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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 



