefit. Our horses are of an excellent kind, although I am not
acquainted with their origin.

The county is well adapted to Grazing, being well watered and properly inter-
spersed with meadow prairie and timbered lands. There is much heavily tim-
bered land in the southern portion of the county.

Dairying and Horticulture have as yet received but little attention, although
our soil is well adapted to either.

Monroe, the county seat, is a fiourishing town of about one thousand inhabi-
tants. Nearly all of the mechanical arts are carried on in the village, and a large
steam flouring mill, in successful operation, adds much to its facilities.

Decatur, Albany, Attica, Dayton, Bellville, all are flourishing towns, though
some of them are as yet in their infancy. Belville, situated upon the Sugar
River, presents great facilities for manufacturing operations.

iTu '

Exeter, situated near the Sugar iliver, is a mining town of some importauce.
New Glaris, a German town, and Monticello, also present favorable openings.

With the warmest wishes for the prosperity of your Society, and the advance-
ment of the agricultural interests of the State,

I am, youi-s truly,

T. J. SAFFORD.
To Albert C. Ixgham, Esq.

Sec. of the Wcs. State Agr. Society.

AGRICULTURE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

AzTALAN, December 30th, 1851.

Dear Sir — I will endeavor to comply, in part at least, with the request
expressed in your letter. By way of preface, allow me to say that I have not been
much engaged in farming generally; but have occupied myself in fruit growing
for the past few years, which fact qualifies me better for giving a correct account
of the capacities of the soil of our county for fruits, than for other crops of the
farmer. I must therefore be excused if more space is given to the former, and
less to the latter than would otherwise be expected.

Jefferson County comprises an area of twenty -four miles square, and is divided
into two parts from north to south by Rock River. I shall describe that portion
lying west of the Rock and Crawfish Rivers together for convenience, as it pre-
sents nearly the same gfeneral characteristics, and differs materially from another
portion of the county lying east of these rivers.

The suiface of the coimtry west of those rivers is generally covered with oak
openings, with a small portion of prairie, and a larger portion occupied by
marshes, or natural wet meadows. The upland is generally wooded with white,
burr, and black or red oaks; with a soil varying with the vegetation found upon
it, in a state of nature.

Much of this tract is underlaid with a bed of- lime rock, resting upon sand-
stone, at a depth of about forty-five feet, as is proved by piercing it for wells.

The prairies have an alluvial surface soil of great depth, from eight inches to
two feet, with a clay subsoil slightly mixed with sand and lime pebbles.

The marshes possess an alluvial soil of great depth, varying fi'om two to ten
feet, composed of vegetation in different stages of decomposition, and are under-
laid generally with a strata of fine washed beach sand, overlaying clay or rock.

Next in order I shall place the " burr oak openings," occupying a large portion
of this rejrion. and the south-eastern portion of the county, bounded on the

ITI

north by Bark River. These are characterized by :nlarli alluvial burface soil,
mixed with sand and varying to quite sandy, the substratum less tenacious than
that of the prairies, and varying to gravelly clay, and rarely to sand and gravel.

Next, the black or red oak openings, surface sandy loam ; tenacious subsoil,
varying to sandy.

White oak oj^enings, generally occupying the most elevated portions west of
Hock, and south of Bark Rivers; soil tenacious, like the suBsoil of the prairies.

The burr oak lands south of Bark and near Rock River, are more sandy than
those above described, and are pretty freely sprinkled with granite boulders in
different places.

East of Rock and north of Bark River, the soil is generally sandy, or clay
loam covered with leaf mould, with all the variety of subsoil described above,
intei-spersed with marshes and tamarack or larch swamps ; easily susceptible of
improvement by ditching, and seeding with timothy or red-top. The wpland was
orignally nearly all covered with a dense growth of miscellaneous timber, in-
cluding the sugar maple, from which nearly all the sugar is made used in that
portion of the county. The same description answers for the larger portion of
the tract lying between the Rock and Crawfish Rivers. The sub-strata is gene-
rally composed of less compact materials than other portions, giving the roots
of grasses access to the subsoil.

The general practice of our farmers has been to crop our uplands with wheat,
corn and oats; wheat being the principal crop relied on for market.

The prairie and burr oak lands, as a general rule, have proved best for corn ;
the white oak for wheat ; the timbered and marsh lands for the grasses. Clover
has been successfully grown in favorable seasons on the prairies and more com-
pact soils, but will doubtless pi'ove more reliable on the more light and sandy
portions and the timbered lands.

Oats has been a heavy crop in all parts of the county the past year. This
crop has generally, except in our driest summers, been good. Spring wheat has
generally been a fair crop. Winter wheat has proved a failure more or less for
the last four or five years; previous to that time the crop was generally a heavy
one, and of fine quality. The failure is mostly attiibuted to want of snow, and
dryness of the wintei-s. This cause has doubtless operated to produce the result;
but it is not, in my opinion, the only cause, if it is the chief one. The continual
cropping in succession with wheat has done more to produce the disastrous re-
sults which have of late been generally experienced. Covering a portion of any
field with a coating of straw would prevent winter-killing, and cause as good
crops as formerly, if the latter cause has not had effect.

The substitution of sheep husbandry for exclusive wheat-growing, will doubt-
less be found profitable on our best grass lands, if not in every part of the

172

county. Enough of marsh, to produce the hay for wintering, may be found
convenient in nearly all cases.

Stock-growing, for dairy purposes, I think has been found profitable in all cases
where proper attention h;is been given to the selection of animals, and proper
provision made for their care and feed. The root crops, used for feeding, grow
hixuriously with deep and clean culture, and produce bountifully on all our dry
lands not over-cropped.

Some few have already moved towards an improvement in this respect ; and
more would do so if the means were at command. At the furthest, it can be but
a few years before this county will ex^^ort some wool, and may be able to fill
some small orders for butter and cheese. Coni is generally a fair crop, never
having been an entire failure, and but two or three times a light crop since the
county was settled. Still it may be questioned whether we can successfully
compete with our Southern neighbors in the article of pork, except when prices
range high as at present, I have practised feeding corn to milch cows in the
winter for the last two years with success. I had been previously under the
impression that such diy, hard feed, ^^■ould not produce milk, but rather, by
producing fat, dry the animal. This, I am satisfied, is not true ; but am not
prepared at the present time to say that coin is more economically produced for
feeding cows than root crops, but think the practice worthy of further trial.

All of our soils, e.^eept those too wet, are adapted to the culture of the apple ;
and those which aie too flat may be rendered dry enough for that fruit by
ridging with the 2:)lough, continuing the operation until the ridges for the trees to
stand ujion, are some eighteen inches higher than the dead furrows between the
rows.

The subject of fruit culture has received but little attention except at the hands
of a very few indi\"iduals until within the last five years. In the early settlement
of the county, all the energies and means of the emigrants were required to
obtain the necessaries of life, and to buy what was I'egarded the necessary amount
of land for a farm. Added to this, the nearest trees were at a great distance, and
to procure them, long unsettled prairies, with almost impassable roads, must first
be tra^•ersed. The few who bi'ought seeds and planted them, for want of expe-
rience in the matter, saw their young trees fall a prey to the first cold day in
winter, or to the numerous gnawing animals which had hitherto flourished and
multiplied on the abundant supply of nuts annually gathered from our forest
trees. A few sur\ i\ed, and the owners have been rewarded with an annual supply
of as good fruit as could be expected from seedling trees.

Some of these trees with which I am acquainted, have the past year produced
their sixth annual crop, all full except the last. Within the last eight or nine
years nurseries of choice varieties have sprung up in our midst; trees from which

173

have borne fruit for tliree or four years past. Some old Eastern favorites hare
not proved equal to their character East; while others only second rate there,
have produced fruit of surpassing beaxity and excellence. Some varieties from
the South which are unknown East, have been of the latter character. The
Rhode Island Greening, Roxbury Russet, and Newtown Pippin, are among
those which have not given satisfaction. While the Rambo, Yellow Belleflower,
White Belleflower, and Wine Apple, ai-e among those which appear to have
improved by emigi'ation.

The writer has become convinced, from six years almost exclusive attention to
growing trees, and studying our soil and climate with reference to the subject,
that from the centre of Illinois to 44 or 45 degrees latitude in Wisconsin, we
have as fine a region for profitable orcharding as can be found anywhere. In
central Illinois trees grow faster and produce higher-colored specimens than
here ; but the crop is more liable to be cut off entirely from spring frosts than
in our latitude. While they can grow some larger specimens than we can, ours
of the same varieties will keep the longest, which will give us the advantage in
supplying the Southern markets with long keepers ; and, at the same time, our
proximity to the Northern pineries and mines will give us the advantage of the
market in that quarter. Of the pear and cherry nothing very flattering can be
said at present. I have seen pears growing in this county for the past two
seasons, and some as fine specimens as are raised any whereof the same varieties;
but we have some serious drawbacks to contend with, only a limited number of
varieties have withstood our severest winters. While the " fire blight," the fatal
malady of the pear tree, has sent its premonitory symptoms (the leaf blight)
among us. The greatest difliculty seems to be with young trees in the nursery.
If we can manage to get up a good supply of the right size for transplanting
they will probably do well on our driest, lightest, and less clayey soils. I have
trees in sandy loam, with a pervious subsoil, which are very flourishing. Of cher-
ries, the Heart or sweet varieties, embracing the Heart and Biggareau classes, none
have borne fruit in our county, or in the State, within my knowledge, except in
a few instances, and those near the Lake shore.

Further trials in poor soils, Avith neglected culLui'e, may meet with success.
The acid cherries, Duke and Morello. classes, embracing the common pie cher-
ries, do as well with us as could be wished.

Plums are promising on our heaviest soils, with a compact subsoil, not too rich
nor too dry. Many varieties are tender with us ; but we have enough of known
hardy sorts, of good quality, to do us very well. I consider a clay soil, or clay
subsoil, indispensable for the plum. In the rich prairie soils of Illinois their cul-
ti;i'e is nearly abandoned.

Will peaches do anything in Wisconsin ? is a question '->ften asked. They wili

174

do soiuethiiig; but whether they will bear enough of fruit in ten years to make
their culture profibible is a question upon which we have not sufficient data to
warrant a reply. Trees have borne here four successive crops, and winter-killed
the winter following the last one. If I had a spot of pretty high ground (not
rich) sloping to the east, and pevfectly^roteeted on the west from cold winds, I
should plant an orchard with the expectation of having fruit once in two or
three years. The peach-worm should be looked for in the trunks, at the surface
of the ground, several times every summer, and after they are dug out and des-
troyed, some ashes should be placed around the tree.

