94 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
There can be no question of the great value of the work 
done by these societies in their respective localities. Improv¬ 
ed cultivation, better stock, fruits and implements follow as 
the resulc of their labors, and thus add to the general worth 
and prosperity of the state. The policy of the state in grant¬ 
ing them pecuniary aid is most judicious and should on no ac¬ 
count be discontinued. It is more than probable that the 
amount annually expended for their encouragement might even 
be increased with advantage. 
Several of the states deal with like associations much more 
liberally than we do ; some of them—as Massachusetts, forex- 
ample, which appropriates $600 to each county, instead of 
$100—giving them sums amounting to several hundred dollars 
per annum, while at the same‘time either wholly supporting, 
or generously contributing to, their state boards or societies. 
Besides the county societies, there have sprung up—one of 
them last season—three agricultural and mechanical associa¬ 
tions, to-wit: in the northeastern, southern and southwestern 
portions of the state, each embracing several counties and 
holding what many termed district fairs. They are designed 
to supplement, not to supersede the work of the county socie¬ 
ties, by giving extra stimulation and encouragement to the 
industry ol these general divisions of the state, and as best 
they can, to meet such wants as cannot be supplied by the 
state society. Reports of one or two of these are herewith sub' 
mitted. 
Efforts to organize and keep up town clubs have also proved 
very successful of late. As a means of awakening interest 
among the farmers and mechanics of a given locality and of 
diffusing valuable practical information among them by means 
of essays, discussions, and libraries, these organizations are of 
very great value. As an example of what some of these clubs 
are doing and by way of encouraging others to make annual 
reports to this office we shall also submit the proceedings of 
one or two of them for publication herewith. 
Local horticultural societies are entitled to like commenda¬ 
tion. Those of Kenosha, Oshkosh, Janesville and Madison, 
