EXHIBITION—SUPERINTENDENTS’ REPORTS. 
153 
fow animals exhibited were good), not such as it should have 
been when we consider how important and valuable that in¬ 
terest has become. The daily farmers are not sufficiently alive 
to their own interest and that of the state, when they neglect 
to represent themselves in a creditable manner at our annual 
exhibitions of improved stock. 
The exhibition of grade cattle and working oxen was slim 
in point of numbers, and not as good in quality as it should 
have been. With the fine show of thorough-bred Short 
Horns and Devons to be seen at our annual exhibitions for 
several years back, made up of choice stock from all parts of 
the state, it would be reasonable to suppose there would be a 
a very large increase of improved grades, and better shows at our 
annual exhibitions. But it seems our farmers have not fully 
realized the great benefit to be derived from crossing the native 
cow with thorough-bred males. For at this time, improved 
grades are so scarce that persons engaged in stall feeding cat¬ 
tle, are obliged to go to adjoining states to procure suitable 
stock for feeding purposes, having learned by sad experi¬ 
ence that money can not be made by feeding native stock. 
Thus, it will be seen, that profits which should belong to our 
home farmers, are, from the necessity of the case, paid over to 
those in a neighboring state, merely because Wisconsin 'farm¬ 
ers are not learning the lesson of progress as rapidly as their 
neighbors. 
The exhibition of fat cattle was not what it' should have been. 
Those engaged in this paying branch of stock business would 
do much to encourage the farmer to grow better stock, by 
showing on these public occasions, a liberal number of their 
fatted animals. 
Farmers of Wisconsin, our interests, and those of our state 
lie largely in improving all our domestic animals. Growing 
the best of its kind is the most profitable. Kaise then the best 
only, the best cattle, the best horses, sheep, poultry and swine, 
if your means will warrant it, if not, go as many steps toward 
the best as you can, and by a gradual and constant improve¬ 
ment you will in time reach the desired goal. 
