ANNUAL REPORT 
FOR THE YEAR 186Y. 
His Excelleiicy^ Lucius Fairchild, 
Governor of the State of Wisconsin : 
Sir : In accordance with the law, I have the honor, in be¬ 
half of the Executive CommiUee of the Wisconsin State Agri¬ 
cultural Society, herewith to transmit the Treasurer’s annual 
statement of the financial transactions of said Society for the 
year ending December 11, 1867. 
What was said of the industrial progress of the State in our 
last Eeport may be, with added reason, re-iterated in this* 
The crops were generally good, were well secured, and, with 
exception of the large clips of wool, have found good demand, 
at very remunerative prices. How far Congress may relieve 
the wool-growing interest, without detriment to others equally 
important, seems to be still a question with those upon whom 
devolves the duty of determining the industrial and financial 
policy of the country. Owing to the high prices realized in 
’64 and ’65, it is very likely that farmers may be a little ex¬ 
travagant in their demands; and yet nothing is plainer than 
that they ought not to suffer from such unfair discriminations in 
favor of imported wools as must lead to discouragement and the 
final abandonment of this very important branch of husbandry. 
Hop-growing still engages the attention of our farmers* 
It is manifest, howe\jer, that the present high prices can¬ 
not long continue to be paid; and in view of the large ex¬ 
pense that must be involved before the first crop can be har¬ 
vested; in view, also, of the large areas now being newly 
planted; and in consideration of the probability that the insect 
which preys upon the crop almost invariably after it has been 
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