ii 6 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY . 
SHEEP DEPARTMENT. 
BY VICE PRESIDENT STILSON, SUHERINTENDENT. 
As the exhibitors at the fair in 1873 were mainly the same as 
in 1872, in this department, I will not attempt to particularize 
each exhibitor’s stock as I did in 1872, but will devote a few 
words to the importance of this department. The exhibitors of 
1873 vied with each other in the fine quality of their stock, show¬ 
ing that Wisconsin is well adapted to sheep husbandry. And 
when we contemplate the great value of this industry to product¬ 
ive and successful farming, we must give an encouraging word to 
all those who have adopted sheep husbandry in mixed farming, 
and to those who have not yet engaged in this branch of farming, 
but have feed for more stock, we would urge the keeping of small 
flocks of sheep not only as a source of revenue, but particularly 
to maintain the fertility of the farm. Eemember that the sheep 
is said to be the animal with the golden hoof, and the land on 
which he treads will turn into gold. Five bushels of wheat per 
acre can easily be added to the wheat crop on arable lands that 
have long grown wheat, when sheep are kept on the farm with 
clover for a rotation in grain growing. And the more we can 
diversify the industries of the country, the better they will pay 
the producers. Wool is a product of far greater value in propor¬ 
tion to the products of the coarse feed upon which it is grown, 
hence the cost of transportation is materially reduced, and the 
profits of the farmer enlarged. 
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. 
BY C. LOFTUS MARTIN, SUPERINTENDENT. 
In accordance with a resolution of our executive board, I here¬ 
with hand you a brief report of the agricultural department. 
The number of entries was very large, aud the building devoted 
to this branch of the exhibition well filled. The show of winter 
and spring wheat, corn, oats, barley and other cereals, including 
garden seeds, was good. The products of the dairy could not 
