Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 
213 
ters, or eighty millions of bushels. The wheat crop was estimated 
at less than two millions of quarters.” This estimate will make the 
grain crop of the United Kingdom but a trifle more than the grain 
crop of Wisconsin for 1872. The wheat crop being not any more 
than the same crop in Wisconsin for the year 1870. The popula¬ 
tion at this time is believed to have been not less than 12,000,000. 
“Wheat w r as only grown upon the strongest clay, and was consum¬ 
ed by those in easy circumstances.” The rotation of crops was very 
imperfectly understood. But very few kinds of vegetables were 
then grown. Turnips, at present one of the most valuable of their 
crops, were just being introduced. The potato as an article of 
food for the masses, was unknown. Wages were generally fixed 
by law, and ranged from four to six shillings per week, the laborer 
to furnish his own board. In 1661, the justices of Chelmsford fix¬ 
ed the wages at six shilling per week in winter, and seven in sum¬ 
mer. This is said to have been the highest remuneration paid in 
the kingdom for agricultural labor between the time of the Restor¬ 
ation and the Revolution. 
At this time the price of wheat is given at seventy shillings per 
quarter, or $2.12 per bushel. Meat was cheaper, comparatively, but 
it was estimated that only one-half of the laborers could taste of 
meat oftener than twice a week, and the balance, at most, not 
oftener than once in a week, if at all. Gregory King, who is con¬ 
sidered good authority, estimated that more than one-fifth of the 
entire population were more or less dependent upon public charity 
for help. At the present, in ordinary times, it is estimated that one 
in thirty receive more or less aid in this manner. The great major¬ 
ity of the nation lived almost entirely upon rye, oats and barley. 
Clothing of nearly or quite all kinds was higher then than now. 
Such articles as tea, coffee, sugar, &c., were of course, entirely be¬ 
yond their reach. It is estimated that the annual yield per acre of 
the different crops was less than one-half of what it is at present. 
Such was the condition of the most free, independent and en¬ 
lightened nation of Europe, less than two hundred years ago. 
Now let us come down to the time when agriculture began to 
take its place among the sciences, and efforts began to be made to 
place it in a condition of prosperity. 
The first Agricultural Society of which I find a notice, was organ¬ 
ized in Scotland in 1723. It had only a short existence, as did 
