36 Wisconsin State agricultural society . 
that a company has been organized in the principal commercial 
city of our state—Milwaukee—for the manufacture of tw r o kinds of 
fertilizers. One from blood alone, and one from the bones of ani¬ 
mals and refuse lard. These are obtained at the slaughter and pack¬ 
ing houses, and by a scientific and practical process, are concentrat¬ 
ed into available forms for use and profit. The waste of all our large 
cities and towns should be utilized in this way, and although the 
demand for these concentrated manures in this state is not great, 
on account of our rich natural soil, yet in many localities they 
may be used with beneficial results, and I trust this new branch 
of industry, so auspiciously commenced, will rapidly be extended 
until the refuse material throughout the state shall be saved and 
converted into valuable and convenient fertilizers to gladden the 
soil of this and adjoining states. The bone and lard fertilizers of 
this company are sold at $25 per ton, and the blood at $50. It is 
claimed that as a top dressing for grain or grass, it has no superior; 
and is also excellent for top and bottom dressing for vegetables. 
If sown broadcast, 100 to 300 pounds to the acre is sufficient. It 
may prove a renovator of worn or exhausted soils of great value, 
also an excellent manure for gardens. I would advise trials in 
various forms, and note carefully results. 
MINERAL WEALTH. 
The mineral wealth of the state is being brought to light more 
and more each year under the fostering hand of the state, by the 
geological survey, and by private enterprise. With the opening 
of the northern portion of the state by new and important lines of 
railways, affording facilities for utilizing these mineral deposits, 
capitalists will be induced to seek investments in these newly dis¬ 
covered mines of wealth, and the prospect is flattering that these 
vast resources will be speedily developed, and those portions of 
the state contiguous to these deposits be largely increased in pop¬ 
ulation and wealth in a brief period of time. New and very 
valuable mines of magnetic iron ore are reported to have 
been found near Ashland the past year. The specimens shown 
are said by competent persons to be very rich, and the quality is 
said to be almost inexhaustible. Copper is also found in the 
northern part of the state, near the shore of Lake Superior of 
