210 "Wisconsin State Hokticultueal Society. 



altogether, and the traveling expenses of the professor or lecturer 

 would be the main expense; and I think the board of regents 

 •would be perfectly willing to co-operate with the State Agricultu- 

 ral Society, or the State Horticultural Society, or the State Dairy- 

 men's Association. It is being done in Michigan and in Pennsyl- 

 vania, and, unless some such steps are taken, a very few years will 

 find the majority of our farming population behind those of other 

 states in intelligence, which would be mortifying and unnecessary. 

 We have ample means and opportunities to become as intelligent 

 an agricultural class as any people in the Union, and by merely 

 putting in motion the means at our command, we may inaugurate a 

 system that will lead to very beneficial results in all the different 

 branches of agriculture. 



Mr. Field — I must say that I am very glad indeed to see such a 

 resolution presented to this convention. It certainly meets my 

 views most cordially. 1 think, however, it might be so amended as 

 to include the Agricultural and Horticultural Society within its 

 scope, that the board of regents might confer with them, and that 

 it should be taken as a united work. It is possible, however, that it 

 is well enough as it is. I fully agree with Mr. Smith that a little 

 work and money devoted to this purpose may be made vastly bene- 

 ficial to the agricultural interests of this state; and so far as the 

 expense is concerned it need be but trifling. Notice could be 

 given in advance through the representative agricultural papers of 

 the different places where these meetings would be held, so that 

 due notice could be given the masses of the people with very little 

 expense; perhaps a few circulars distributed, thrown into their 

 wagons, stating that there would be a meeting at a certain place at 

 a certain time, and that certain topics would be discussed; the ex- 

 pense would be trifling aside from those of traveling, and I have 

 no doubt that if this board and the societies should desire that free 

 transportation should be furnished them, that it would be furnished 

 by all our leading lines of railroads to any reasonable number of 

 parties who desired to attend those conventions, or at greatly re- 

 duced fare, at least. In order that that matter may be talked over, 

 I move that the resolution be referred to a committee of three, of 

 which the mover, of course, shall be chairman, to make a report to 

 be submitted to this meeting this afternoon. 



Motion carried. 



