TRANSACTIONS.

ANNUAL REPORT.

To His Excellency WILLIAM R. TAYLOR,

Governor of Wisconsin:

SIR:-Compared with the the last five years, there has been, the past season, general prosperity among those engaged in the varied branches of agriculture, except the growers of wheat. The season was unfavorable for the production of this cereal throughout the state, and in many localities the chinch-bug entirely destroyed the crop. If this total destruction shall drive the farmers in these unfavorable districts to other branches of agriculture, and other and better systems of culture, then their temporary loss may in the end prove a blessing. Much depression exists in business in the large wheat-growing districts, and must continue throughout the year. All other products of the state except wheat, have been a full average yield, and commanded remunerative prices.

The organization of societies for the promotion of the dairy interests, and the inauguration of dairy boards of trade has developed a system of marketing cheese and butter products which has been a great improvement, and has stimulated this branch of farming in a high degree. Market days have been instituted which have practically brought the purchaser to the door of the producer. Systems of business are constantly advancing; trade is intellectualized, and - prices in the Eastern markets in dairy products are now largely governed by the trade in the interior towns. This fact should cause other leading branches of farming to co-operate for the sale of their

surplus annual products, particularly growers of cattle, hogs, sheep, and the staple cereals. Members of clubs, granges and other societies would find it to their advantage to agree to take certain products to their market town on certain fixed days of each week or month, and associate together for their sale. A purchaser of live stock can afford to pay more for a car-load purchased on the same day, than for the same number bought in small lots on different days. The markets are continually fluctuating, and the purchaser can make his contracts with more certainty of a reasonable margin of profits. Concert of action among producers is what is wanted; larger sales and smaller profits on each animal or article sold. This may decrease the number of buyers or middle-men, and if so all the better; their energy and talent can be directed to other channels of industry.

In this connection I desire to call attention to an editorial in the Republican and Leader, by Charles Seymour, esq., touching the dairy interest of the state, and giving a brief synopsis of a discussion of the prominent dairymen of Vermont, which appears in this vol

ume.

Organization among farmers, and methods to the attainment of this end, have been much discussed the last year, looking to bettering the condition of the industrial classes. Societies, including state, county, and so on to the town club and grange, have accomplished great good; and especially can I speak of the beneficial agencies of the state fair and state agricultural convention, now annually held under the auspices of the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. They are all great public educators of the industrial masses. The annual reports of this society are more and more sought after each year by the thinking farmers, as they contain more practical papers than heretofore, and discussions at the convention of greater general interest. A mutual interchange of ideas, an intelligent, co-operative action on the part of those whose interests are identical, is much needed. Farmers must move with the age; keep up with the other professions-not years behind. Individual effort can accomplish but little. Organization is what now moves the world. Combinations of capitalists go before legislatures and get all they ask, or prevent what they do not desire. Were farmers ever known to organize and ask the legislature for special privileges,

or to prevent the enactment of class laws against their interests? Farmers should not be legal food for other organizations to feed upon, without preparing to devour in return for self protection. They can at least be just to others, and at the same time generous to themselves, if they will but combine and work together for their interests as other classes do. The more intelligence, the more successful and better will the organization be. Agricultural papers are doing much to stimulate and build up the industrial interests of the state, and they should be encouraged and sustained; but a "faceto-face talk" will do more good in an hour to educate and impress upon the mind facts and principles, than all the articles read in a paper during the year. Hence, farmers should organize, give their experience to each other, read, talk, counsel, advise, become more intelligent, and be better prepared to govern and direct the affairs of state and nation.

Fine culture, a thorough pulverization of the soil, allowing all the air, sun, light and rain to freely penetrate it, and the fine rootlets of plants to obtain their proper food, is of the highest importance.

Farmers as a rule, do not devote labor and time necessary to put their soil in such fine condition of culture as will insure the best profits. A few days more time given with man and team to a pnlverization of the surface soil would pay oftentimes an hundred fold. When the rich soils of Wisconsin are placed in the best possible condition of tillage, and the crop placed properly therein, and in season, there is but one enemy standing between the grower and an abundant harvest, with an occasional chinch-bug or other pest exception. That enemy is weeds, and is an uncompromising and formidable foe, ruining the crop and impoverishing the soil, if not exterminated when young. But few farmers seem to comprehend the vital importance of eradicating these pests, and particularly of doing it at the right time. One man with a team and cultivator will do more towards their extermination when they have but just shown themselves above the surface of the ground, than three times the labor employed a few days later, especially in the highth of the growing season. One often hears a farmer say, "my corn will be large enough to cultivate next week, or a certain time in the future." My theory is, and I have always tried to carry it into

practice, to commence to cultivate corn as soon as planted if the land is in proper condition. Harrow thoroughly once at least twice is better, before the blade appears above the surface, and again as soon as it is up. Then start the cultivator and go through it once a week if possible, and oftener if nccessary to keep the weeds in check. Frequent attention not only destroys the weeds, but it leaves the soil light and friable, susceptable of drinking in the dews and rains, rich in ammonia and other plant food. Crops cannot grow without heat, light and air, and to admit these the soil must be porous and fitted to receive them. After heavy rains, cultivate to break up the crust, and the use of a roller or other machine to break the surface hardness of the ground in cereal crops, when small, would pay largely on the investment.

Educated labor upon the farm is becoming more and more appreciated each year, and yet the educational agencies for the advancement of our youth in the practical branches are not what I would like to see. Schools for the education of farmers, mechanics and those of other working industries, should teach those branches having a direct bearing upon the particular branch of life work intended to be pursued, and the principlee taught should be daily applied. "It should not only teach the principles which underlie agriculture and mechanical arts, but it should teach the things themselves. What we want is not mere culture, but culture applied, culture realized, culture put at work and demonstrating day by day its use." The mass of those engaged in the numerous avenues of labor and industry in this and all other counteries, have little time to pursue branches of study not intimately connected with their particular calling or avocation. Life is too short to learn everything, and aside from the common school education which all should receive, and the general information upon town, county, state and national affairs, fitting them to be useful and valuable citizens, persons who obtain their living by labor in any of the world's industries, have little time which they can spend profitably upon subjects which do not bear immediately upon their work. These they can afford to study with care. Division of labor is becoming more marked and distinct, hence, the importance of special knowledge for those engaged in any particular branch of work, that they may be skilled and proficient. Many of the studies which take up much of the time of the student in our