TRANSACTIONS. 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
To His Excellency, C. C. Washburn, 
Governor of the State of Wisconsin: 
Sir : In presenting my first report of the transactions of the 
Wisconsin State Agricultural Society, embracing its work from 
January 1st, 1872, to April 1st, 1878, being volume XI. of the 
society, it is a source of pride and gratification to state that agri¬ 
culture has never been in a more flourishing and healthy condi¬ 
tion. This fact is not more, if as much, to be attributed to the in¬ 
creased crops, better prices, or more direct paying results of the 
labor of the farmer in any of his varied departments of effort, 
as to the deep and vital interest manifested in his profession. The 
farmers all over the state are asking what they shall do to reno¬ 
vate and increase the fertility of their soils, to increase the quan¬ 
tity and quality of their crops; how they may raise more and 
better stock; how they can better their market facilities, and 
generally improve their social, intellectual and financial condition. 
This looks promising. It shows that the quickening spirit of the 
age which most other callings and pursuits caught years ago, has 
at last stirred up the great agricultural world to a realizing sense 
of its duty, and to the influence and power which it ought to ex¬ 
ert in the grand struggle which is now going on in all depart¬ 
ments of human activity, each battling manfully to obtain the 
largest remunerative returns for the mental and physical labor 
expended. This society has been somewhat instrumental in stim¬ 
ulating this inquiry and investigation among the people, by its 