The grape does well with me. I have had the third successive crop of Isa-
bellas the last season from a vine seven years old, standing in deep, rich sandy
loam ; others, who have planted in stiff clay, have not been equally success-
ful. The grape seems not to relish a compact soil. The vines should have
some protection by laying down and covering with straw or litter the first four
or five winters, after which they will do without. My Isabellas have been veiy
fine except the crop of last season, which did not perfect its flavor for want of
sufficient sunshine. In ordinary seasons they ripen from the 1st to the 15th of
September. The Catawba is two weeks later in ripening; it has not yet fruited
with me. I suppose it will not perfect its fruit except in favorable seasons in
this latitude. I have fruited another variety, inferior to the above, the two past
seasons; it ripens two weeks earlier than the Isabella — is as hardy as our wild
gi-ape, and a rampant grower.

Strawberries do very well with me, producing good crops every year, with mo-
derate culture. The large Early Scarlet is the best variety tried here. Hovey's
Seedling proves rather unproductive.

All fruits, except Heart cherries and the peach, should have a good deep soil,
and clean culture until the middle of August. To let trees struggle up among
grass and weeds is to throw away the money bestowed upon their planting.
Orchards planted on high grounds produce a good crop when the frost kills all
the fruit in low grounds. The most elevated sites should be chosen on that
account, according to my experience.

Too much can hardly be said against the slovenly manner in which trees are
often placed in the ground, and cared for afterward. Many seem to suppose that
to get a line lot of large trees from the Nursery which have made a tall, slender
growth, to get their roots in the ground by preparing a hole just large enough to
receive them by crowding — and then to keep them trimmed up to such a height
as will admit the free passage of a tall horse under the branches without brush-
ing his ears — is all that is necessary to secure, in time, a good bearing orchard.
The trees must not ititeifere with the growth of other crops, a full crop of wheat
or oat-s is expected to crrow among them : to ofTect which the ground must be

175

ploughed close up to the trees. Some of them get bruised and barked, and
others broken down by the team ; to avoid which the land is seeded to grass.
Continued cropping has exhausted the soil, the meadow renders it dry and com-
pact — the trees begin to look sorri/, and some die — when the owner gravely
concludes that " this is no fruit country," the cattle are turned in, and he is soon
rid of his unsightly orchard.

Trees for transplanting in orchards should not be very large. Thrifty trees
three or four years fi-om the graft are safest. (The writer has had the best
success with those but two or three years old.) Some set out at two years
growth, from root graft the spring of 1847, have borne fruit the two past seasons.
One of them lias borne its third crop. All of them have made rapid strong
growth, and are now large enough to bear from a peck to a bushel each. They
should be taken up carefully with as many roots as possible. If they are to be
out of the ground more than a few hours, the roots should be coated with mlid
(grouted) ; they now require a pretty severe pruning to restore a balance between
the top and shortened roots. When arrived at the place of planting, the roots
should be covered with earth to prevent further drying. This done, you are now
ready to set out. If the places are not already prepared, that must now be done
by taking out and removing the subsoil to the depth of at least eighteen inches,
and not less than two feet each way from the j^oint where the tree is to stand,
the surface soil removed may now be replaced in the bottom of the hole thus
made, filling it half, or two-thirds full. Now set the tree in the center, and fill
the space around the tree with rich surface or alluvial soil, filling the outside of
the space around the tree until the roots are nearly covered — then dash among
the roots a pail of water — fill immediately to the level of the surrounding sur-
face — now walk around the tree pressing down the soil, not stamping — throw on
three or four inches more of alluvial over the whole space, and the work is done.

After-culture must be attended to by those who expect to raise a good orchard,
why should not a crop of apple trees receive the same attention as any other
crop ? Corn, perhaps, has no equal as a crop in the young orchard. Each tree
should be allowed to fill the space of one hill of corn. East, potatoes and root
crops are recommended; trees there need all the sun they can get — hence the
practice. Here we have often too much burning hot sun, especially in July and
August, causing "bark blight" on the naked trunks of young trees, which often
destroys them the first year or two after planting. This evil may be avoided
without the shade given by the corn crop, after the second year, if the trees
are let alone, that is, not trimmed up.

But how can we hope to induce farmers to cease trimming up their young
trees at once; a system of operations so contrary to all their pre -education and
practice on the subject, can hardly be expe<"ted to meet with thoir approbation.

17G

We will be content at the present time to meet about, half way, and will agree if
you do not like our practice after trying it, to submit to the practice of the old
way without grumbling. Now, to our practice. Let the young trees have their
own way after being well set; they will throw out branches near the ground to
furnish them elaborated juices for the formation of new wood and roots prepara-
tory to making a free growth. The lea\es performing the same office for the
tree that lungs do in the animal economy; and as the animal cannot flourish
without healthy strong lungs, neither can the tree. The young tree will throw
out these new branches, covered with lungs, just where they are needed to shade
the trunk from the burning rays of our summer sun. Crop them off, and the
vital energy of the tree is weakened ; continue the operation, it becomes sickly,
and if death does not ensue, the ti-unk does not grow for want of nourishment;
a disproportionate quantity of leaves will gather in the top, overloading that
part, the trunk becomes j^ermanently bent, and the symmetry of your tree is
destroyed. A multitude of facts, bearing upon this theory, may be gleaned in
almost any part of our country where the planting of young orchards has been
commenced.

Two trees can be shown in our grounds of the same variety, and of the same
size when set in the spring of 1847; one, allowed to have its own way, formed
its head two or two and a-half feet from the ground, and has borne two crops of
apples, and has at this time enough of branches, and of a proper size, to support a
bushel of fruit. The other, set in the same row, only eighteen feet distant, topped
at six feet from the ground, has had the same cultui-e and attention, but has
not yet borne an apple, and has not more than half the top to support a crop
as the other. The low-headed tree has decidedly the advantage in contests with
our strong winds, and comes off unscathed, while the high-topped one is swayed
about, bent, and has its I'oots loosened, if not broken, by the increased lever-
power given to the wind by its long trunk. Young trees in my nursery generally
make a stronger growth, and invariably have more I'oots, when allowed to have
nearly their own way, than when the old system of trimming up is applied to
them.

The ol>ject of having the ground mellow and loose at the surface around
young orchard trees, is mainly to prevent the e\"aporation of moisture. A still
greater benefit may be conferred by keeping around them straw manure and
other litter during the summer; and even in winter if a small mound or hillock
of earth was thrown around the stem in November, it would prevent the attacks
of mice, and support the tree during winter storms.

The spring after setting out, in May or June, those trees which have made a
good growth may be trimmed some within a foot of the ground; and within
two or three yeai-s, if good cultivation is kept up, the reijuired heiirht may be

177

given to the Leads; but we must here repeat let that required height be as low
as possible.

The seeming difficulty of working around and under low-headed trees vanishes,
as the plan is executed. They will throw their branches upward, presenting
the shape and symmetry of a spread fan. Roots and top being brought
within hailing distance, they seem to vie with each other in their growth, pro-
ducing the most well proportioned, strong growing, healthy orchard tree that
can be imagined, in the shortest possible time. The writer is well acquainted
with instances where the quantity of fruit borne on low heads was twice that of
high topped ones of the same variety, standing side by side, and with the same
treatment, the diflference continuing after the trees had become well grown, and
had borne several crops.

High topped trees will frequently throw their branches downwai-ds, and fill
the space prepared by the owner for the passage of his team, forming an um-
brella with the eaves near the ground. This is an effort of nature to supply shade
to the naked trunk of the tree from the burning rays of the sun ; an eftbrt which
would not have been put forth, had the tree been allowed to furnish that shade
by producing branches near the ground.

I have yet to find a man who has tried low heads who is dissatisfied with
them, or who could be persuaded to abandon the practice for the old one.

Yours very truly.
To Albert C. Ingham, Esq. J. C. BRAYTON.

Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. Society.

AGRICULTURE OF KENOSHA COUNTY.

SoMERS, December 30th, 1851.

Dear Sir — Yours, of December 27th, was received this evening, soliciting
information upon the agricultural condition of the county of Kenosha, and I
regret exceedingly that the duty has devolved upon one so incapable of furnish-
ing correct information upon the various subjects embraced in your communica-
tion ; but I will proceed, without further apology, to answer your inquiries to the
best of my knowledge.

The history of Kenosha county, I presume is pretty generally known, espe-
cially in Wisconsin ; it was formerly a part of Racine county, and was incorpo-
rated into a separate county at the session of 1850. It comprises the city of
Kenosha, and the towns of Southport, (being the fractional parts of two town-
ships bordering upon Lake Michigan,) Pleasant Prairie, Somers, Paris, Bi-istol,
12

178

Salem, Wheatland, and Brighton ; being about twenty-five miles in length east
and west on the south line, and about nineteen miles on the north line by twelve
miles in width. It is bounded on the south by Illinois, on the east by Lake
Michigan, on the north by Racine count}^, and on the west by the county of
Walworth. If I am not mistaken the first settlement was made in 1836, by the
Oswego Emigration Company; the population in 1850 was nearly 11,000 — the
exact number I do not now recollect. The face of the country is sufficiently un-
dulating to give a good drainage to the surface water, but not hilly. The eastern
part of the county is mostly prairie, interspersed occasionally with small groves
of timber. In the vicinity of Pike Creek and bordering on the Lake, there is
quite a large tract of heavy timber, tall and thrifty, consisting of different kinds
of oak, hickory, maple, black walnut, elm, bas.swood, black and white ash, iron
wood, &c. The western portion of the county consists more of oak openings or
barrens, as it is generally called, interspersed with several beautiful lakes, which
abound with fish of various kinds. Our county is watered by Fox River, the
two branches of the Aux Plains, and the two branches of Pike Creek, with some
few smaller streams which afford water the most of the year. I am unable to
state the number of acres of tillable land, but from my limited knowledge of the
county at large, I can say that there is but a very small proportion of the county
unfit for tillage, and I scarceh' know of any but may be made good tillable land
by a little drainage.

I hardly know how to describe the soil, not being a scientific man. The sur-
face soil of the prairie is black, having the appearance of being formed of char-
coal and ashes from the burning of tlie luxuriant and heavy growth of grass with
which it abounds, together with the decayed vegetable matter which occasionally
escapes the devouring element. The surface soil varies in depth from four to six
or eight inches, when it seems to change to that of a lighter color, and more
compact, and resembles a species of clay mixed with fine sand and limestone
pebbles, and after being ploughed a few years to the depth of eight inches or
more, it becomes of a chocolate color ; and the greater the depth of ploughing,
the more abundant are the crops of all kinds.

