STATE 
AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 
Held at Madison , January , 27 to 30, 1874. 
Wednesday, 9 A. M. 
Meeting Avas called to order by President Eli Stilson, who pro¬ 
ceeded to read his opening address, as follows: 
Farmers of Wisconsin: In my opening remarks this morning 
I will endeavor to be brief, but at the same time present for your 
consideration the importance and magnitude of the subject we are 
called together to discuss and examine. 
HOW SHALL WE IMPROVE THE AGRICULTURE OF WISCONSIN ? 
I hope the facts and experience that will be presented by those 
who shall take part in this convention will be profitable and in¬ 
structive. 
The subject of Agricultural Conventions was long discussed by 
the officers of the State Agricultural Society before it was finally 
adopted as one of the means b} r which this society could benefit all 
classes of farmers in the state. No farmer is so advanced, but what 
he can find here some new facts and experience gathered from the 
book of nature by a tiller of the soil; neither are an} r so inexper¬ 
ienced and unsuccessful, but that they can find new thoughts and 
new ideas, and gather a little vital energy and perseverance, which 
shall make them more successful in the future. The several agri¬ 
cultural conventions that have been held in this state have refuted 
the idea that farmers as a class are incapable of discussing agricul¬ 
ture with profit to themselves and the state. This uprising of the 
agricultural classes in their manhood and dignity, and their fixed 
determination to acquaint themselves with all the knowledge that 
is required by their occupation and citizenship, is one of the great¬ 
est movements of the age. 
