STATE AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL 
CONVENTION. 
HELD AT MADISON, FEBRUARY 6 TO 9, 1877. 
[Under the auepices of the State Agricultural and State Horticultural Societies.] 
Tuesday, 8 P. M. 
Convention met in the Assembly Chamber, and was called to or¬ 
der by Eli Stilson, Esq., President of the State Agricultural Soci¬ 
ety, who made brief remarks touching the importance of these an¬ 
nual conventions to the great industrial interests of the state. Said 
he believed they were of increasing interest year by year, and were 
among the great sources of information to those engaged in the 
varied branches of agriculture, horticulture and mechanical in¬ 
dustries. 
Mr. Stilson then introduced President Bascom, of the University 
of Wisconsin, who he was happy to say was not only interested in 
the literary and scientific education of our people, but in their in¬ 
dustrial culture and enlightenment as well, lending a helping hand 
to the advancement of agriculture. 
CONDITIONS OF PROGRESS IN THE AGRICULTURAL 
CLASSES. 
BY JOHN BASCOM, D. D., LL. D., 
President of the University of Wisconsin. 
Gentlemen of the Agricultural and Morticultxtral Societies of 
Wisconsin: Every man’s best defense, and really his only defense^, 
is in himself. 
“ The fault, Dear Brutus, is not in our stars, 
But in ourselves that we are underlings.” 