This county is well adapted to the growing of all kinds of crops which are
grown in the western country. Wheat has hitherto been the staple commodity,
but has partially failed for the last three years; the average yield was about twenty
bushels per acre. Corn, oats, barley, and the different grasses, flourish when the
ground has been properly prepared. Clover and Timothy yield an abundant crop
on land which has been thoroughly subdued, and manured before, or at the time
of seeding; but whenever an attempt has been made to grow tame grass of any
kind, except Red top. on land which has not been well subdued, it has proved a
failuie — hence the idea which [)revails in many places at the East, an<I in some

179

parts of Wisconsin and Illinois, that the taiue grasses ^vilI not flourish in this
State. Kenosha county, and especially the eastern portion thereof, is perhaps
as well adapted for grazing as any county in the State; and our farmers aro
generally turning their attention to the growing of stock and wool. There are
some very fine cattle owned in this county, of the native and Durham breeds,
but the number is small when compared with the Avhole number owned in the
county; but a spirit of improvement has been awakened among the farmers ge-
nerally, and at our last county Fair there were some very fine animals exhibited,
•which would compare favorably with most Eastern Fairs.

The wool-growing business seems to be the special order of the day among
our most enterprising farmers, and there are many excellent flocks of the different
breeds of sheep, particularly of the Merino and Saxon ; but our sheep, as well
as our cattle, are susceptible of improvement, and each year I trust will show
that wool-growing, in Kenoslia county, is receiving that attention which its im-
portance demands.

I cannot state the number of sheep or neat cattle in this county ; but there are
one or more flocks of sheep numbering over one thousand, and quite a respecta-
ble number ranging from three to seven or eiglit hundred.

There are some very respectable dairies in this county; and this branch of
industry is becoming a favorite among many of our farmers. It is steadily
increa.sing, and there is no doubt but that it will prove a money making
business, there being no reason why Wisconsin should not become a cheese-
exporting, instead of a cheese-importing State — situated contiguous to the Lake —
having a market close at hand, and a choice of markets from Chicago to Mil-
waukee — having a soil unsurpassed for richness, and well adapted for grazing
and tillage, and an atmosphere untainted by stagnant water, or miasma of any
description, as healthy as any part of the world — I know of no good reason why
Kenosha County should not rank among the first counties of the State; and if
it should prove otherwise, it will not be on account of any defect in soil, climate,
or locality, but it must be the result of negligence among the people.

Not having the necessary statistics at hand, I trust you will excuse me for not
stating many things, such, for instance, as the number of acres of tillable land,
the number of neat cattle, sheep, tire., in a more definite manner.

Permit me to congratulate you upon the success which has attended the for-
mation of the State Agricultural Society.

Most respectfully and truly, your friend,

HENRY JOHNSON.
To Albert C. Ikgham, Esq.

Sec. «/ the Wis. State Agr. Society.

180

AGRICULTURE OF MANITOWOC COUNTY.

Madison, Wisconsin, Feb. 12tb, 1852.

Dear Sir — Your communication of a recent date making inquiries about
Manitowoc County, came duly to hand, and contents noticed. In reply, I regret
the shortness of the time mentioned will prevent my writing home, and making
inquiry of some of our older settlers, farmers, business men, &c., for the purpose
of obtaining information in answer to your various inquiries in relation to our
county. It is hardly to be expected any one individual could possess information
in detail upon all of these points ; but delay being impracticable, I will proceed
to answer your inquiries as correctly as my knowledge will permit.

I think the county was first settled in 1835. About that time the attention
of capitalists and speculators was attracted to Manitowoc and Two Rivers, as
bidding fair to become points of business and commercial importance. The
valley of the Manitowoc river extending west through the center of the county,
and nearly to Lake Winnebago, also atti'acted attention as being the shortest and
easiest outlet for a lai-ge portion of the travel, produce, and business of the Lake
Winnebago and upper Fox River County. Towns were then laid out at Mani-
towoc, Two Rivers, and Manitowoc Rapids; and on or about the year 1836,
several mills for the manufacture of pine lumber were erected in various parts of
the county. Our population, however, did not exceed a few hundred up to
the year 1847, most of whom were engaged in lumbering. Since that time the
county has had a gradual influx of immigrants mostly from the various Euro-
pean States, and of a class well calculated to reclaim the country. By the last
census we are put down at 3,768 inhabitants; and there can be no doubt but
that we number at the present time over 5,000 inhabitants, of which about
1,000 reside in the village of Manitowoc.

The county is bounded on the north by Door and Brown, on the west by Calu-
met, on the south by Sheboygan, and easterly by Lake Michigan, containing
thirteen full townships, and eight fractional ones, which may be safely reckoned
as equal to four full ones, making in all an area of about 600 square miles.
About four-fifths of the whole surface is susceptible of cultivation.

In general formation it is moderately undulating, and in some parts veiy
agreeably diversified with hills and valleys. There is a very abundant supply of
excellent water. It would be difficult to find many quarter sections in the
whole county that are not watered by a clioice and durable spring, a creek, or
river. The south branch of the Manitowoc rises near tlie south and the north
branch, near the north end of Lake Winnebago, and the two unite near the west
fine of the county. From the junction, the river, which is the largest in the

181

county, runs easterly through the entire of tlie county, and empties into Lake
Michigan at Manitowoc. Aside from the obstruction of a small sand bar at the
mouth of this river, it is navigable nearly to Manitowoc Rapids, a distance of
more than three miles by its course; and at a comparatively small expense it might
be improved and made navigable to within three miles of Lake Winnebago.

Vessels, carrying from seventy-five to one hundred thousand feet of lumber,
have generally run into the river, loaded their holds full, and passed out without
difficulty ; and crafts, taking forty to fifty thousand feet, have generally put on a
full load and gone over the bar without striking. The depth of the water on the bar
for several years past, has been an average of about six feet ; the average depth
of water inside is about fifteen feet, extending nearly to Manitowoc Rapids.

The point, at the mouth of the Manitowoc River, lying nearly equidistant
from Milwaukee and the Islands, is one oi national importance as regards the
interest of the commerce on the Lakes; and it is admitted bv nautical men of
the first judgment, to be the best natural point for a harbor between Chicago and
Bailey's Harbor. It is estimated that an appropriation of 20,000 or 30,000 dol-
lars judiciously expended, would make it safe and ea.sy of access, at all times, to
all vessels navigating the lakes. The Twin Rivers are next in size to the Manito-
woc; and taken together, are not much inferior on the score of natural advan-
tao-es. There are numerous other streams of some importance in various parts
of the county, of which time and space forbid even a passing notice.

All our rivers and streams abound in numerous and valuable water powers,
many of which are already improved by saw and grist mills. Our land is
heavily timbered, and without prairie, except in a few small marshes.

The general character of the soil in the eastern portion bordering on Lake
Michicran, and embracing about one-seventh of the whole extent, is black, sandy
loam. The remaining six-seventh is clay and sand loam, well mixed with lime.
The timber is bass-wood, different varieties of elm and maple, beech, oak, ash,
pine, hickory, hemlock, birch, butter-nut, &c.

Our averao-e yield per acre will be safely put down as follows: Potatoes, four
hundred bushels; corn, fifty; oats, fifty; wheat, fort}'.

The manner of farming in all heavily tirabei'ed new counti'ies must be very
nearly the same. As yet the plough has been but little used. If defects exist
in the modes of clearing and cultivation generally adopted by our farmers, it will
require some one better posted up in practical farming than myself to point
them out and name the remedy.

Our market facilities are good. The farmers have been able to sell all their
surplus at home at Milwaukee and Chicago prices, with freight, pierage, dockage,
drayage, and commission added. Owing to the large number of our citizens engaged
in the lumbering business, our farmers have not been able to supply the demand.

18i^

Our cattle, hoi-ses, hogs, vkc. have generally been bought in southern Wisconsin
and northern Illinois, and are of the various breeds usually found in those places.

Our soil is well adapted to tillage and grazing, and will not suffer in the least
by a comparison with western New York or any other place in this respect.
Some of our farmers have already engaged to considerable extent in the dairy
business, apparently with good success.

Horticulture and fruit-growing can, in all human probability, be carried on as
successfully in this county as in any other place in the same latitude in the
Union ; and the subject has already begun to attract the attention of our farmer*
and citizens.

A densely timbered country is necessarily settled less rapidly than one which
is more easily improved. But you may put it down as one of the established
truths, that the hard timbered portions will eventually, and that ere long, become
the wealthiest, most densely populated, and powerful.

The annual amount of our business is probably greater in proportion to our
population than that of any other county. And in order to give you a more
correct idea of the amount and nature of our business transactions, I append
Tables of Imports and Exports of the A'illages of Manitowoc and Two Rivera
during the past year.

COMMERCE OF MANITOWOC FOR 1851.

IMPORTS.

A

EXPORTS.

3661 barrels flour. . . . |10,983 00
447 barrels pork 5,364 00

74 barrels beef 444 00

558 barrels meal 1,116 00

855 barrels salt 1,082 00

65 barrels vinegar 195 00

120 firkins butter 1,200 00

7800 lbs. lard 536 00

7 tons fresh pork 700 00

7000 lbs. mutton hams. . . 210 00
135 bushels beans 201 00

75 bushels lime 75 00

55 bushels plaster 75 00

395 tons merchandize. 73,750 00
Drugs and medicines . . . 800 00

4,825,000 feet lumber. . .$28,950 00

855,000 feet lath 2,565 00

275,000 pickets 1,650 00

15,467,000 shingles 27,068 00

8,700 cedar posts 348 00

750 cords shingle bolts 3,750 00

1,750 cords wood 2,625 00

75 cords tan bark. . . . 225 00

8,000 feet square timber . 480 00

1,190 bbls. white fish . .5,950 00

36 bbls. cranberries . . 216 00

3 tons potash 360 00

2 tons black salts ... 160 00
2,500 lbs. maple sugar . . 250 00
Furs and peltries 2,525 00

Total Imports . $106,721 00

Total Exports. $77,122 00

18,n

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES.

No. of Steamboats 374 Tonuage 208,100

No, of Sail Vessels 414 Tonnage 24,840

Total "88 Total . . . 227,940

COMMERCE OF TWO RIVERS, FOR 1851.

IMPORTS.

, ^ s

2,460 barrels flour |9,840 00

675 barrels pork 8,450 00

185 barrels beef 1,480 00

14,974 lbs. butter 1,497 40

83 tons pressed hay . . . 830 00

107 ban-els corn meal ... 214 00

20 barrels water lime . . 45 00

212 bushels barley 127 00

1,462 barrels salt 2,558 50

8,000 lbs. sole and upper

leather 1,727 17

Hides, tallow, (fee 21,094 66

Horses, oxen, &c 2,175 00

Amount of merchandize . 45,655 55
Machinery, iron, bricks,

&c 19,316 20

Total Imports . , $115,010 48

EXPORTS.

