STATE REPORTS OF AGRICULTURE. 503 
of manure heaps. The oat crop was estimated to be 25 per cent. larger 
than that of the previous year, with an average yield of 36.2 bushels — 
per acre; the Excelsior and several other new varieties were favorably 
reported on by all who tried them. The question of sugar-beet culture 
is amply discussed, and, as this root succeeds well in Wisconsin, it is 
thought the business deserves attention, if it proves remunerative in 
any part of the Union. 
The culture of rape was introduced at Fond du Lac a dozen years ago 
by General Hamilton for the extraction of the oil. He has raised 3,000 
bushelsin some years. At first it was manufactured into a crude oil; but 
he has invented a process by which an excellent refined oil is prepared, 
equal to any in the market, and arrangements have been made for an annual 
crop of 25,000 bushels of this seed. It has many advantages as a farm 
crop, is of easy culture, and the time of seeding—June 10 to June 25— 
is convenient. The expense for seed is trifling, say two quarts per acre, 
at a cost of 15 to 20 celits. In case a crop of grain gives indications of 
failure, it can be turned under in season for raising a crop of rape in its 
place, which is subject to no disease or insect enemy. Its broad leaves 
shade the soil and stifle any weeds that may spring up after it gets fully 
established, and it prepares the soil admirably for winter wheat; it re- 
quires no labor during its growth, and may be cut with a, cradle-scythe 
or mower, and harvested at a most convenient time, in the first half of 
September, after the summer harvests are out of the way, and before the 
corn and potato harvest begins. It has proved a profitable crop hitherto; 
the price ranging from $2 to $2 75 per bushel. One bushel yields about 
two gallons of oil, superior to the best lard or sperm as an illuminating 
oil, besides being a good lubricator, and enduring an intense degree of 
cold before solidifying. The only conditions unfavorable to the entire 
success of rape as a general farm crop are, that it will not succeed on foul 
land, where it would be choked out by weeds in its early growth, and 
that it must be harvested just as the pods are turning from green to 
yellow or much of the seed will be lost. The mills at Fond du Lac are 
of sufficient capacity to work up 100,000 bushels of the seed, and the 
culture of rape must rapidly extend as its advantages become known. 
The dairy business of the State has had a large development the past 
year; about fifty cheese factories have been established already, and the 
number is constantly increasing. Sufficient attention has not been paid 
to the breeds of cattle. But few Ayrshires are found in the State, 
although considered the best milkers. 
_ The mining interests have received increased attention, and experi- 
ments show that the peculiar iron ore of Dodge County is in much greater 
quantity than heretofore supposed, and, when used with the softer iron 
of Lake Superior and Missouri, its remarkable hardness proves of great 
pei both for working into steel and for making rails. It is stated 
that— 
In 1868 some cheap English rails were laid on the St. Paul track, and in three months 
some of them were in the mill to be rerolled, while rails from the Milwaukee mill, 
{made from a combination of these two kinds of iron,] after one and a half year’s 
wear in the same place, are now as pertect, to all appearance, as on the day when they 
were first put down. ‘This is the difference between good and poor iron rails. 
The County agricultural societies have had a prosperous year, These 
local organizations are doing much geod by stimulating general in- 
dustry, correcting stereotyped errors of practice, diffusing knowledge, 
and elevating the profession. The State society has had the most pros- 
perous year since its organization, and its last exhibition was the largest 
and most complete in all its departments ; number of entries, 3,524; re- 
ceipts, $12,711 31; expenses, $12,032 .54. i 
