23 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
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ance, believing it to be of less value per acre than either wheat, corn, 
or oats. Some farmers deem this grain when ground, excellent 
for fattening cattle and hogs, and upon certain soils, and from the 
fact that it ripens earlier than many other cereals, giving more 
time to harvest a large crop, it may be made profitable. 
EYE. 
v The acreage of this crop was less than the previous year, and 
the average yield somewhat reduced, but the quality was good. 
This is a sure crop upon any of the soils of the state ; is excellent 
food for man and beast, and for late autumn and early spring feed 
for stock, is of great value. As it can be sowed at a time of com¬ 
parative leisure to the farmer, harvested in advance of his spring 
sown crops, and^ converted to so many valuable uses as food, its 
cultivation is to be encouraged. 
BUCKWHEAT. 
The product was a good average, and of the best quality. 
While other crops upon most of the lands of the state may be 
grown with greater profit than this, there are some soils, particu¬ 
larly in the sandy belt, of poorer quality, where this grain thrives 
with vigor, and yields a return equal to the more valuable and 
richer soils of other portions of the state planted in other crops. 
The flour is about the price of wheat flour, and for the manufac¬ 
ture of hot breakfast cakes, has become in cold weather, an indis¬ 
pensable article in every household. Enough was raised for home 
consumption, and a small balance for export. The “ Silver Hull 
Buckwheat,” sent by the Commissioner of Agriculture to Prof. 
Daniells, and by him sown upon the experimental farm at Madi¬ 
son, is said to produce a superior article of flour, is a great yielder, 
and a little earlier than the common variety. 
POTATOES. 
This esculent was quite an average crop, and in most parts of 
the state of excellent quality. This crop has been seriously in¬ 
jured by the Colorado beetle in previous years, and, to some ex¬ 
tent the past season, but its destruction being confined to narrower 
limits than heretofore, it is to be hoped that it is disappearing 
