DIGEST OF STATE PtEPORT.^S. 505 



WISCONSIN. 



The irpurl; of Ihe Wiscouwin ytalc Agricultural t^ucicly lor liie year 

 Ibll \vdti been i)rei)ared by aud published imder tlic super visiou of Dr. 

 J. ^V. Hoyt, its secretary/ The report is one of unusual interest, and in 

 addition to tlie business transactions of the society, contains a list of 

 the names of those to whom premiums were awarded at the eighteenth 

 annual fair of the Association, held in the city of Milwaukee during the 

 latter part of September, 1871, a synopsis of the addresses delivered on 

 the opening of the fair, together with a number of prize and other essays 

 on the following-named subjects : " Management and rotation of crops 

 of a farm for mixed husbandry ;-' " Market gardening ;" '• Practical 

 management of sandy laud ;'' " Dairy farming ;'' " On the cultivation of 

 the cranberry •/' "rianting and management of a vineyard, adapted to 

 Wisconsin 5"" "The cultivation of small fruits ;" "Practical farm manage- 

 ment;" " Insects injurious to agriculture;" "Failure in wheat culture ;" 

 "Cultivation of Indian corn ;" "Hemp culture in Wisconsin ;" "The rela- 

 tions of labor and capital;" "Poultry-raising — different varieties;" 

 " Planting and management of an orchard ;" " Economical use of straw 

 on the farm," " Pork-raising in Wisconsin ;" " Twenty years' lessons 

 in fruit-gTowing ;" "Farm fence;" "The dairy — how to get and 

 keep a good stock of cows;" "Economy in pork-raising;" "Beet- 

 sugar making in Sauk county;" "Bee-keeping;" "Grape culture in Wis- 

 consin ;" "Experiments at the University farm ;" "Practical experience 

 in orchards;" «&c. The work closes with an elaborate report from the 

 pen of Professor John Murrish, commissioner of the survey of the lead 

 district of Wisconsin. 



Notwithstanding the weather was unfavorable during the progress of 

 the eighteenth annual fair of the association, the exhibition proved very 

 successful in every respect. The reccii^ts were largely in excess of the 

 expenditures, leading the treasury in a sound condition. 



The secretary, in his introductory report, says that the year 1871, in- 

 dustrially considered, has but little to distinguish it from the average 

 in Wisconsin, except that the late frosts of spring and the drought ot 

 summer slightl}'^ diminished the yield of certain crops. He alludes to 

 the destructive fires which occurred in some sections of the State dur- 

 ing the year, not only destroying human life, but laying waste many 

 fair aud prosperous portions of the commonwealth. The wheat-crop, 

 though of a superior quality, was under an average yield, owing to rust, 

 drought, and the ravages of insects. The oats-crop was fiiir, in some 

 cases the yield being reported at over 90 bushels per acre. Barley was 

 also successful, the yield being above, but the quality a little below, the 

 average. The corn-croi) was 8 to 10 i^er cent, above the usual yield, 

 and of superior quality. Potatoes did well, while the tobacco-crop con- 

 siderably exceeded the average, which has always been large. The cul- 

 tivation of hops, which was formerly a leading interest of the State, has 

 been greatly curtailed. The average in 1871 was probably not more 

 than three-fifths as great as in 1870. The production of flax and hemp 

 is gaining in the appreciation of the farmers of Wisconsin. The in- 

 crease of production in these staples is believed to be over 40 per cent, 

 above the preceding year. The soil and climate of the State seem to 

 be well adapted to the production of these crops, and it is believed their 

 growth may be made very profitable. The-hay crop was above an 

 average one, but the autumn pasturage suffered greatly from the 

 drought. This, together with the low prices of butter and cheese, had 

 a depressing effect upon dairying interests. Increased interest is mani- 