' ^ ^

9,535,469 ft. sawed lumber $59,646 21

4,687,000 ft. lath 14,061 00

4,908,500 shingles 9,507 79

837 cords shingle bolts . 4,180 00

800 cedar posts 48 00

4,500 feet square timber . 270 00

329 cords tan bark 987 00

608 cords fire wood ... 912 00

2|- tons pot-ashes 300 00

2 tons dry saleratus . 160 00

104 setts bed posts 208 00

6,478 packag. fish, ^ bis. 16,198 00

PRODUCTION OF THE FISHERIES

3^ tons glue scraps ... 160 00

43 bis. plastering hair . 105 00

3,200 lbs. wool, 16 sacks . 1,280 00

42 packages leather . . 4,750 40

Total Exports . $112,763 40

In our imports it will be seen that we have imported largely for local improve-
ments, which are to be permanent fixtures; such as tanning leather and manu-
facturing lumber. Deducting these amounts, and the balance of traile instead of
being, as it now appears, against us, will be in our favoi'.

I am, very respectfully, yours,

E. RICKER,
Meinher of the Assemhhj for Manitowoc Counfy.

To Albert C. Ingham, Eso.

' "A

Sec. of the Wis. State Agr, Sociel>/.

184

AGRICULTURE OF OUTAGAMIE COUNTY.

Applkton, December Slst, 1851.

Dear Sir — In compliance with your request of the 15th inst., I have the
honor to transmit the following as the best statistical information relative to
Outagamie County which I have been able to procure in the very brief space
which has elapsed since I received your communication.

In reply to your first question, I would say that a few scattered French families
settled at various points on Fox River, in Outagamie County, at a very early
date — how early is not precisely ascertained. About the year 1837, a Roman
Catholic Mission was established at Little Chute, a point on Fox River, about
twelve miles from Lake Winnebago; but no settlement of any importance has
been made until within the last three years. In the month of February, 1849,
a settlement was commenced on Fox River, seven miles from Lake Winnebago,
on the present site of the village of Appleton, and since that time the popu-
lation has increased so rapidly that the county now contains about four thousand
souls. The settlers are mostly from New Ensrland and New York, and are an in-
dustrious and thrifty population of a good, moral, and religious character. The
county was organized in 1851. The name was an unfortunate one, not the choice
of the people — but future legislation, we hope, may remedy this difficulty.

The principal place of the business of the county is Appleton, in the township
of Grand Chute, where is located the county seat. The villages of Lawesberg and
Grand Chute lie on either side of Appleton. The village of Little Chute, five
miles below, is inhabited almost entirely by French, Dutch and Germans. The
village of Kaukana, nine miles below Appleton, and sixteen from Lake Win-
nebago, has risen into importance during the past year, principally stimulated by
the extensive State works now in progress at that point. Hortonville is a village
in the w&«^tern part of the county, where a great deal of hmiber is manufactured.

The general formation of the county is level. About twenty miles in length
of the Fox River lies within this county ; while the Wolf River runs with innu-
merable windings through the interior portion. The latter is navigable by steam-
boats far above any point in this county. For ten miles the Fox River in this
county is not navigable, in its natural state, on account of the Rapids. The
banks of the Fox River are high and stee}") — they are cut by heavy ravines which
run back sometimes half a mile from the river. The land falls slightly as it
recedes from the banks, making in some places a sort of swayle in which the
ra\'ines take their rise. After tliis the land I'ises again, until at a distance of a mile
or so from the river it is dry and undulating. The whole country is well
timbered ; it may be said in general that it is covered ^ith a heavy growth of

185

timber — maple, oak, ash, elm, and hickory. The exceptions tu this general
remark would be, the patches of openings which lie along the river at many
points, (being most abundant in the northern part of the county,) and the mag-
nificent and apparently inexhaustible pineries which extend along either bank of
the Wolf River. The marshes found in many parts of the county, produce now
a fine quality of grass, and are capable of very profitable cultivation, with em-
phatically but little expense for drainage.

Outagamie county is twenty four miles in length one way, by twenty seven
miles in breadth the other way, containing 648 square miles. It is bounded on
the north by Oconto county and the Indian Reservation, on the east by Manito-
woc and Brown counties, on the south by Calumet and Winnebago counties, and
on the west by Waupaca county. I have no doubt that six hundred square miles
of good tillable land are to be found in this county.

As to its soils, and their constituent elements, there appears to be a bed of
limestone rock underlying the whole county — upon this is a bed of red marl,
generally about seventy feet deep, with occasionally a streak of blue clay, and
very rarely a little hardpan. On the surface of the marl is from three to six inches
of decayed vegetable matter, making a rich blue mould. The limestone is less
apparent in the western part of the county, and the soil assumes on the surface
a drier and lighter character, and of course is a very retentive and extensively
productive soil.

The farmers have had barely time since taking possession of their land to bring
it into condition to I'eceive crops ; and, so far, they have only succeeded in raising
what was sufficient for their own use, and the partial supply of a limited though
regular home market. A practical farmer who passed through the county during
the summer of 1851, mentioned a forty-acre field of winter wheat, three miles
west of Appleton, as by far the best he had seen in the course of a journey
through the whole southern and western part of the State. Our agricultural
existence has been so brief, that the science has as yet assumed no definite form ;
and there is not sufficient data to enable me to say anything more, than that all
the common crops which have yet been tried here have succeeded beyond the
expectation of the farmer. One piece of land which has been regularly planted
for many years back by a half-breed family without receiving any kind of manure,
now yields abundantly under the worst possible cultivation. The next two years,
however, will show the capabilities of the county.

The most approved time for clearing land is during the summer months; and
the first crop is generally put in without ploughing. Farmers generally have
but limited means, and are compelled to get all they can out of their lands, with
the least possible outlay, for the first two years.

The market for agricultural products is as yet entirely at home — nor is that

18G

market fully supplied ; but when productions increase beyond the capacity of
the home market, they will find ready access to a foreign one. The Fox River
Improvement, now in progress, will connect the county directly with the great
Lakes ; and fifty miles water carriage will bring the production of the county to
the nearest depot of the Rock River Valley Union Railroad, by which they can
reach Milwaukee and Chicago. The manufacturing villages which will naturally
arise on such noble water-powers as are found in that part of Fox River which
lies in this county, will always afford a steady and extensive home market, and
any surplus will easily be shipped either north or south.

Our county is altogether too young to have attained much celebrity in the
raising of stock. The stock in this part of the country is of a superior character,
and a general desire is manifested to obtain good breeding animals.

Though, as before stated, all crops that have been tried here have succeeded
well, yet the soil seems more expressly adapted to grazing. Garden vegetables
have succeeded well here. All kinds of fruit trees live, grow finely, and do much
better here than in more open countries. The extreme richness of the soil, and the
protection in winter afibrded by the heavy timber, enables almost every kind of
fruit tree to do well. The gardens in the various villages yield abundantly all
kinds of vegetables; and it is probable that fruit-growing will form a prominent
branch of industry in this county.

The important point in considering the resources of this county is the water-
powers in that part of Fox River which lies within its boundaries. There are
falls at four points — at Grand Chute, at Cedar Rapids, at Little Chute, and at
Grand Kaukalin. At each of these points the P'ox River Improvement is in a
state of greater or less forwardness; and as about fifteen locks, and several miles
of canal will be needed in order to overcome the falls, some idea may be formed
of the amount of fall at the river between the head of the Grand Chute, and the
foot of the Grand Kaukalin.

At the villages on the Grand Chute Rapids, are now four saw mills, a lath
machine, two planing mills and sash factories. A large edge-tool factory has
also been erected at Appleton, and preparations are now being made to build a
flouring mill at the same village in time for the next harvest. At Little Chute
there is a saw mill, and another at Grand Kaukalin.

The Lawi'ence University of Wisconsin, under the patronage of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, is located at Appleton, in this county. At present only the
Academical Department of the Univei-sity is organized ; but as it Is liberally
endowed both witli land and money, it cannot be long before the Collegiate
Department will be in operation. It has hitherto labored under some embarrass-
ments, but it is hoped that these will soon be removed, and that the Lawrence
University will take a high rank among the Collegiate Institutions of our land.

187

With the best wishes for the continued prosperity and usefuhieas of vour

Society, and for the advancement of the cause of agricultural improvement,

I am, as ever, yours truly,

P. H. SMITH.
To Albert C. Ingham, Esq.

Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. Society.

AGRICULTURE OF RACINE COUNTY.

To Albert C. Ingham, Esq.

Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. Society.

Racine, January 31st, 1852.

Dear Sir — Your circular of 1st ult^ desiring me to prepare a paper for the
State Agricultural Society, containing " a general account of the agricultural in-
terests of Racine County, &c." was duly received.

My experience as a practical agriculturist having been extremely limited, and
nearly every moment of my time and attention being absorbed in matters foreign
to that subject, I had hoped that other gentlemen, more competent than myself
to supply the desired memoir, of whom there are very many in our county,
would have responded to your circular.

But having received your iawov of the 2d instant, in which you say that I am
alone depended on " for information as to that particular matter," I felt that I
ought no longer to resist the appeal. I have accordingly devoted snatches of my
time during two or three weeks past, to the collection of such random facts and
statistics as I have been able to {)ick up by the way. These facts I have endea-
vored to arranofe in such order as to afibrd a connected and clear idea of the
agricidtural statistics and farming interests of this county ; and have accompanied
them with such fugitive ideas in relation to the matter, as have either occurred
to my own mind, or been elicited from others during my brief investigations of
the subject.

Area of Racine County. — Under the Territorial organization of Michigan,
the district of country now comprising the State of Wisconsin was divided into
four counties — Brown and Milwaukee, bounded on the east by Lake Michigan ;
and Iowa and Crawford, bordering the Mississippi on the west. A Territorial
Government having been organized for Wisconsin on the fourth day of July,
1836, its legislatuie, by an act of the 7th of December of that year, divided the
county of Milwaukee, and erected therefrom the county of " Kacine," whose
limits were thus defined : " Townships numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 north, of ranges

188

19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 east." This included tlie present county of Kenosha,
which was set off as a separate county in 1850, and by which Racine was cur-
tailed of nearly one-half her oiiginal proportions. As now constituted, Racine
county includes the full townships numbered 3 and 4 north, of ranges 19, 20,
21 and 22 east, and fractional townships 3 and 4 of range 23, bordering Lake
Michigan on the east — together with the four northern tiers of sections in town-
ship 2 of range 19. These boundaries give the county a superfices, by survey,
not far from 218,500 acres — or, say 340 square miles.

