200 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters, 



has the lowest rank throughout the period. After 18S9 the fall 

 in the per capita production in Group III is easilv explained 

 by the greater amount of cheese made between the years 1889 

 and 1897. The cheese product for Groups I and II can hardly 

 be said to exist before 1886, and after 1895 it again disappears 

 from Group I. 



In Lafayette county Group III shows a marked decline in the 

 per capita production of butter, but there is also a compensating 

 rise in the production of cheese. Group II shows a greater in- 

 crease in the production of butter then the same group in Grant 

 County. Group I shows the smallest per capita production of 

 butter up to 1892 when it exceeds that of Group III, but after a 

 decline for the next tliree years, the butter product surpasses in 

 amount that of the other groups. In Group I cheese appears as 

 a product only between the years 1889 and 1892, but during 

 this time it exceeds in amount the output of Group TI. 



It is clear from these facts that the cheese industry belongs to 

 Group III and that butter making is an important business in 

 all three groups, particularly in Group III. 



In conclusion the results derived from the comparison of 

 these three groups can be sunnned up in the following manner: 



The towns of Group I still retain their density of population 

 as in earlier days, yet this population is stationary or declining. 

 The rich prairie land in which this area abmiids has not brought 

 the farm value an^^vhere near that of the rest of the county. 

 The other valuations and in general all the farm products fall 

 far below those of Group ITT, and even those of Group II. 

 Group IT has been al)le to counteract the early influence of its 

 lead mines and its farm land has a highor value. The popula- 

 tion in this group is as dense as in Group I and is declining at 

 nearly the same rate. In valuation of farm lands and farm im- 

 plements, and in per capita j)roduction of wheat and corn, this 

 group slightly surpasses Group III. 



Group ITT, comjDOsed almost entirely of non-lead-producing 

 towns, and showing least density of population, has steadily in- 

 creased in numbers and is the region of greatest progress. In 

 valuations and farm products it far excels Group I and it has 

 gained upon Group II in live stock, butter, cheese and wheat. 

 It is very remarkable that Group III should show a greater per 



