34 
Agriculture in Wisconsin* 
selection I have no doubt would improve our 
breed. I have seen some very fine specimens 
of the cart horse and if properly crossed with 
our lighter mares, the result would be a very 
useful animal by giving them more size, and 
bottom. I have seen some very fine animals 
the result of a cross with the large Pennsylva¬ 
nia horse, and the common mare. I do not see 
why a cross with the English cart horse 
which is not so bulky as the Dutch horse, would 
not produce quite as desirable a breed. The 
experiment merely is worthy of a trial. It 
sems to me if our New England farmers would 
turn their attention to breeding horses they 
might produce a very hardy valuable animal. 
Let them but get the right kind, and my word 
for it, a New England horse would always 
command the highest price in the market. 
Of the improved methods of cultvation I have 
not now time to speak, but may perhaps at 
another day if I have not already occupied too 
much space in your paper. 
Sincerely yours, T. C. Piters. 
Agriculture in Wisconsin. 
We here introduce a capital letter from George 
Reed Esquire of Milwaukie Wisconsin; and al¬ 
though we cannot comply with his particular request, 
to give him a written communication, we shall send 
him our paper, which we hope will do the society, 
of which he is an efficient organ, some benefit. In 
the progress of our publication he will find his queries 
particulary answered. 
Milwaukie 14 th February 1842. 
Dear Sir.—Knowing that you feel a lively 
interest in any measure that tends to the ad¬ 
vancement of agriculture, and the promotion of 
the interests of the cultivators of the soil in this 
ivestern country, as well as in your own state; 
it gives me much pleasure to inform you that 
we have recently organized a “ Territorial 
Agricultural Society, ” the constitution and pro¬ 
ceedings of which I herewith send you. 
I view this as one of the most important steps 
that could be taken to improve the condition, 
and promote the happiness of those who are 
engaged in the various pursuits of agriculture, 
and I believe that it will be regarded by those 
who shall succeed us in this delightful occupa¬ 
tion, as one of the brightest eras in the history 
of Wisconsin. 
Why cannot this society do as much for 
Wisconsin as similar societies have done for 
New England and the Empire State? There 
agiculture as a science, and as an art, has been 
carried to great perfection; and is not their 
eminence in this respect attributable in a great 
degree to these societies ? 
To them—the East—we must look for ex¬ 
ample and guidance. We can in a short time| 
learn the results of their experience for many 
years past; and if we but profit by that expe¬ 
rience, our progress in agricultural improve¬ 
ments will be two fold more rapid than theirs 
has been. 
The object of this letter is to solicit com¬ 
munications from you upon the subject of agri¬ 
culture, with which you are known to be famil¬ 
iar in all its various branches. I believe 
however that your attention has been more 
particularly directed to the improvement of 
stock—cattle and hogs. I notice that you have 
recently retured from England, bringing with 
you some of the finest animals that could be 
selected in that country. 
You will allow me to direct your notice to 
the subject of our resolution, adopted by our 
Society, “ that essays be solicited on the various 
breeds of swine and those best adapted to the 
country, and the best mode of raising and fat¬ 
tening the same. ” This is a subject in which 
our farmers feel a deep interest, as pork is be¬ 
coming one of the staple productions of this 
country. Little has yet been done to improve 
our breeds of swine ; the Berkshire and Lecis- 
tershire have been introduced, it being the 
practice here to let our hogs run at large, the 
Hoosier seems determined to root out all 
other breeds. Three years ago, when this 
country was very sparsly populated, and wolves 
plenty, the Hoosier was the best breed that 
could be obtained; They are good fighters 
and could usually defend themselves when 
attacked by the wolves ; if however likely to 
to be overcome by a superior force, they would 
take to their long legs and being blessed with 
good speed and bottom , always got safe home ; 
now we do not seek for such qualities, as they 
are no longer indispensable. Our circumstan¬ 
ces are such that we cannot keep our hogs 
penned the year round, and bestow upon them 
that attention your farmers do ; but we let them 
run out till late in the fall to grow on shucks 
until we find it convenient to shut them up for 
fattening. 
From your knowledge of the different breeds 
of hogs and from what I have said of the treat¬ 
ment we bestow upon them, what breed would 
you recommend as the best to be introduced 
here ? Have you any on hand, and what would 
be the cost per pair ?* 
You brought out with you some fine sheep, 
how do you think the breed would do upon our 
*The Berkshires, by all means. They are all 
in all, the best hog with which we are acquainted 
for general use. Crossed on to the wild Wisconsin 
brute, they will make quite a tolerable animal. But 
it would be still better to breed them in their purity. 
The price is from twenty to forty dollars a pair 
according to age and quality. 