Proportion of Land occupied as Farms. — Of the aggregate of 218,500
acres, I may safely assume, from the data to which I have had access, (the census
returns of 1850, and statistical information from other sources) that 150,000
acres are owned or occupied as farms in this county — about 120,000 of which is
improved, and say 30,000 in wood-lots and unimproved prairie; leaving 68,500
acres of unoccupied and non-resident lands, including lakes, ponds, marshes, &c.
And assuming that the present population of our county is 16,500 souls, (it was
about 15,000 eighteen months ago — in June 1850) 9,500 of whom are engaged
in farming operations; and assigning six persons to a family, it will follow that
1583 families are engaged in agricultural pursuits in this county.

Extent of the Agricultural Interest. — Of these 9,500 people, wlio com-
prise the 1583 families connected with farming in this county, there are doubt-
less 3,000 (say an average of two to each family of six persons) who are out-
door operatives in performing the requisite labor on the farms ; and they will
accomplish an amount of labor equal to something like 250 days work each,
within the 365 days of the year. Now if we estimate their services at an average
of 70 cents per day, it will show that the sum of $525,000 — over half a miUion —
is expended annually in the county for farm-labor alone ! Ten dollars per acre
would be a moderate average of the value of the 150,000 acres occupied as
farms; this will give an aggregate value for the land, of $1,500,000. By the
census returns in June 1850, agricultural implements, farming tools and machines,
were put down at not far from $130,000; add for increase dui-ing the eighteen
months that have elapsed since, say $40,000, and we have an aggregate for that
item of $170,000. Besides these, the Stock indispensable on a farm — including
working horses and oxen, cows, hog-s, sheep, beef, and stock cattle, &c. — forms
no inconsiderable item in the requisite expenditure for the successful prosecution
of that all-important industrial pursuit; the census makes this expenditure more
than $300,000, for 1850 — say, at this time, (18 months later) $350,000.
Allowing $300 to each farm, for dwellings, barns, out-buildings, (fee. and we have
$474,900 for this item. It will hence appear, that the total investment in the
operations of farming in Racine county, is at least $3,019,900 — over three mil-
lions of dollars ,'

189

In view of the suiall amount of capital possessed in so recently settled a com-
munity as ours, this is a vast sum to be expended in what I may he permitted
to call the mere preparations for farming — and within a county whose area
scarcely exceeds twelve by twenty-eight miles.

Agriculture the Paramount Interest. — Of the four primordial sources
from which the producti\e classes derive subsistence for themselves, and create
wealth and power for nations, viz : — the sea, the forest, the mines, and the
SOIL — the latter alone, by the aid of agricultural skill, industry, and enterprise,
is made to furnish three-fourths of the material that gives existence to the foreign
commerce and home-trade of the United States:

Our Exports to Foreign countries for 1851, amounted to $196,689,718

Of this amount, the products of Agriculture furnished.. $145,903,778

Those of the forest, the sea, manufactures, &c , 50,785,940

Showing an excess of Agricultural products over all others, of $95,117,838

Thus it is demonstrated that Agriculture is the great cardinal interest of the na-
tion. And in this particular region, it is not only the leading interest, but almost
the sole reliance of our people, constituting the very ground-work upon which the
whole supersti'ucture of our business is built and sustained. It is, indeed, the life-
blood of all our trade and commerce, and has become the regulator of the whole
machinery of our business transactions; so that when agriculture languishes,
trade and commerce, manufactures and the mechanic arts, all droop and decline.

IIow vitally important it is, then, that a branch of industry to which all other
interests are merely auxiliary, and with which their business prospects are so inti-
mately interwoven, should be aided, and fostered, and honored by all classes, and
at every sacrifice consistent with a proper regard for the subordinate interests of
the community. Agricultural associations, and agricultural publications, are
undoubtedly among the readiest means of effecting such improvements in the
systems of tillage common in this region, as the advanced state of the art at this
day imperiously demands — as w'ell as of diffusing valuable information, and of
imparting such scientific knowledge to our agriculturists, as will tend to elevate
their " calling" to a rank commensurate with its vast importance. No such dis-
tinctions as "privileged classes" can be recognized under our republican system;
but if, by some anomalous upheaving of the political and social elements of our
country, they were to be, the holders of the plough should unquestionably be our
" lords paramount" of the realm, since they are, theoretically and practically, already
the " sovereigns" of the land. Producing all that commerce subsists upon, they
are the arbiters of the trade and business of our towns and commercial marts ; and
could, if they would, hold the political destinies of the Republic in their hands.

Racine Agricultural Society. — In connection, it may be appropriate for
me to state, that our fanners, fully impressed with the utility of agricultural assc-

190

ciations, organized the " Racine Agrirultural Society'' on the 1st of September
last; and by the 14th of October, 234 persons had become members by the pay-
ment of |1 entrance fee each, thus constituting a fund of 6234. On the 14th
and loth of that month, an Agricultural Exhibition and Fair was held, at which
$203 50 was distributed, in forty-six premiums to different competitors, in suras
varying from $10 to 50 cents each. These premiums were awarded, respec-
tively, for the best cultivated farm — best reclaimed marsh lands — best crops of
wheat, corn, oats, vegetables, &c. — several for the best horses, working oxen,
milch cows, beef cattle, neat stock, sheep, hogs, and breeding animals — for butter
and for cheese — for the best ploughing, and various agricultural implements —
for manufactures of cassimeres, flannels, sheeps-gray cloth, cabinet furniture, <fec.
And diplomas were awarded for a variety of fruits, such as apples, peaches, peai-s,
quinces and grapes, and for garden sauce and esculents ; for a good many stoves
of new and beautiful patterns; for hardware, mechanic's work and wares, inge-
nious and useful inventions, jewelry, &:c] as well as for a great variety of family
fabrics, and ornamental and needle work, exhibited by the wives, the daughters,
and the families of the members of the society — manifesting a spirit of improve-
ment, as well as a degree of skill and accomplishments, on the part of the ladies
of the rural districts of our county, rarely excelled in the most refined of the agri-
cultural communities at the East. So brief a period intervened between the
organization of the Society and the holding of the Fair, (six weeks only) that it
could not be expected this first exhibition would aftbrd a fair sample of the agri-
cultural products of the county, or of the progress made by our farmers in
systematic agriculture, &c. But the exhibition was highly respectable, and highly
gratifying to every friend of agriculture in the county. This Society is destined
to open up a new and more propitious era for the farming interests of this
county.

Constituents of Soil. — Agricultural chemistry teaches, that soil is formed
by the intimate mixture of the debris of rocks, in the condition of sand, gravel,
or clay, with decomposed animal and vegetable substances, in the shape of mould,
or hnmvs. The simple mineral called alumina, is the base of all clay ; while
pure clay is composed exclusively of silica and alumina. Any earthy mineral, in
a granulated form is called sand. Now for the sake of simplicity and convenience,
I will adopt the division of soils into these three constituents — mould, sand, and
clay ; although by scientific analyses, these are susceptible of an almost infinite
subdivision.

Soil, then, is constituted of what might be called an amalgam of sand, clay,
and mould. The nature, composition, and value of these constituents of soil,
vary indefinitely in different localities; and a slight change in the proportion of
the ingredients of a soil, might greatly augment or diminish the product of the

191

farmer in cultivating crops therein. Earth containing no mould, or combustible
matter, is not of itself soil, any more than animal or vegetable substances alone
make soil. How important it is, then, that the farmer should know enough of
the chemical properties of the surface of the earth he operates in, to enable him
to cultivate in each field that crop for which its soil is best adapted — or rightly
to temper his soil, so as to eftect a judicious combination of those constituents
most congenial to the product he may desire to reap from it.

Racine Soil, adapted to Wheat. — I have made these suggestions with a
view of illustrating my opinion, that Racine County is a good wheat-producing
district; and that the failure of our farmers, for three or four years past, to raise
good crops of that grain, is attributable more to a lack of knowledge of the che-
mical properties of their soil, and to the absence of a judicious system of alter-
nation of crops and sub-soiling, than to any inherent defect of the soil itself.

An eminent Scotch chemist, Dr. Anderson, made critical analyses of several
wheat soils in Scotland in 1850; among which, samples of surface soil from
Midlothian gave 6.789-1 OOOths of combustible matter, or mould. Its compo-
sition was as follows: Carbon, 4.500 — hydrogen, 0.215 — oxygen, 1.806 —
ammonia, 0.268 ; making 6.789. This soil was distinguished for its produc-
tiveness in wheat. Now it is worthy of note, that that powerful fertilizer, Peruvian
guano, contains 6.500 of organic animal matter, almost precisely the propor-
tion that is found in the Scotch wheat soil above described.

The celebrated German chemist, author and agriculturist, Von Tha?r, says the
richest soil he ever analyzed, was composed of

19^ parts in a hundred of humus, (or combustible matter ;)

70 of clay ;

7i of silicious sand ;

3 of lime.

100

The fattest soil, however, is not best adapted to wheat; but according to the
testimony of the most intelligent farmers, a first rate wheat soil ought to contain
only about six or seven parts in a hundred of humus (or mould) — which it seems,
is just the proportion of that constituent in the subsoil of Racine County, as ana-
lyzed by Dr. Philo R. Hoy, of this city. The Doctor, by the way, has done good
een'ice to science by the inve.stigations he has made in the ornithology, zoology,
botany, horticulture, agriculture, &c., of the county ; and who may be expected,
1 understand, at no remote period, to favor the public with his scientific
researches.

Analysis of Racine County Soil. — The following is what Dr. Hoy calls
his " rough and simple" analysis of the soil of Racine county, but the correctness

192

of which may be depended on. His sam])les were taken from a high point on
the prairies:

Soil 4 inches below surface. Sub-soil 10 inches below surface.

Water of absorption 1 1.0 10.5

Decayed vegetable matter (humus) . . 12.5 6.5

Soluble Salts, mostly lime 3.5 6.0

Clay (aluminum). 25.0 28.0

Silicious saud 48.0 49.0

100 - 100

SuBSoiLiNG REQUISITE. — From this analysis, it will very readily be seen that
our suiface soil is, as a general thing, too " fat" for a wheat crop ; and that the
subsoil of itself is better adapted to the production of that grain. Hence the
utility of subsoiling our prairie land, is most manifest.

Geology oV Racine County. — In Dr. Hoy's note communicating the analysis
given above, he thus notices the geological characteristics of this county : " Racine
County is underlaid by the ' mountain lime-stone formation,' which comes to the
surface at several points, affording a superior quality of lime, as well as stone for
ordinary building purposes." He remarks, in continuation, " that the surface-soil
of the upland pi-airie is of a dark color, containing an excess of organic matter.
Lime is found in but small quantities near the surface, but as you descend it
increases, which, when mixed by subsoiling with the abundance of decayed vege-
table matter of the surface, will foi-m a superior wheat loam. The want of suc-
cess in groAving winter wheat, is mainly owing to the superficial manner in
■which the land is now cultivated. The wheat is sown upon the surface of the black
vegetable soil, and the roots penetj'ate but a few inches ; when winter comes, the
plants are either blown out by the roots, or the black soil absorbs so much heat
when the sun shines, that it is constantly subjected to freezing and thawing, and
its vitality is soon destroyed. Now the remedy for this is subsoiling, whereby a
soil is brought to the surface that has more consistence, containing more lime and
clay, and affording the roots of the plant a deep and permanent footing."

