34 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
gree of favor or sucess it lias met with, the Committee are not 
as yet very well informed ; only a few reports having been re¬ 
ceived in relation to it. It is said to considerably resemble 
millet, except that it has more leaves, and makes much better 
forage. It is said to thrive exceedingly well upon the high and 
dry prairies, especially in dry seasons, when timothy w T ould 
prove a failure. Its success is understood to be owing to its 
striking a deep root. The statements in relation to it, go to 
show that it matures in a very short period, and yields from . 
four to five tons per acre of hay and seed,—largely of the lat¬ 
ter ; but it has to be annually sown. Another season will do 
much in the way of deciding its merits and adaptation to our 
wants. 
The Committee also circulated a quantity of Sweet Potatoes 
(received as a present from a gentleman in Indiana) quite ex¬ 
tensively among the careful cultivators, for experimental trial 
and cultivation, and had the satisfaction of seeing a fine show of 
well-grown tubers, at the State Fair, as the result of the effort ; 
clearly proving, (what was, to be sure, partially known before), 
that they can be successfully cultivated in ample quantities, at 
least for the purpose of luxury and variety among our people. 
The Committee have given the subject of improving Seed 
Wheat of the State a good deal of attention, and have carefully 
investigated the often proposed plan of importing new seed 
from Canada. A very competent agent and practical farmer, 
was sent by the committee to the best wheat districts of Can¬ 
ada, in the autumn of 1857, (Hon. David Williams, of Wal¬ 
worth County), to enquire into the matter, and report what 
seemed proper to be done under the circumstances. After a 
careful examination of their various specimens of wheat, and a 
full inquiry in relation to the insect depredations, and liabili¬ 
ties, he came to the conclusion that importations should be 
made at least with great care, to avoid the introduction of new 
species of destructive insects, the liability of which seemed to 
him very great. A careful comparison of the best specimens 
brought from Canada, with the best from our own dry burr-oak 
