streams and lakes, and in a short period of time greatly increase the food producing power of the state, as it is now well understood by intelligent observers that the fertility of the same area of water of the usual depth of our large lakes and streams is much greater than that of the land.

The last legislature passed a law vesting in the governor the appointment of fish commissioners for the state, and his excellency has appointed the following named gentlemen: William Welch, Madison; T. C. Douseman, Waterville; and Alfred Palmer, Boscobel.

The appropriation made to carry out the object was very small, yet it will enable the commissioners to commence and lay a foundation for beneficial and profitable results in the future. If success should attend the efforts heretofore made, and which will be made by these commissioners the present year, I doubt not a liberal and fostering hand will be extended by the state to this branch of industry.

MISCELLANEOUS.

THE SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE.

It is often asked, can agriculture be reduced to a science? Can results be carefully collected and recorded so as to be of practical value to the farmers. Facts are being established by repeated ' experiments which already reply to this question in the affirmative. The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England for 1873, gives a summary of conclusions touching the results of twenty years' successive experiments in the growth of barley upon the same land. Also, experiments have been made for a great number of years in succession on the same land with wheat, in England, and with similar results. These results have shown a very little increase of crop by "mineral manures alone. Much more by ammonia-salts and mineral manure together, and that in the use of artificial manures for many years, in 99 out of 100 cases in which wheat is grown in the ordinary course of agriculture, the supply of immediately available mineral constituents is in excess relatively to the immediately available supply of nitrogen."

The practical application of these valuable results is, that upon the same land for twenty years in succession, an annual expenditure of less than $15 per acre in artificial manures has yielded an annual increased product of 48 bushels of barley to the acre, and a corresponding increase in wheat, and of superior quality, and an increase of about 1 1-2 tons of straw. When we take into consideration the results of this labor of twenty years by chemists of scientific attainments and culture, and that this experiment was directed to the growth of a single variety of grain, need we ask whether agriculture is a science? And yet these experiments only show the great uncertainty of this pursuit, and that only a series of years in succession can determine definite results, but that only the results of such experiments can be safely laid down to rule and guide the young farmer. When an agricultural society or a government, employs learned scientific men to make experiments of this kind, concerning a single point in the science of agriculture, for the benefit of this great industry and for the progress of the world, is there not something in it that should stimulate the youth of our country to engage in a calling as grand and noble as any within the range of human knowledge? Similar experiments are being made upon our University Experimental Farm at Madison, under the direction of W. W. Danieils, M. S., Professor of Agriculture, and is a valuable aid to the establishment of scientific facts. A more liberal policy should be shown, however, toward this and kindred institutions, so that a foundation broader and wider may be laid for scientific investigations, and that practical and valuable results may be conferred upon the farmers of the state. Let agricultural colleges and practical farmers, give thought and study to some particular point in agriculture for years in succession until it becomes a fixed fact. Let these facts. be recorded and handed down to posterity to guide and direct the beginners in this noble avocation. Such is scientific farming.

FERTILIZERS.

A vast amount of valuable material has been annually wasted in our state, which ought to be saved in convenient form to be applied to, and enrich the land, for want of manufactories to put it in condition for such application. I am glad to be able to state

that a company has been organized in the principal commercial city of our state-Milwaukee-for the manufacture of two kinds of fertilizers. One from blood alone, and one from the bones of animals and refuse lard. These are obtained at the slaughter and packing houses, and by a scientific and practical process, are concentrated into available forms for use and profit. The waste of all our large cities and towns should be utilized in this way, and although the demand for these concentrated manures in this state is not great, on account of our rich natural soil, yet in many localities they may be used with beneficial results, and I trust this new branch of industry, so auspiciously commenced, will rapidly be extended until the refuse material throughout the state shall be saved and converted into valuable and convenient fertilizers to gladden the soil of this and adjoining states. The bone and lard fertilizers of this company are sold at $25 per ton, and the blood at $50. It is claimed that as a top dressing for grain or grass, it has no superior; and is also excellent for top and bottom dressing for vegetables. If sown broadcast, 100 to 300 pounds to the acre is sufficient. It may prove a renovator of worn or exhausted soils of great value, also an excellent manure for gardens. I would advise trials in various forms, and note carefully results.

MINERAL WEALTH.

