2 oS Wisconsin state Agricultural society. 
required of the survey, will show in many cases the sources of 
water supply upon which we are dependent for this life-giving 
element. These are taken as data in the topographical survey, 
which is to show the general contour of the ground, the extent, 
elevation and slope of drainage basins or river valleys; the 
.amount and value of water power afforded by these rivers; the 
proportion of timbered, open and prairie land; the uplands, the 
swamps and marshes. All such detailed information is of im¬ 
portance to various interests, and especially to the agriculturist. 
The geodetic survey, which it is hoped may, through the in¬ 
strumentality of the geological survey, be extended into Wiscon¬ 
sin by the general government, will also aid in the development 
of the topographical features of the state, and will show with 
greater accuracy the exact position of the principal lines of the 
government land survey, from which are derived and established 
the boundaries of farm lands, thus often preventing litigation and 
neighborhood quarrels. It is made the further duty of the sur- . 
vey to search for and properly examine all mineral fertilizers that 
may exist in the state; to analyze the clays, peats, marls and 
other natural products, useful either in maintaining the richness 
of the soil, or of restoring it when exhausted by the injudicious 
management of ignorant and selfish men. The soil and subsoil 
are to be made subjects of study, and observations are to be 
made on the animal and vegetable products with reference to their 
agricultural interest. Specimens are to be collected, illustrating 
and exemplifying the geology of the state, which are to be de¬ 
posited with the various institutions of education, from which the 
youth of our state may hereafter acquire that definite knowledge 
of our local geology that will enable them to prosecute their fu¬ 
ture labors in farming with greater advantage both to themselves 
and to the country. 
It is now very generally admitted that the chemical analysis of 
soils does not lead to all the beneficial results that were formerly 
anticipated from this source. The healthy growth of farm crops 
is dependent upon too many varying conditions, besides the mere 
quantity of pfiant food that may exist in the soil, to enable the 
chemist to detect the cause of any given failure by soil analysis. 
It was once supposed that we had only to analyze a soil before 
