Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 133 
I alluded to the fact that the use of lime has been said to lie at 
the bottom of all improved husbandry. This is eminently true in 
Great Britain. It is also extensively used among the worn-out 
lands of Virginia and Pennsylvania. It is of no great avail unless 
it finds organic matter in the soil with which it may act. Clover 
will furnish this immediately at hand, but it is often the case that 
the soil is abundantly supplied with it in the form of humus. This 
is chemically recognized as an acid, and the elements composing it 
often lie in the soil perfectly inert so far as helping the growing 
crop is concerned. 
You have all doubtless observed that our diminished crops are in 
few cases accounted for by any apparent exhaustion of the land. 
The most of our prairie soil looks as rich and plows up as hand¬ 
somely as it ever did. In some of the sinks of the surface, where 
the wash has accumulated, the plow cannot reach the bottom of the 
black loam which fills them. Such spots, judging by their appear¬ 
ance, would be pronounced inexhaustible; and yet their productive 
power has greatly diminished. I believe that on all such land, 
quick-lime would be found of great value, even though the neutral 
carbonate may abound in the soil. Its benefit is never fully meas¬ 
ured by its direct agency in furnishing the plant with the lime 
needed in its growth, but rather by its chemical effect upon the 
inert organic matter which the soil contains. This is unlocked and 
made available to the plant in more soluble forms. 
. The southern and eastern parts of our state abound in lime rock, 
and the drift formation of the state is filled with cobble-stone of 
the same material, which makes it accessible to all, and extensive 
experiments ought to be made with it. Let no one be content with 
the idea that lime abounds in his soil. It is only in the condition 
of the neutral carbonate which is withdrawn from the sphere of 
chemical action. 
The chinch-bugs played a very conspicuous part the past sum¬ 
mer, and are worthy of a full measure of notice. They appear so 
insignificant, when taken singly, that a man can hardly imagine 
what a terrible pest they may become. They were first described 
in this country about eighty-five years ago. They were then sup¬ 
posed to confine themselves to a belt of country far south of 
this. I can well remember when they made their advent in 
this state about twenty-two years ago. The tradition which 
