210 



There is one mill in the county for the manufacture of hnseed oil, capable of 

 making 9,000 gallons of oil per year; but from want of flaxseed, the amount 

 manufsictured is limited. P. M. Perkins, Esq., of Burlington, the owner of this 

 mill, one of our best practical farmers and manufacturers, in a letter to the writer, 

 says — " The raising of flax is soon to be one of our great staples. It has been 

 one of our best crops when raised merely for seed ; but hereafter there will be a 

 market for both seed and lint. If the flax-cotton comes in and takes the place of 

 cotton, it must make a great business for the northern States. I think there is 

 none that can raise it to greater perfection than Wisconsin." If this extract is 

 incongruous with the general tenor of this article, T am sure it is not so with the 

 general objects of your Society. 



I submit the foregoing as the best compliance I can make with your request, 

 with the permission to make such use of it as you please; rejecting any part or 

 all — using it in any shape that best accords with your plan. 



In closing, allow me to express a hope and trust, that the State Society 



will continue to prosper. The reduced profits of farming for the few past years, 



have had a tendency to discourage and dishearten all interests in the State. 



Something is needed to inspirit the farmer to try on — to excite his ambition, and 



to fix his attachment to his calling still, and to Wisconsin still, and to animate 



all other interests to exertion and advancement. I have conceived that the action 



of our Agricultural Societies have this tendenc)', and all honor, I say, to their 



promoters. 



Most respectfully yours, &c, 



RICHARD E. ELA. 

 To Albert C. Ingham, Esq, 



Sec. of the Wis. State Ayr. Society, 



AGRICULTURE OJb' KOCK COUNTY. 



Janesville, December 26th, 1851, 

 Dear Sir — Your latter came to hand in due time, but press of business has 

 prevented my attentioB from being turned to it until the present moment. 

 Nothing would afford mc more pleasure than to be able to give satisfactory 

 answers to your inteiTogatories. Knowing my inability to do justice to the under- 

 taking, I should have declined it altogether; but from the fact of its being so 

 late, I was fearful you would not find any one else who would be willing to perform 

 the duty on such short notice. So hoping you will take the will for the deed, in 

 a measure at least, I submit this heterogeneous mass to you with all its faults. 