This then will explain more than half the secret of short wheat crops with
us. Sub-soiling is undoubtedly among the most important of the remedies. A
ready method of doing this, is to cut a furrow seven or eight inches deep at first,
and then six or seven inches more at the bottom of the first furrow — thus turning
up the subsoil to the depth of some fourteen inches. From the report of an
Agricultural Society in Guernsey, England, in November last, I perceive they use
heavy sub-soil ploughs there drawn by eight cattle, cutting a single furrow twelve
inches in depth and fourteen in width. Might not the same ploughs, and same
number of cattle used in breaking up our prairies, be employed to do sufficiently
thorough work in sub-soiling here, after the fashion practised in England?

193

Now if two bushels of good seed wheat to the acre, sowu on ground thus
prepared, early in September, and covered in with a light plough or cultivator,
will not bring a remunerating crop on almost any sufficiently dry land in Racine
county, then the failure must be attributed to other causes than defective soil
and bad tillage — causes that may be termed fortuitous, and that are as likely to
be operative in any other State or county as this.

Diseases of the Wheat Crop. — Yet with every possible precaution, tho
wheat crop is subject to divers casualties, some of which can neither be foreseen
nor guarded against. The farmer consequently runs much hazard of beino- dis-
appointed, to a greater or less extent, every year, where he places too much
reliance upon that grain as his principal marketable product.

Winter-kill may, in a good measure, be avoided by the process of subsoiling
just alluded to ; yet that remedy will sometimes fail.

The Fit/ is a very troublesome enemy to the growing wheat; for which I
know no reliable antidote.

The Hust is a disease dependent so wholly upon the condition of the atmos-
phere at a critical conjuncture in the formation of the berry of the wheat, that
neither skill nor care can effect much in the application of remedies.

The '■'■Rot^'' or Blight, has proved very destructive to the wheat crop in this
region within three years past — affecting most fatally the "hedge-row" spring
wheat. It is a mysterious disease — almost as much so as the " rot" in the
potatoe; and is believed by some to be superinduced by atmospheric influences,
similar to those that cause the " rust." As yet, I have seen no i-emedy suggested.
This disease attacks the berry in the ear, (or head,) generally after it has attained
full size, but while yet in its milky state. Frequently one half the berries in a

head will be affected, or wholly rotted, while the balance of the grain in that
head will remain sound and plump.

Good Farming. — With a very superficial practical knowledge of agriculture, it
may appear presumptuous for me to attempt to instruct old farmers in regard to
Avhat constitutes good farming. Yet from a divei'sified reading, with habits of
investigation, and ample opportunities of observation, at home and abroad, I
may peradventure be enabled to state facts that are not familiar to all minds,
and that may not be devoid of interest to the curious inquirer after new truths
evolved from old subjects.

There are certain things essential to be done, and rules to be observed, by
every cultivator of the soil, in the neglect of which he will incur the reputation
of a slovenly farmer; but to farm it wisely, judiciously, and profitably, in this
region, all must agree that extra attention is demanded to

A Rotation of Crops, — Hitherto, crop after crop of wheat on the same
ground, has followed in annual succession for a series of years. Such a course
13

194

TTOuld be sconted at llie East; and it must be abandoned here, or else every
variety of wheal will in succession "run out" Avith us. But the most judicious
system of rotating crops can only be ascertained by actual experiment and close
observation. A system adapted to one locality, might be ill suited to another.
Each experiment, then, should be chosen with express reference to the chemical
properties of the soil, as well as to the climate and the market, of the region
where made. Wheat should be alternated with other crops every year. Having
seen a rotation like the following suggested, I should think it worthy of trial in
Racine county : — 1st year, corn, oats and roots, well manured ; second year barley
or peas — or both ; third year, wheat ; and fouith year, clover, say for three years.

Circumstances may occasionally arise, that will justify a departure from this
rule ; in such cases, however, the farmer's own sound judgment would be his
safest guide. Rotations similar to the above, have tripled the products of many
farms at the East; and 1 know no good reason why like results might not be
attained here, by a similar process.

Manures. — As auxiliary to this branch of the system, the time has now arrived
when it behooves our farmers to pay especial attention to the making and pre-
serving of manures, and to the discreet and economical use of thein.

Diversity of Products. — Since the conviction has been brought home to the
mind^ of our farmers, that it is unwise and unsafe to rely solely, or even mainly,
on the wheat crop as their marketable product, an immediate necessity is felt for
increasing the variety of their prpductions. And it becomes important to know
how to divide their attention between grain growing, stock raising, &c. so as to
realize the best reward for their labor, skill and money, expended in the manage-
ment of their farms. In this, as in the rotation of crops, they must depend in
a large degree upon their own sound judgment. The shrewdest of our farmers
are yearly more and more diversifying their crops and their labors — so that if
they fail in some, they may hit in others.

In addition to the ordinary grain crops, grass, &c. our farmers have now be-
come quite awakened in regard to the rearing of horees and neat cattle, instead
of importing them from Illinois as heretofore — to the rearing of sheep, for their
wool as well as their carcass — to the breeding of pigs and the fattening of hogs —
to the culture of flax and flaxseed; and even the cultivation of cranberries is
creating a sensation with some of our citizens and practical agriculturists. A broad
field is thus opened up to stimulate the enterprise and reward the labors of our
farmers. And although some are straitened just now, by reason of the monetary
pressure that is felt throughout the country at this particular juncture, yet they
possess all tlie elements of abundant and diversified ^iroduets — of health, comfort,
and competence — all the substantial luxuries of life, indeed — in the broad acres
and rich soil that constitute them lords of fertile manors and happy homesteads.

195

Perhaps there is not a farming country on this continent, where the time, the
attention, the skill and the industry of the agriculturist, can be legitimately
employed, on his farm, in attending to so great a diversity of remunerating
employments, as in Wisconsin. I will enumerate some of the most prominent:

Wheat. — This grain is said to have been first found on the central table land
of Thibet, in Asia, where its representative still exists as a grass, with small mealy
seeds. Although the wheat crop is becoming more and more precarious, and
our farmers are resorting to other products, which hitherto received but little
attention, yet it is still the principal crop of our country. According to the
census returns for 1850, it would seem that the aggregate of wheat grown in
Racine county that year, was something over 300,000 bushels. And it appears
from authentic data, that the quantity of wheat shipped from the port of Racine,
in 1851, was 284,678 bushels — besides 114,885 bushels, in the shape of 22,977
barrels of flour.

About twenty varieties of winter, and eight or ten of spring wheat, are most
commonly in use throughout the United States. Latitude and locality usually
determine the favor or disfavor in which these varieties are respectively held in
diflereut regions of the Union. In this county, the red-beard or Mediterranean,
the white tlint, the bald white, the Etrurian, the Soules, the red-chatT bald, and
the blue stem, are the kinds that most attract the attention of our farmers, or
have done so for a year or two past. Which of these is best adapted to this par-
ticular region, is a mooted point with our most astute farmers. Perhaps the best
sample of winter wheat that has been sold in this market, of the last year's crop,
was of the Soules kind, from Walworth county; and it was the same kind that
took the premium at the Racine County Agricultural Fair, in October — no other
sample was exhibited to compete with it. Mr. Nicholas Le Prevost, and some
of his neighbors, living near this city, have been raising the Etrurian winter
wheat for a year or two past, and have succeeded well with it. With deep ]")lough-
ing, it is seldom winter killed, and rarely affected by the rust. It yields them
from 22 to 25 bushels to the acre, the berry being bright and plump. Mr. Le
Prevost sold most of his crop for seed, at one dollar per bushel.

Spring Wheats — " Hedge-Row." — This species of spring wheat became a
great favorite among our farmers six or seven years ago, and had noaily sup-
planted all other kinds in this county. It yielded from thirty to forty, and in
some instances, fifty bushels to the acre, of sound plump grain, which at one time
sold for nearly as much as winter wheat. Even careless tillage would bring
thirty bushels to the acre ; and the crop was considered as sure as oats. But it
had its day ; and, to use a common phrase, has now nearly " run out." Its cul-
ture is gradually being abandoned by our farmers, and other kinds substituted in
its place.

lOG

" Canada Club" seems to find most favor lately ; and the Italian, Black Sea,
Pritcher, Red Ri\er, (Pembina,) and Labrador, are being tried by our farmers.
The latter, however, proves too hard and flinty, and flours badly.

Oats. — This grain was originally found in North Africa. The crop has been
imusually productive the past year. Something hke 207,000 bushels is reported
for 1850, as the growth of this county for that season. Assuming that as data,
and the product for 1851 should be stated at 400,000 bushels at least, for a
more prolific crop than the last was never known in this region. Over one hun-
dred bushels to the acre, was proved at the agricultural fair. About 100,000
bushels was shipped from this Port during the past season of navigation.

Corn. — Or Maize, which is indigenous to the American continent, is ordina-
rily a good and safe crop in this county. About 80,000 bushels have been
grown in this county the past season, and not far from 20,000 bushels shipped
abroad from the port of Racine. Corn will be more extensively cultivated here-
after, for fattening pork and beef, for feeding stock, and for family use. It does
not pay well for shipment, except to the lumber region. Last season was re-
mai'kably nnpropitious for the corn crop; cold rains continued through May,
causing much of the seed to rot in the ground, and thus creating the necessity
of re-planting.

Barley. — Is found wild in the Himalaya mountains, which bound Bengal
and Upper Hindostan on the north, and form the rich valley of Cashmere, from
whence the costly shawls bearing that name were originally bi'ought. Barley re-
quires a fatter soil than wheat, and is consequently better adapted to the dark
surface soil of Racine county. Forty bushels to the acre is a common yield, and
thirty-five to forty cents a bushel the usual price, while the crop almost always
" hits." It proved more profitable than spring wheat the past season, in this
county. The product of 1851 somewhat exceeded 50,000 bushels; 40,908
bushels were shipped from this Port in that year.

Buckwheat is said to have come originally from Siberia and Tartary. It
grows luxuriantly in our soil, and yields abundantly. The home-consumption is
large; it supersedes, to a considerable extent, the use of other bread-stuft's in very
many families, at one meal in each day at least, during four or five months in
the year. Some 30,000 bushels, was the product of this county for the past
year. The export has been small, thus far.

