561968 
Table of Contents. 
3 
VIL—STATE AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION—Continued. 
Page. 
Peat —A cheap fuel in the near future. By IF. II. Newton. 75, 89 
Fuel, like food, is a prominent element in the economy of human 
life..... 75 
One-third of the population of Wisconsn now using coal for fuel.. 75 
Effect of cutting away our forests. 76 
Forests and their products indispensable. 76 
Peat of the state to be utilized. 77 
Great pecuniary gain to the state. 78 
Analysis of samples of foreign peat. 80 
Relative value of wood and peat. 80 
Calorific power of certain combustibles.;. 80 
Smelting value of different fuels. 81 
Comparative value of Wisconsin and other peats. 82, 83 
Extract from Professor Chamberlain’s geological report. 84 
Many million tons of peat in the bogs about Madison. 85 
One hundred and fifty tons in the state—Process of manufacture... 85-88 
Peat a cheap substitute for wood-fuel—Discussion.88-92 
Protection from Lightning. By Professor John IF. Sterling. .92-106 
The importance to farmers and others of understanding the laws 
of electrical action. 93 
A moderate degree of study only necessary..-_94,95 
Statical electricity—Distribution of electricity. 95-97 
Induction—Dynamical electricity.97-100 
Electricity of the clouds—Lightning-rods.101-103 
Practical directions relative to putting up rods—Discussion.103-113 
Objects and Methods of Cultivation. By Professor W. IF. Dan- 
iells ..,.113-121 
The soil is the great store-house of the mineral constituents of 
plant-food. 113 
A soil is rock disintegrated. 114 
Plowing, harrowing, and cultivating the means which shall bring 
the rich harvest. 114 
Fine culture, lightness and porosity of soil essential. 115 
Absorptive power of soils. 116 
Moisture essential—mode of obtaining it. 117 
Fertilizers carried into the soil by rain—Benefits of manure.... .118,119 
Better and wiser culture demanded—Discussion.120-130 
Some of the Lessons of the past Season. By J. IF. Wood ... 130-143 
The importance of adapting better and surer methods of culture.. 130 
Low prices nothing when compared with the emptiness of our bins 130, 131 
Clover, &c., are sure and simple methods of restoring exhausted 
soils—Timothy exhausts, while clover improves soils.131, 132 
Experience of seventy-five years with clover fertilization. 132 
Lime—its action upon organic matter—Chinch-bugs.133,134 
Winter-wheat—Earlv varieties of spring-wheat. 135 
Rotation of crops—General co-operation.136-140 
Experiments with seed-corn and other grains. 141 
Cost of production has no effect upon prices—supply, demand, and 
transportation govern.141,142 
The most hopeful sign of the times is the wide-spread discontent 
which prevails—Discussion.*.142-148 
Economy in Farming, By John Bascom , LL. D .148-159 
The prosperity of the nation and of Christian society, must depend 
very much upon the farmers. 148 
They are the peers of everybody and above nobody. 148 
Our land—the paradise of the farmer. 149 
Saving and wise expenditure—two essential branches of economy 150 
Tools—Farm-buildings—Handling of cattle and lands.150-154 
Contrast of the average farmer and the average drayman. 154 
Nature takes the laboring-oar in the West...154 
Failure in method a great waste—An example. 155 
