Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 
VII.—STATE AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION—Continued. 
Page. 
Economy in Farming—C ontinued. 
Sacks of gold in a manure-heap.155 
A clod-hopper can abuse the world, but a wise man only can woo it 156 
Higher education and social economy—University influence.156, 157 
Few callings that promise so much as intelligent farming..158, 159 
Discussion.159, 160 
The need of Organization among Producers, By lion. M. K. 
Young .....'. 160-174 
Material wealth of the nation lies with producers. 161 
Physical and organic laws to be studied. 162 
Breeding—Experiences of past and present to be secured by organ¬ 
ization .162,163 
Division of farm-production. 164 
Producers of other values organize; hence, farmers should.164, 165 
Command that capital exercises over labor.165-168 
Producers must make themselves felt in public affairs.167,168 
A word to the officials—Trust of power—Specie payment.169-171 
“You have doubled my fortune, but you have ruined your country.” 171 
A legal basis for money basis enough—How shall we organize. 172, 173 
The ballot should be made compulsory—Discussion.174-181 
Comparative Advantages and Disadvantages of Machinery 
in Agriculture. By E. II. Benton . 181-189 
Advantage of machinery—greater amount of work accomplished 
in a given time—illustrations.181, 182 
Work more effectively done—i'iftv per cent, saved in time.182, 183 
More dignity in mixing brain and muscle than in the mere use of 
brawn—Contrast between machine and hand labor.184, 185 
“Knack,” or “gumption,” necessary to operate machinery. 186 
Disadvantages of machinery—Machinery must be run by brains. 186,187 
Increase of power involves increase of skill. 187 
Farmers must be educated in the principles of mechanics. 187 
Patent laws and their workings. 188 
The purchase of so much machinery—a doubtful investment. 189 
Discussion. 189-196 
Discussion of Prof. Darnell’s paper continued. 196-200 
Gypsum, or Land-plaster, and how to use it. By N. E. Allen. 201-207 
Experiences and observations in its use. 201 
Plaster fixes the ammonia in the soil, and aids in the decomposi¬ 
tion of vegetable substances. 202 
Will double a crop on new soil—Will do no good on wet soil. 202 
A simple nffe by which to dcteimine the Lcneflts cf plastei. 203 
I) iscussion.203-207 
Agriculture—Glimpse at its Past, Present, and Future. By 
J. M. Smith . . 208-219 
Great wants of any people—food and clothing. 108 
Glance at agriculture of the more favored of ancient nations. 209 
Egypt the then granary of the world. 210 
Labor performed by slaves. 211 
Agricultural condition of Europe at that time was wretched. 212 
Wages of laborers fixed by law and ranged fiom four to six shil¬ 
lings per week—Agricultural societies.213, 214 
Agricultural papers an American institution.214, 215 
Comparison of the past with the present of agriculture.215, 216 
The firmer of to-day bows in reverence to none except his God.. 216 
The west and northwest the only territory of any size in the world 
■where the masses of the people can afford to have wheat-bread, 
butter, and meat as the main articles of daily food. 216 
Noble men leading the way in stock-improving. 217 
Experiments of J. B. Lawes, of England.217, 218 
t 