Of Peas and Beans, I know not the origin. They are of the same class of
leguminous plants, however, as the " lentil" of Scripture history : And I have
somewhere seen it suggested, that one or both may ha\e been added to the
lentils which are supposed to have formed a ])rincipal ingredient in that " mess
OF pottage" which cost a personage of some note among the ancients his " birth
right." They are thus used in the "olla podrida" of the Peruvians — a "mess"

197

wbich I liave found particularly grateful to a collapsed stomach, after a dinner-
less tramp over the bald " sierras" of the tropics " where it never rains." No-
where (always excepting California) do peas and beans thrive better than ia
Racine county, although they are not extensively cultivated as a field crop. They
pay well as a remarkable product at the East, but are just beginning to be grown
with that view here. The home consuniption is large ; 450 bushels only, were
exported from Racine last season.

Potatoes. — Of this important article of " food both foi- man and beast," the
production has greatly decreased, in proportion to the increase of population,
within three years past — wholly attributable to the " rot," or disease, which haa
made such sad havoc in that crop, here and elsewhere. A few years since, Racine
exported thousands of bushels of potatoes to Chicago and other points; but the
"rot" has nearly cut oft" that product from among the icems that make up the
commerce of our port, a few only being shipped to the lumber region. Some
think, however, that the rot has nearly had its run.*

Sweet Potatoe. — Small patches of this delicious vegetable are grown by some
of our farmer.*!, who have occasionally produced a tolerably good article, and in-
tend hereafter to experiment moi-e largely upon their culture. A light, sandy,
vfarm, dry soil, is best adapted to the growth of the sweet potatoe.

Flax. — Next after cotton and wool, flax is the most important material that
has yet been discovered for clothing the civilized portion of the human fan}ily.
And the inducements to its culture are greatly increased, from the fact that it
may be made virtually to yield two crops a year — one from its fibre, and the
the other from the seed. It is calculated that a good crop will give 350lbs. of
flax hnt to the acre; of which about one-third, say 120lbs., will be flax cotton,
and the other two-thirds, say 230lbs., coarse tow, suitable for bagging, or the
paper mill ; and of seed, there will be from twelve to fifteen bushels to the acre.
The product of one acre cultivated in flax may therefoie be stated thus:

Flax cotton, 120 lbs , at 7 cents per lb 8.40

Flax lint, or tow, 230 lbs. at 3 cents G.90

Lin-seed, 15 bushels, at 85 cents 12.75

Annual product per acre 28.05

* PoT.\TOE Rot.- — Mr. Flauders, of Lowell, Mu.ss., says, the sprinkling of slacked lime
on the potatoe vines, is a remedy for this disease, alleging that it "kills the insect that
causes the rot;" and some farmers in Maine and New Hampshire, who have tested this
remedy, endorse it as etficacious. It is easily and cheaply tried. Mr. Charles Morren, a
Professor in the University of Liege, (on the borders of Belgium,) attributes this potatoe
disease to a fimgus, extremely thin and pi'olilic. He says this botrydis poUulates or repro-
duces in an incredible manner ; and describes the reproductive bodies as in the form of an
egg, not exceeding in diameter the 382-700ths of an incli. But he prescribes no remedy.

108

This is. certainly, a very fair remuneration for the labor and cost of tillage.
Even when cultivated for the seed alone, flax is a profitable crop, yielding,
in that event about twenty bushels per acre; which at eighty-five cents, is
seventeen dollars cash, since there is always a ready and cash demand for the
article, and the price very seldom fluctuates. Active inquiries in regard to the
flax culture, are being made in all parts of the State; and the farmers of Racine
County are preparing to go more largely into that crop the coming season than
heretofore.*

Hops. — Grow spontaneously as a wild creeper, in niost parts of northern
Europe and the United States. Their culture is made profitable in England
and Germany, and in the older settled portions of our country. The soil and
climate of Racine county are well adapted to their culture, and I understand
some of our farmers mean to try the experiment of hop-raising. Experiments
in other counties have been eminently successful. I learn that a farmer in Keno-
sha county, last season, realized $60, nett profit, per acre, from the culture of
hops. And it appears from the Watertown Register, that a gentleman in
Waukesha county, sold hops to the amount of $1200 last season, which were
the product of six acres. And another farmer, in Jefferson county, sold $1000
worth of hops from four acres ! These cases are undoubtedly the result of extra-
ordinarily good management, good seasons, good markets, and good luck I But
they show what can be done by enterprizing farmers.

Vegetables. — No where (out of California) do onions, beets, parsnips, car-
rots, pumpkins, turnips, and every variety of garden vegetables, grow more
luxuriantly or yield better than in this count}^, or in Wisconsin generally. Vast
quantities are consumed in families, and some — especially onions — are shipped
to regions less favored.

Tobacco — which is indigenous to the American continent — has attracted the
attention of some of our agriculturists as a marketable product. Small patches
have already been cultivated for family use; and as a considerable portion of
our people indulge in the luxury (or vice, according to the fancy of the reader)
of the pipe, several of our farmers design trying the crop for the supply of that
demand.

The Cranberry is a native of both Europe and America. It grows sponta-
neously and abundantly in some parts of Racine county. On and near Wind

* Flax. — Chevalier Claussen (a German, I believe,) has invented a process and a ma-
chine for converting the green flax, immediately on being pulled from the field, into flax
cotton ready for spinning, without being previously "rotted," <fec. as hitherto practised.
He has obtained a patent from our government, and sold rights for using the invention in
most of the New England States, as well as in New York, Illinois, <irc. It has been tested
in presence of some of the most intelligent of the artizans and men of science at the East;
and it would seem to be their opinion, tliat it performs nil that is claimed for it.

109

Lake, iQ the town of Nonvay, lam told, more than 150 bushels have been
picked by hand the past season — a boy being able to gather with his hands two
bushels a day, for which he receives twenty-five cents a bushel, as his share in
the crop. Cultivated cranberries are gathered by means of iron wire rakes, with
which a man can get forty bushels a day. These Wind Lake Cranberries are
decidedly the finest that were ever brought to this market. They sold in Ro-
chester, not far from where they grew, at $1 50 per bushel, and in Racine, 23
miles distant, at $2. On wet land, they can be propagated by being sown
broad-cast; and on a di'ier soil, they may be cultivated from the plants, in drills
sixteen to twenty inches apart. They should be well weeded the first year,
but will need less attention the second; and on the third, they usually spi'ead
over the ground so as to protect themselves — bearing you a crop of fruit to
reward vou for vour time and trouble. 150 bushels to the acre, would be a
moderate yield for cultivated cranberries; and the expense of cultivation, in the
long run, would be less than for almost any other crop. I am among those who
esteem the cranberry, for sauce, jellies and tarts, one of the very best fruits we
have. The}' can be saved, perfect and fresh, for as long a period as the apple;
and are more easily prepared for the table, on an emergency.

Grass and Hay. — Dr. Hoy remarks, that the " last two seasons have abun-
dantly proved that the prairies [of this region] produce timothy, clover, and red-
top, as well as the best timbered districts for grazing," and, I may add, for grass
lands generally. Being now assured of this fact, our farmere are very generally
turning their attention to the rearing of stock, and to the curing of hay from
cultivated grasses, for expoi'tation as well as for home consumption. Until
recently, abundance of upland prairie hay, some of it nearly equal to timothy,
could 15e readily and cheaply made by every one who might need it; hence the
cultivation of the tame grasses was neglected. But since a large proportion of
the country has now become occupied, and very much of it already passed
under the plough, the necessity of cultivating grasses has become imperative,
and large fields are yearly being ceded to timothy and clover, principally the
former; m wet ground, however, red-top is found to thrive best. Hay is
becomincr an article of commerce with us. Some of our farmers, near this city,
pressed, baled, and shipped abroad, 250 tons during the past season.

Grass Seed. — Many are devoting a good deal of care to the cultivation of
grass seed. Some 5,000 bushels was saved the past season in this county;
and 340 bushels was the amount of our exports of that article for 1851. From
160 acres ceded to timothy in the townof Yorkville, in this county, the entire
crop of grass was cut and thrashed ; the yield of seed was over \\ bushels to the
acre — giving an aggregate of 720 bushels. The hay, however, is much damaged
in the process of thrashing out the seed, but was worth at least %\ per ton ;

200

while |2 per bushel for the seed is the lowest price in the home market. The
product from this 160 acres, then, may be thus stated:

160 tons of thrashed Hay, at $1 per ton $160

720 bushels of Seed, at $2 per bushel 1,440

Showing an aggregate product of. 1,600

Every item of expenditure could not have exceeded 500

Exhibiting a net cash profit of 1,100

It would be a fair estimate of the value of these 160 acres, fenced, ceded to
timothy, and with suitable out-buildings, &c., to place it at $20 per acre; say,
for capital invested, |3,200; showing a clear profit of more than 34 per cent.
It will thus be seen, that this branch of farming can be made gainful if judi-
ciously managed.

Fruit. — I have the testimony of Pr. Hoy, who is theoretically and practically
a horticulturist of many years' experience, that "apples, pears, cherries, and
plums do well" in this county, " so far as the young trees have come into bear-
ing." But he remarks, further, that " peaches, nectarines and apricots, will never
be a sure crop" in Wisconsin, because the cold of the winter kills the ' blossom
buds' of these kinds of fruit. Another intelligent gentleman suggests, however,
that it is the \ou<i continued warmth of our autumns that does the mischief to
the peach crop. The genial temperature of the " Indian Summer" of Wisconsin,
swells the blossom buds of the peach late in the "fall," thus rendering the germ
of the fruit extremely liable to be killed during the winter.

" The Clinton and Elsenburg Grapes," continues Dr. Hoy, " are perfectly
hardy, and never fail producing a large crop. The Isabella does well in most
localities, the fruit generally ripening.

At the late Racine Agricultural Fair, diplomas were awarded for the best
samples of apples, peaches, pears, quinces, and grapes; and it is said that this dis-
play of Racine county fruits, excelled that exhibited at the State Agricultural
Fair at Janesville.

In the year 1846, Mr. Seth H. Kellogg, then of this county, sold about |60
worth of peaches, the production of his own orchard. And I have eaten as fine
peaches raised by the Rev. Mr. Hall of Geneva, Walworth County, as I ever
did in the peach regions further south. Walter Cooley, Esq., has also produced
most delicious peaches on his farm near this city, as have many others of our
citizens in different parts of the county. Yet, as Dr. Hoy remarks, the peach is
not a sure fruit with us. Our region, however, aj)pears to be quite congenial to
the apple. A good many barrels of native Wisconsin apples, have been sold in
the Racine market the past season, which were superior to those brought from

201

New York and Ohio; from whence, however, thousands of barrels are yet
annually imported into this part of Wisconsin.

