Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 61 
May the farmer, by the cultivation of his intellect, by the study 
of nature’s laws, by a thorough and practical application to his 
calling, and by sterling intergrity in all his business transactions, 
honestly win the title of “nature’s nobleman.” 
No farmer can afford te be untrustworthy in his business trans¬ 
actions, but on the other hand the exercise of manly qualities will 
aid much in the success of the farmer’s business, and be his best 
passport as a farmer and a citizen. By a close study and prepara¬ 
tion for the task that lies before us in the advancement of agricul¬ 
ture, we shall not only learn to produce more per acre and cheaper, 
but we shall learn to partially ward off a part of the effects of un¬ 
favorable seasons, and insect enemies, and our success will be 
more complete and satisfactory, having surmounted those difficul¬ 
ties. Not only so, but we shall learn to look forward to these agri¬ 
cultural gatherings as a sort of reunion of the weather-worn vet¬ 
erans and new recruits in the cause of agriculture. We hope for 
a large amount of facts and experience, untrammelled by vague 
theories and visionary ideas. 
We are entirely upon a new era in agriculture. The coming far¬ 
mer must not only have a general practical education, such as he 
can obtain in our institutions of learning, but he must be a close 
observer of nature’s laws, and be able to sift the experience of others, 
and try them as in a crucible, retain the valuable while he casts 
away the visionary. 
I shall confine myself to a limited portion of the broad field that 
opens before me; the improvement of the soil and the improvement 
of live stock, leaving the great questions of diversified industry, 
cheap transportation, rate of interest, and the details of the various 
branches of agriculture for others or for future occasions. 
The grain producer must learn to produce more per acre, and 
thereby produce at less cost per bushel and greater profit. I lay 
down this proposition, that the farmers of Wisconsin can and 
should add twenty-five per cent, to the average yield of grain per 
acre, by the judicious use of clover and plaster and keeping of 
stock, with good cultivation and proper rotation of crops. 
The average yield of wheat in this state, for a long series of years 
is less than fourteen bushels per acre, and yet there are instances in 
the state where, on well managed farms, the yearly average is more 
than fifty per cent, greater than the average of the state, and if we 
