greater progress in this grand, progressive march towards a higher civilization, because we enjoy better advantages than they; science, inventive genius and mechanical skill, have wrought wonders in these latter times, so that with our machinery and improved modes of cultivating the soil, it is made possible for us to supply the world, not only with breadstuffs, but with beef, pork, butter, cheese, and the whole line of agricultural products. These enterprises and industries have brought the railroad track, so that the products of the country, be they lumber, mineral or agricultural, at once find the best market. The progress made in these respects is simply wonderful. We now see accomplished as much in a day as was in former days accomplished in a decade of years.

Now, with these advantages, and these grand possibilities before us as a nation, what is our duty, and what are we to do as subordinate parts of this great whole? We answer, do the very best we can in all things that go to make success. As agriculturalists, we should study to know and do that which is best suited to our soil and climate.

In northern Wisconsin you have a climate unsurpassed in its health-giving principles to both animal and vegetable life. A soil not only rich and capable of producing a large growth of vegetation, but one varied in its nature from the clay to the different grades of the sandy loams. You have also the rich loams, the muckey soils and the more sluggish marly soils of various grades; in fact, you have all the different grades of soil adapted to the growth of the various agricultural products in the northern climate. The unmistakable lessons which the experience of the past has taught, is that we must not depend exclusively upon any one product. The true theory is, we must diversify our crops, and work more in harmony with our climate and soil. True economy, worked out on correct business principles, demands that we should raise all the different crops that are adapted to our soil, so that the failure in yield or the price of any one product, will not materially interfere with the general results of the year's work.

A fair proportion of our lands are well adapted to the growth of wheat, oats and barley, and the home demand for

these staple grains, being more than equal to the supply from your own farm3, will for the present continue to be among the leading products of your county.

For spring wheat, early fall plowing is the best, deep plowing always preferable, except in heavy clay soil, as it is the only protection we have against drought. If dry, the plant roots will find the bottom of your furrows, if too wet, the plant roots will graduate towards the surface, and the deep plowing will more readily absorb the water, and act, to a certain extent, as an under drain, and the plant will be made more healthy and vigorous. Before seeding, pulverize the ground well; lumpy half pulverized soil affords scanty food for the plant roots, which means a poor and unsatisfactory yield. Also before seeding, bring the ground as near as possible to a level surface; cover your seed well, but not deep; from one-half to two inches is quite deep enough. Kernels covered three inches or more seldom grow, or if they do, the plant will be weak and sickly.

On your lighter soils that do not pack firmly, a roller may be used, especially in dry seasons, greatly to the advantage of the crop. It breaks the lumps, and packs the soil so firmly about the roots of the plant, giving it more nourishment and better protection against drought. As soon as the kernel is in hard dough, put in the reaper-there is always more loss from late than early cuttings. Shock and cap as fast as cut, and do it well-careless indifferent shocking or stacking often results in great loss. Remember that a loss in grade, always means a loss in price and bushels as well. What I have said about the cultivation of wheat will apply in a general way to the cultivation of all small grains. Always sow the best of seed. Change often from sandy to clay soil. If not convenient to bring seed from a greater distance, an exchange in your own town is desirable. Much of your land is equally as well adapted to the growing of root crops, which, with proper protection from winter frosts, are made very profitable for either market or feeding. Potatoes, turnips, beets and carrots, if properly fed with a little grain, make good beef or pork.

Your sandy soils are well adapted to the raising of winter

rye, which possesses fine fattening qualities, and is very valuable to mix with your coarser grains for feeding.

For winter wheat, select a well-protected spot from the wind, sow early, giving time for it to get firmly rooted before it freezes up.

For corn, select your earlier well-drained sandy loams, and you will have no trouble in raising a good crop of the earlier varieties of small dent.

For corn, I prefer spring plowing, if old land; if sod, it would be better if turned over in the fall.

Fall plowing needs to be cultivated and pulverized thoroughly in the spring. Plant only seed that you have thoroughly tested and know that it will grow. Follow the planting with a small tooth harrow; one with teeth inclining back is preferable, at least once before the corn is up, and twice after, if reasonably dry so the drag will keep from clogging. The drag can be used until the stand is three inches high; after that use the cultivator, hilling up the last time thoroughly. Keep your fields free from weeds, and there is no trouble about getting a crop. I have planted from thirty to forty acres for the past eight years and never had a failure until this year.

