4 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
crop of 1870 is believed to have been between thirty and forty 
per cent. 
The hay crop of 1871 exceeded that of 1870 by about one- 
tenth, both in quantity and condition. Timothy and clover 
are gaining ground every year; so that the time is not remote 
when no sensible farmer will think of relying solely on the 
wild hay of prairie and marsh. 
The pasturage of autumn suffered very greatly from the 
drouth. in many portions of the state; which fact, in connec¬ 
tion with the unusually early opening of winter, necessitated 
an uncommon draft upon the season’s stock of hay, and consid¬ 
erably affected the production of butter during the fall months. 
Dairying has suffered a still further back-set from the yet 
lower prices than in 1870; so that many who engaged with en¬ 
thusiasm in the production of milk, as well as a large propor¬ 
tion of those who engaged in the establishment of new eheese- 
and butter factories, have been disheartened, if not led to 
the extremity of sacrificing a portion of their investments and 
quitting the whole business ill disgust. 
Stock-breeding and stock-growing appear to have kept a 
steady pace forward during the past year; the most marked 
features of this general business being a healthy reaction in 
the department of wool-growing, and an increased interest in 
the production of pork. 
The fruit crops of 1871 were generally good. Apples were 
not only of good quality, but the product wrs scarcely less 
than forty-five per cent, above the average crop. Pears also 
yielded largely, and grapes were twenty-five per cent, more 
abundant than usual, notwithstanding the crops are almost in¬ 
variably excellent. The weather of early summer was a little 
too dry fcr a great crop of strawberries, but other small fruits 
did well. <*' 
Cranberry culture is making progress. Many new marshes 
have been planted, and there is much enquiry among farmers 
in all quarters whose lands are well adapted to the culture of 
this valuable fruit. An interesting paper on this suHect will 
be found in its appropriate place in this volume. 
