258 WISCONSIN AGEICULTUEE. 



The other cereal, and also the root and vegetable crops, were 

 a good deal diminished by the same combination of causes. The 

 Society will probably offer increased premiums, hereafter, on 

 farm and field crops, with the hope of inducing improvement in 

 these important fundamental matters. We are of the opinion 

 that a proper awakening on this subject, would add millions an- 

 nually to the value of our agricultural products. 



The Society has obtained from the Patent Office, and other 

 sources, during the year, considerable quantities of rare and 

 valuable seeds, and the most ample pains have been taken to 

 distribute them into the hands of good cultivators, throughout 

 the State. Owing to the dryness of the season, as much s'lccess 

 was not attained in their cultivation, as might otherwise have 

 been ; .^ till, numbers report very favorably, especially on some 

 new varieties of turnip, and other vegetables. What has already 

 been done in this direction, shows conclusively that the distri- 

 bution of seeds will become a prominent feature of usefulness 

 with the Society. 



In view of this fact, we have considerably enlarged our basis 

 of action, in this respect, for the forthcoming year, by arranging 

 to invest several hundred dollars, in various useful seeds, cut- 

 tings, etc., for a still more extensive distribution. We are the 

 more prompted to this course from an increased consciousness of 

 the great importance of such an early and wide distribution, in 

 a new State, of all those elemental germs of the right kinds, 

 not only for field crops, but for the growth of forests upon our 

 open, timberless lands, and grasses of more approved and val- 

 uable kinds upon our wide expanse of high and low lauds. 



It is confidently believed that the judicious distribution of a 

 few hundred dollars annually, in this way, will speedily add as 

 many thousands to the aggregate and individual wealth of the 

 State. As an illustration, let us suppose our wheat crop im- 

 proved ten per cent, in quantity and value by the introduction 

 of better and more productive seed. The immediate result is 

 the addition of millions to our productive wealth. 



The Sixth Annual Fair of the Society was held on the Cold 

 Spring Kace Course, near the city of Milwaukee, on the 8th, 9th 



