368 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
while at the same time it will make this instruction as practical as may be 
by showing how the principles apply to practice. 
Besides this special instruction in the sciences, other studies are taken 
from the course in the College of Arts, making it parallel with that course, 
and in all respects equal to it in the training and discipline which it will 
confer. It is, as expressed in the language of the act of Congress, a course 
of study that will “ promote the liberal and practical education of the in¬ 
dustrial classes.” 
An experimental farm is carried on in connection with this department, 
the object of which is to experiment in new and untried varieties of grain, 
fruits, and vegetables, and to carry out a series of experiments each year, 
that by showing their success or failure, will be of great practical value to 
the farmers of the state. The facilities of this department, for successful 
experimenting, are increasing yearly, and it is confidently believed that, at 
no distant day, it will be of great benefit to the state at large, as a source 
of valuable information upon subjects pertaining to agriculture. 
Many students are dependent upon their own exertions for the means 
necessary to defray the expenses of an education. All such students who 
desire it are furnished with work upon the farm from one to three hours a 
day, for which they are paid twelve and a half cents an hour. During the 
spring term of the present year—1871—over $600 have been paid to stu¬ 
dents for labor. Much of this labor, such as working in the vineyard, the 
orchard, and in the fruit and vegetable gardens, is a source of of useful in¬ 
formation to those intending to follow farming, or fruit growing as a busi¬ 
ness. To those who desire it, special instruction is given in the care of 
vineyards, orchards, and nurseries, as well as in the culture of small fruits 
and vegetables, and in the methods of artificial propagation of all kinds of 
plants. 
It is the design of this department to do whatever may be for the mate¬ 
rial advancement of the agricultural interests of the state, by the dissemi¬ 
nation of correct theoretical and practical intelligence pertaining to the 
wants of farmers and fruit growers. 
Below are some of the experiments tried during the past season. 
WINTER WHEAT. 
Treadwell Variety — White .—Weight of seed 60 pounds to the bushel. 
* Sample 1. One and three-fourths bushels, sown September 18, 1869, 
upon one acre of ground sloping to the northwest and protected on the 
west by a belt of timber. Snow fell upon this wheat November 17; ground 
not again bare until March. In first part of February one-lialf the piece 
was mulched with coarse manure to prevent the injurious effects of altern¬ 
ate freezing and thawing during the spring months. Harvested July 12, 
1870. Weight of straw and grain as drawn from the field, from part 
* The number of this sample in this and all following cases refers to labeled speci¬ 
mens kept in my office. 
