268 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
healthy for all kinds of stock. Indeed, from its great number 
of large springs, the county should have been named Spring 
county. Then it could at least boast of a Christian name. 
There is but one large flock of sheep in the county, that I 
know of; that flock is owned by Capt. Thomas Cade, of the 
town of Franklin. But I think more attention will be paid to 
this branch of industry hereafter, as there has been a woolen 
factory started just over the line of the county, in Crawford, 
thus bringing a wool market to the very doors of our farmers. 
But little has been done in this county as yet in flax-rais¬ 
ing. From w T hat I have seen, however, I think heavy crops 
of superior flax could be raised here. 
I am not aware that any of our farmers have made more 
butter or cheese than we wanted for family use. Wheat, oats 
and pork are the staple products. 
We have no manufacturing establishments in this county, 
although we are well supplied with ordinary mechanics. This 
county should be one of the leading manufacturing counties 
in the State. Its water power is very extensive, almost eveiy 
foot of soil is tillable, and it has timber enough to last for 
years. Its bass wood, oak, ash and pine are almost inexhaust¬ 
ible. 
Our County Agricultural Society was organized in the fall of 
1857. It has purchased ten acres for a Fair Ground three 
fourths of a mile west from Yiroqua, which is enclosed by a 
good pine board fence. In consequence of this, the Society 
became somewhat involved in debt; but it is now nearly out 
of debt, and stands, I think, on a firm and permanent basis. 
At the Fair held last fall, there were seventy-four entries, and 
the whole amount of Premiums awarded was $64.25. 
On the whole, we think the citizens of Bad Ax county may 
congratulate themselves on the progress they are making in 
Agriculture, Mechanic Arts, and in Education; and we think 
we have reasons for hoping that w r e shall ever sustain a 
respectable standing with our sister counties. 