The mineral wealth of the state is being brought to light more and more each year under the fostering hand of the state, by the geological survey, and by private enterprise. With the opening of the northern portion of the state by new and important lines of railways, affording facilities for utilizing these mineral deposits, capitalists will be induced to seek investments in these newly discovered mines of wealth, and the prospect is flattering that these vast resources will be speedily developed, and those portions of the state contiguous to these deposits be largely increased in population and wealth in a brief period of time. New and very valuable mines of magnetic iron ore are reported to have been found near Ashland the past year. The specimens shown are said by competent persons to be very rich, and the quality is said to be almost inexhaustible. Copper is also found in the northern part of the state, near the shore of Lake Superior of

rich and excellent quality, awaiting labor and capital to direct it, and transportation facilities to convey it to market, all of which will soon be furnished. As the railways penetrate this hitherto wilderness country, capital can be largely increased and labor amply remunerated by developing these mines of wealth. The zinc interest was also largely increased the past season. In the south western portion of the state this ore is found in great abundance, and in close connection with the lead bearing formations. So large is the business in the vicinity of Mineral Point, that I am informed that 150 to 200 teams have been seen in that city daily delivering this ore at the railroad depot to be shipped to the state of Illinois, near the coal fields, there to be manufactured. I look upon the mining interest as one of the important branches of industry in the state; an interest which should be encouraged and to which the attention of capital may be attracted and directed. To this end I trust the geological survey will be prosecuted to completion, and facts spread, not only before our own people, but before the capitalists of the old world, that our great mineral resources and wealth may be known. A few thousand dollars, if wisely expended in this scientific research will, I doubt not, prove of incalculable benefit to the state's development and progress.

HEDGES.

In my last annual report I called the attention of the farmers of the state to the vital importance of live fences. From further observation and thought upon this subject, I am fully confirmed in the practical value of the ideas then advanced. While I am fully of the opinion that excellent live fences may be grown from the soft maple, box elder, white thorn, different varities of the cultivated and crab apple, etc., yet I shall only here speak of the cultivation of willow and honey locust, both being rapid growers and making a first class live fence.

WILLOW.

From its extreme hardiness and ease with which it is grown from slips or cuttings, I believe it to be the best live fence plant for Wisconsin. Horace Cole, Esq., of Rolling Prairie, Dodge county, writes me giving his experience in growing this fence and its val

ue for fuel. He says, "A good fence may be grown in from five to seven years, according to the land and attention the fence receives." Will grow more rapidly on low moist land than on high dry soil. My plan of growing a fence is to plow and pulverize the soil thoroughly and deep where the hedge is to stand, then set the slips one foot apart, leaving the top a little above the ground; cultivate and keep the ground clear of weeds for two years, cutting back or bending down to make a tight fence when sufficiently large. The willow does not sprout up if a root is cut off. I have plowed by the side of a hedge row, and broke off numerous roots, large and small, and never have seen a single shoot from such broken roots. I have willow fences on both dry and wet land and believe that I can convince any one that it is no humbug. As to its value for firewood, I am honestly of the opinion that five acres of willow upon moist land of twelve years growth will supply a family with fuel for a thousand years. The rapidity of its growth is wonderful."

In the monthly report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for August and September, 1873, I find practical instructions for planting and cultivating the willow for hedges, being part of a series of papers by Wm. Scaling, Esq., of England, a gentleman of many years experience in the propagation of the willow, and whose advice may be relied upon as of much value. He says:

"To form a good efficient willow-hedge the ground must be dug to a depth of 15 to 18 inches, and effectually cleared of weeds, and, if poor, manured; in fact it is necessary it should undergo a similar preparation to what would be required if it were intended to plant a thorn-hedge. Should the ground be very low, and charged with stagnant water, it will be necessary to throw out a ridge to plant upon, for no willow will flourish in a swamp.

If it be desirable to form a hedge at once, willow stakes, 4 or 5 feet long, may be used, the ends of which must be sharpened and pushed 12 inches into the prepared ground, 6 inches apart, in a slanding direction thus ////// and be temporarily wattled at the top to hold them in position, until such time as they shall have fastened themselves by the spray which will grow up perpendicularly, thus www. Or, if it be preferred, they may be pushed in straight, and as the shoots put out at the sides they can be wattled together, and thus form a fence equally effective as the above.

"Another method is to plant a double row, crossing them in the manner following xxx. These should be secured temporarily by a baste-tie, until by growth they become fastened in position. The above methods are the most expensive on account of the extra length of the cuttings required, and would,