270 



in the Union, and might enable our smallest farmers to support a numerous herd 

 of cattle at a tiitling expense. 



The stock-fjrowins: interest, I think, have strong claims for encourawment and 

 patronage from the legislature; upon this body our Society may exert a power- 

 ful influence, coming, as its members do, from almost eveiy portion of the State, 

 and having among them many individuals of extensive influence, it would seem 

 they might, by suitable exertion, produce an impression that would be iri-esistable ; 

 the more so, as they would have the benefit of precedent from almost every agri- 

 cultural State in the Union, where a State Society has been organized. The 

 Agricultural Society of the State of New York, if I am not mistaken, received 

 their first impulse from the fostering hand of the State, without which, in all pro- 

 bability, they never would have reached their present enviable position. 



Our own State, although young in years, is old in agricultural resources, and 



may, with more propriety, call loudly for liberal aid from its legislature. 



Very truly yours, 



MARTIN WEBSTER. 

 To Albert C. Ingham, Esq. 



Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. Society. 



BUTTER-MAKING. 



From Allen W. Dodge, Hamilton, Mass. 



Your letter, requesting me to communicate my views on the subject of Butter- 

 making, has been duly received, and I cheerfully comply with the request, willing 

 always to do what I can to promote the interests of the farmej's, in whatever 

 part of our widely extended country they may be toiling for a livelihood. A dif- 

 ference of soil, climate, and modes of husbandry, must, of course, exist between 

 New England and Wisconsin. Wherein the diflerence consists, it is difliicult for 

 me to say ; it must be left therefore for me to give the management of the dairy 

 here, as it respects butter, (that being the article into which the product of my 

 cows is made) and for your farmers to adapt it to their wants, so far as circum- 

 stances will allow. And yet there are certain fundamental points, which are 

 essential to butter-making the world over, and which must guide to success in 

 Wisconsin as surely as in New England. 



Good cows are necessary for a good dairy. Indeel, it is labor thrown away to 

 attempt making a business of butter-making, without good cows. Some cows 

 excel for the butter-making properties of their milk, whilst others seem to be 



