12 



dime. Tlie liardy pioneer, in search of a home for himself and for his 

 family, sees in Wisconsin, spread out before liim by the bountiful hand 

 of Providence, a virgin soil, rich in all agricultural resources — yielding 

 plenteous returns with but little expenditure of toil and labor, and re- 

 quiring no great exertion or care. Habits of neglect and inattention are 

 thus formed — and not because the husbandman is wanting in energy, 

 ekill, and enterprise, for by no people are these qualities possessed in a 

 greater degree than by our own. 



To arouse the farmer from this condition, — to awaken in him a spirit 

 of agTicultural inquiry, — and to disseminate, as far as possible, practical 

 iand useful information upon kindred subjects, have been the special ob- 

 jects had in view, during the past year, by the Executive Committee. 



In the beginning of the year, much embarrassment was experienced 

 by the Executive Committee from the want of suitable and commodious 

 rooms for the meetings of the Society and of the Committee, and for the 

 proper arrangement of the books and agricultural papers, the grains, 

 seeds, wools, and implements which the Society had already commenced 

 collecting, and which, Avere proper facilities afforded for preservation and 

 arrangement, would, without doubt, soon be largely increased. Acting, as 

 the Society does, gratuitously, laboring for the advancement of the 

 greatest of our industrial interests, and with the whole State as a field for 

 its labors, it w^as thought that the public authorities would, without hes- 

 itation, grant the use of such accommodations as might be necessary. 

 With this view, application was made to His Excellency the Governor, 

 who promptly placed at the disposal of the Society the rooms which it is 

 now occupying in the Capitol. These have been fitted up in a manner 

 suitable to the wants of the Society, and the care and management of 

 them assigned to the Corresponding Secretary. 



The Library and Museum of the Society have received from the Com- 

 mittee su.ch attention as the circumstances of the Society would allow, 

 and which, though entirely inadequate, has yet furnished a foundation 

 upon which a noble superstructure may, in a few years, be reared. 



The correspondence of the Society, which, even during the first j^ear 

 of its labors, had become quite extended and valuable, has, during the 

 past year, under the management of the proper officer, been largely 

 increased. Many new and valuable correspondents have been added to 

 the Society's lists, and the results cannot but prove of value. In com- 