Statistics show that the cost of sugar and syrup consumed in the state to be greater than the sum paid out for flour and breadstuffs. To meet this demand, the growing of amber cane and the manufacture of sugar therefrom is receiving a good deal of attention by the general government, and the state is making yearly appropriations for the purpose of experimenting in the growth and manufacture of sugar and syrup from this cane. The third annual meeting of the Wisconsin State Cane Growing Association was held last winter, in Madison. Reports of experiments had demonstrated, beyond a doubt, that the growing of amber cane and the manufacture of sugar and syrup therefrom is fast becoming a profitable industry. Last year 280 manufacturers reported 491,200 gallons of syrup for the season's make, and it was estimated that the total yield of the state was at least 600,000 gallons.

The experimental farmer at Madison, reports having made good raw sugar for three and one-half cents per pound, all

expenses included. Your light sandy loam soils are well adapted to the growing of this cane, and it can, no doubt, be made to class among the profitable industries of your county.

In fruit growing, but little has been done in your county, and perhaps the result of that little has not been very satisfactory. Within the present century, when western New York was counted as the far west, the Genesee valley, then so famous for its production of wheat, was said to be a failure as a fruit-growing country; now the wheat has partly failed, and it has become equally famous as a fruit-growing country. This has been the experience of many sections, that now have fine thrifty orchards. We advise the planting of the hardiest variety of apples. If failure is the result, try again, making such changes in the varieties, location and cultivation as your experience and observation seem to dictate. Not many years will pass before fruit growing will be classed among the leading agricultural industries of the state, and northern Wisconsin will, I think, at least supply its own demands.

In the rotation of crops, never omit the seeding to grass; this overcropping to grain is ruinous to the success of any farmer, as it robs the soil of its plant food. Therefore, we say, never omit to seed down to timothy and clover-two quarts of clover and six quarts of timothy seed to the acre, I have found to be about right. Good judgment will, however, vary the quantity more or less, to suit the character of your soil. Two crops of hay, we think enough to take from our tillable lands before turning to pasture; one or two years to pasture and it is again ready for cropping. If you plow early, say in June, after the grass is well started, and then again in early fall, your ground is well fitted for a crop of wheat. If you keep in pasture and plow in the fall, it will be suitable for a crop of corn, or any hoed crop.

We recommend seeding with clover-first, because it gives you a larger yield, and mixed with timothy, gives you excellent hay for all kinds of stock -ɛecond, it starts earlier than other grasses, giving valuable green feed for cattle early in the season- third, its roots are long and fibrous, penetrating deep into the soil for nourishment, and then its

large shady tops are a protection against drought, affording feed after other grasses have dried up-fourth, from its great power to gather from the air and store up a large amount of nitrogen, holding it in solution for the growth of future crops, makes it a great fertilizer of the soil. Its chief value is thought, by some, to be in the richness and fertility it gives to the soil. Old, and what we call worn out lands, are brought into a higher state of cultivation by seeding to clover and plowing it under. I think it better when sown as a fertilizer, to take a crop of hay early, or as soon as in the flower, and then turn under the second growth as early in July as it gets a vigorous growth. Plow again in October, and your ground is well fitted for a good crop of wheat. Or you can take a crop of seed from the second growth, and then plow late in the fall, or the next spring, and your ground will be in shape for a good crop of corn.

Most of your lands are yet new, and clover sown, as I have indicated, with your timothy, will give you excellent crops of grass and good pasturage, and, at the same time, keep your soil in a healthy, vigorous condition for cropping. If your soil is light or impoverished, sow clover more freely, but under no consideration should we allow clover or any other fertilizer to take the place of manure. The habit of burning straw and allowing manure to waste about your barnyards only tends to poverty. With a stock of cattle, the straw and coarse fodder can be worked into manure, and if put back on the land, will partly compensate for the crop taken from it. However, your own experience and observation will be the best schoolmaster to teach you how to cultivate your farm to produce the best results. Different soils require different modes of culture, and no one theory will suit all conditions of soil and climate.

Rotation of crops and mixed husbandry necessarily includes a stock of cattle. No farmer can succeed and keep up his farm without live stock. They are not only the great fertilizers, but they diversify the work of the farm, filling up the time with profitable employment for both hand and mind. They afford the best of all markets for your hay and pasturage, your coarse grain, coarse fodder and root crops. The only question to be settled is, what kind of stock will