Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 
323 
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took particular pains in writing to the different clubs, granges &c., in 
the state to have them interest themselves, to send members who 
should represent their interests and have at heart the great interests 
of* the state at large, and they have in many respects responded 
nobly. If I was ever proud of having anything to do with any en¬ 
terprise in my life, this is it. Few enterprises collect together so 
large a class of intelligent, earnest, active, energetic, industrial 
workers, as have come up here to take part in this convention. I 
will tell you gentlemen, these conventions, these meetings where 
men come together with different opinions on these great industrial 
and social questions, are the means of harmony and unity, and can 
but result in great good to each of us, and ultimately for the good 
of society and the state. 
There being no more papers to read, it was decided to have a gen¬ 
eral interchange of views on whatever subjects might be deemed 
most important, until the time of adjournment. 
HOW SHALL FARMERS IMPROVE THEIR CONDITION? 
Mr. Benton. On this subject, I think the farmer should first im¬ 
prove himself, that he should first inform his mind, and get a knowl¬ 
edge of what can be done to improve his surroundings. The man 
who plants and cultivates according to the phases of the moon, as 
set forth in the almanacs, will never succeed in improving himself 
or his farm. The man who believes that wheat turns into chess, 
will probably never improve. There is a law of betterment under 
which we live, and if we take advantage of that law we may be 
benefited by it. Knowledge is power. Men must first have a de¬ 
sire for improvement before they will take any steps toward it, and 
therefore there must be methods of teaching men that there is 
something better for them to live for than to follow in the old ruts 
of by-gone days. 
J. M. Smith. One improvement that occurs to me is a compost- 
heap. In my experience I am convinced that it would be well for 
farmers to emulate some shrewd men in that particular. I have 
often been surprised that farmers did not make more of the com¬ 
post-heap. I have got one in my garden that is worth $1,000. 
That assertion may seem strange, and yet if one of you should offer 
me $1000 for it, on condition that I should cultivate next season 
without it, I should not take it. Tt is composed of about sixty cords 