Stock- Raising. — Experience shows that Racine County is well adapted to
the rearing of neat cattle — of cows for the dairy, beeves for the shambles, and
steers for draft oxen. The number of cattle driven into this State from Illinois
and Indiana, is decreasing yearly; and our farmers are now more saving of
their calves for stock, which they are manifesting much anxiety to improve by
choice breeds. It appears from the census of 1850, that the value of every
kind of live-stock w^as then stated at $250,000 in the county, and may now be
safely put down at $300,000.

Beef and Pork. — Several of our enterprizing citizens are vigorously pursuing
the business of packing beef, pork, <fec. ; some 4,000 barrels were shipped abroad
from this port during the past season, of an aggregate value of $35,000. The
number of slaughtered hogs brought to Racine during this season has been large ;
and much pork fattened in our county has found a market elsewhere. Pork now
sells readily at from $3 50 to $4 50 per cwt.; whereas some few years ago it
brought only |2 to $2 50.

Horses. — Of these noble and indispensible animals, there are about 3,000 in
Racine County, of an average value, say, of $150,000. [In Ohio it appears that
the whole number of horses is 517,396, and the average value per head $39. Whole
number of mules 105,968, and the average value $47 a head.] There is a diver-
sity of opinion among our farmers as to the relative utility of liorses and oxen
as working animals on a farm, although very many use both. There are proba-
bly not to exceed 2,000 working oxen in the county; the horses therefore
predominate as to numbers. Yet, when it is considered, that no inconsiderable
portion of these 3,000 horses are used for other than farming purposes, and that
the 2,000 oxen are all literally beasts of burden to the farmer, we may set down
the number of each description of animals that are directly employed in agricul-
tural operations as nearly equal. It may be assumed, then, that at least two-
thirds of all the horseflesh in Racine county is in the shape of farm horses. This
of itself exhibits, in a strong point of \\ew, the utilitarian characteristic of our
people. In England, where the privileged classes, such as the " gentry," the
" nobility," &c., are numerous, out of 2,000,000 of horses in the kingdom, only
one-twentieth, say 100,000, are used for agricultural purposes! A large propor-
tion of the balance, are what may be called " pleasure horses" — mere accessaries
to the luxurious propensities of man I Many of our farmers are now devoting
much of their attention to the rearing of colts; and the show of horses at our
agricultural exhibition was respectable.

Wool and Sheep. — It is believed that wool is to become one of the most
important maiketable products of this part of the State. There are at this time,

202

however, less than 10,000 sheep iu Racine county, and the product of wool will
not much exceed 25,000 lbs. for the past season. Of this quantity of wool, the
three woollen factories in the county, (two at Burlington and one at Waterford)
together with the family spinning wheels and looms, and the fire-side knitters,
use np a good deal. A large proportion of the wool produced in the counties
immediately west of us, sought and found a market at Racine, as is evidenced by
the heavy shipments of that article from this Port in 1851, the exports of that
year being 1 06,471 lbs. Prices paid for wool the past season have justified a
renewed attention to sheep; and our farmers are now selecting the best breeds
•with which to replenish their flocks. A determination to go more largely into
the wool business than heretofore, is prevading our county. It has been demon-
strated, that, with judicious management, sheep rearing can be made a profitable
branch of farming in this county. Mr. Benjamin Stock, of the town of York-
ville, purchased 565 choice sheep in 1850, for which he paid $847 50, or rather
gave his note for that amount payable in one year at 12 per cent. From the
product of wool from his flock, and from the sale of fat wethers and lambs, he
was enabled, at the end of the year, not only to pay the principal and interest of
the purchase money, but to retain the full number of sheep with which he
began ; the increase of lambs having been equal to the deaths by casualty, fat-
lings sold, &c.

Again : Another farmer of that town, took 100 on terms similar to those just
named ; and from the fleeces of his flock, and the fatlings he sold from it, he
realized sufficient to pay principal and interest of the pui'chase money, with about
$5 cash as a surplus, and his full complement of 100 sheep remaining, and
paid for, at the expiration of the year. These operations are the result, doubtless,
of good farming; but they are conclusive as to the gainfulness of this branch of
agriculture, where good management is favored by moderate]}' good luck, good
markets, &c.

Manufactures. — Independently of the considerable amount of wool worked
up in families, there are three woollen factories in the county — two at Burlington,
owned respectively by Messrs. James Catton and Pliny M. Perkins; and one at
Waterford, owned by Mr. Dean, which consume a good deal of wool in the ma-
nufacture of cassimeres, flannels, sheep's gray cloths, and divers other fabrics.

An oil mill is in operation at Burlington, owned by Mr. Perkins. His pur-
chases of seed for the year amounted to 600 bushels of flax seed, at 84 cents per
bushel, and 200 bushels of rape seed, at 75 cents. From this 800 bushels of
seed, it seems he manufactured 1,300 gallons of oil, worth $1 per gallon. This
certainly exhibits a remunerating business.

Of flouring mills, there are seven or eight principal ones in the county, which
involve a capital of something like $100,000, and work up, say, 300,000 bushels

203

of the different varieties of grain. Of flour, 22,977 barrels were shipped from
this Port in 1851, and a like quantity consumed.

Furnaces and Foundries. — The three air furnaces and foundries in operation
at Racine, employ a capital of |25,000. From these manufactories the country
interior is supplied with hollow ware and stoves, a great variety of castings for
mill-irons, for machinery, &c.

For the manufacture of threshing machines, fanning mills, carriages, waggons,
ploughs, &c., there are some eight or ten factories in operation at Racine, Bur-
lington, Rochester, Waterford, &c., requiring a capital invested of some thirty
to forty thousand dollars.

The total annual produce of these establishments, and of all other manufac-
turing industry in the county, cannot fall short of $350,000.

HISTORICAL.

Bordering as this region did the south-eastern extremity of Wisconsin, and
nearest in proximity with the " white settlements," it was here that the plough-
share earliest obliterated the war-paths," and effaced the moccason-prints of those
powerful bands of the nomadic race, to whom Wisconsin was whilhom one vast
" deer park." The bi-ave, the magnanimous and athletic chief, " 0-co-mah-wah-
ba-she," (or The White Swan Chief,) who was "born to white man's estate,"
with his band of Potawatomies, were the last remnant of Aboriginals who lin-
gered on the banks of the " Ah-chip-pe-cotton" — known among the French
sojourners here as the riviere de Racine, but rendered " Root River" in our xer-
nacular. Even this remnant of the " White Swan's" tribe, took their final depar-
ture hence as eariy as 1833, sullenly wending their way to the distant north-west,
in search of new hunting grounds, and of " a lodge in some vast wilderness" far
removed from the perilous proximity of the insatiate " pale faces."

American adventurers began to make "claims" in this vicinity that same year.
And I believe Hon. George H. Walker, the present worthy Mayor of Milwaukee,
built his first occupant's shanty in Wisconsin, at or near " Skunk's Grove," in this
county, in the autumn of 1833. In 1834-5, several families located at the
mouth of Root River, and founded the village (now city) of Racine, adopting
the French name of the river for the village — Captain Gilbert Knapp having
been the principal pre-emptor of the village plat.

City of Racine. — Racine occupies one of the most beautiful locations for a
town on the western shores of Lake Michigan ; and as it proved to be an eligible
point for a commercial mart and Lake Port, capital and enterprize were early
attracted hither, and the place had a rapid, continuous and healthy growth, as
will be seen bv the followino- statement of six several enumerations of its in-
habitants.

204

CENSUS RETURNS OF RAOINE.

Id 1840, the population was only 337 In 1849, it was 4002

1844, 1,100 1850, 5,111

1847, 3,004 1851, 5,897

And at this date, 1852, our i^opulation will doubtless exceed G,000.

Racine Harbor. — The population of Racine is composed mainly of matter-of-
fact people, the business portion of whom are markedly utilitarian in their views,
and practical and discreet in their operations. And although in their expendi-
tures for public works, and in aid of all laudable euterprizes, they have displayed
a munificence unsurpassed in any countiy so newly peopled, yet in the bestow-
ment of their liberality they have usually discriminated in favor of objects of
known utility. Princi]3ally by their own energy and enterprize, and by heavy
expenditures from their private means, a harbor has been constructed here that
can accommodate all the shipping that navigates this Lake,

The people themselves projected and commenced this important work; and, up
to the present time, they have expended

In its construction $43,352 42

Add this amount, appropriated by Congress 12,500 00

And the total cost of the Harbor at this date will be $55,852 42

It is believed to be without a parallel in the history of the improvement of the
Lake region of the West, that a single community, of limited population, should
have projected and successfully prosecuted, mainly by their own efl;brts — by per-
sonal services, individual contributions, and self-imposed taxes — a public work of
the nature and masnitude of the Harbor at Racine.

As A Harbour of Refuge. — For the retreat and shelter of Vessels navigat-
ing Lake Michigan in stormy weather, or in the winter months during the close
of navigation, Racine possesses the advantage of ample capacity in her inner
harbor, with an abundant depth of watei- in the River immediately above. A
merchant fleet of a hundred sail of Lake craft, could lie in perfect security here,
with their anchorage protected from stoi'ins by the adjacent blutis. — 1,GG0 vessels
visited this Port during the last season of navigation; and 24 sail of vessels
found a "snuor harbor" here during the winter.

Ship-Building at Racine. — The Port of Racine consequently offers superior
advantages for the building, equipment, and repairing of all classes of Lake
vessels. Ship timber abounds in the immediate vicinity, and ship knees are even
exported hence to New York at a profit. There are two Ship-Yards in active
operation here, owned respectively by Messrs. Justice Bailey and Daniel P. Put-
nev, each of whom has erected a Rail-wav at his Yard, on which to haul out
vessels for repairs, itr. — 3 schooners were built at these Yards during the last

205

season; 1 schooner is now on the stocks, nearly completed; and 26 vessels of all
classes, have been repaired here during the year.

SHIPPING, OWNED WHOLLY, OR IN PART, AT RACINE :

Propeller James Wood., owned by W. T. Richmond Tonuage 300. .Value $12,000

Brig Mohegan Norton aodDuraud 255 8,000

Brig Sam Strong Norton and Durand 245 7,500

Brig Cherokee Durand and Hill 204 7,500

Brig Iroquois W. T. Richmond 310 7,500

Brig Olive Richmond W. T. Richmond 250 5,000

Brig Ontonagon Isaac Taylor 230 6,000

Brig Anne Winslow F. A. McHenry 200 3,000

Brig Ontario N. Pendleton and Co 160 2,500

Schooner Mount Vernon W. T. Richmond 240 7,500

Schooner Whir