Meeting was called to order by President Eli STILSON, who
proceeded to read his opening address, as follows:
FARMERS OF WISCONSIN: In my opening remarks this morning
I will endeavor to be brief, but at the same time
present for your consideration the importance and magnitude
of the subject we are called together to discuss and examine.
HOW SHALL WE IMPROVE THE AGRICULTURE OF WISCONSIN?
I hope the facts and experience that will be presented by
those who shall take part in this convention will be profitable
and instructive.
The subject of Agricultural Conventions was long discussed
by the officers of the State Agricultural Society before it
was finally adopted as one of the means by which this society
could benefit all classes of farmers in the state. No farmer
is so advanced but what he can find here some new facts and experience
gathered from the book of nature by a tiller of the soil; neither
are any so inexperienced and unsuccessful, but that they can
find new thoughts and new ideas, and gather a little vital energy
and perseverance, which shall make them more successful in the
future. The several agricultural conventions that have been held
in this state have refuted the idea that farmers as a class are
incapable of discussing agriculture with profit to themselves
and the state. This uprising of the agricultural classes in their
manhood and dignity, and their fixed determination to acquaint
themselves with all the knowledge that is required by their occupation
and citizenship, is one of the greatest movements of the age.
May the farmer, by the cultivation of his intellect, by the
study of nature's laws, by a thorough and practical application
to his calling, and by sterling integrity in all his business
transactions, honestly win the title of "nature's notbleman."
No farmer can afford to be untrustworthy in his business
transactions, but on the other hand the exercise of manly
qualities will aid much in the success of the farmer's business,
and be his best passport as a farmer and a citizen. By a close
study and preparation for the task that lies before us in the
advancement of agriculture, we shall not only learn to produce
more per acre and cheaper, but we shall learn to partially ward
off a part of the effects of the unfavorable seasons, and insect
enemines, and our success will be more complete and satisfactory,
having surmounted those difficulties. Not only so, but we shall
learn to look forward to these agricultural gatherings as a sort
of reunion of the weather-worn veterans and new recruits in the
cause of agriculture. We hope for a large amount of facts and
experience, untrammelled by vague theories and visionary ideas.
We are entirely upon a new era in agriculture. The coming
farmer must not only have a general practical education, such
as he can obtain in our institutions of learning, but he
must be a close observer of nature's laws, and be able to sift
the experience of others, and try them as in a crucible, retain
the valuable while he casts away the visionary.
I shall confine myself to a limited portion of the broad
field that opens before me; the improvement of the soil and the
improvement of live stock, leaving the great questions of
diversified industry, cheap transportaion, rate of interest,
and the details of the various branches of agriculture for others
or for future occasions.
The grain producer must learn to produce more per acre, and
thereby produce at less cost per bushel and greater profit.
I lay down this proposition, that the farmers of Wisconsin
can and should add twenty-five per cent. to the average
yield of grain per acre, by the judicious use of clover and plaster
and keeping of stock, with good cultivation and proper rotation
of crops.
The average yield of wheat in this state, for a long series
of years is less than fourteen bushels per acre, and yet there
are
instances in the state where, on well managed farms, the
yearly average is more than fifty per cent. greater than the
average of the state, and if we allow one-half of that difference
for difference in soil, we still have over twenty-five per cent.
in the average yield in favor of the superior or soil-compensating
system.
If we take the year 1869, as included in the census of 1870,
as our basis, twenty-five per cent. added to the 25,600,000
bushels of wheat reported, would have added 6,400,000 bushels
to the crop of wheat in a single year, and this at one dollar
per bushel would have added $6,400,000 to the productive industry
of the state. As the greater the yield, the less the cost of
production per bushel, so at least half that sum, or $3,200,000,
would have been added to the farmers' profits from this soil-compensating
system from this one crop in a single year. And if we apply
this same principle to the 15,000,000 bushels of corn grown in
that year, and the 20,000,000 bushels of oats, with the 3,000,000
bushels of barley and rye, we shall have a grand total that will
show the difference in a single year between the exhausting and
the soil-compensating systems, on the cereals alone.
As less than one-third of the cultivated land was in wheat
in 1869, it would be safe to put the net profits of such
improvement on all crops in the state at seven millions of
dollars, or, in other words, equal to adding one hundred millions
of dollars to the value of the farming lands of the state, at
sever per cent. interest, and it will n ot alter the conditions
of the problem materially, that in order to produce this result
we should have applied a part of the land to keeping stock instead
of growing wheat. Neither does the soil-compensating system stop
here, for it is even now marked in the production of grain. And
the more stock your land can carry well, the more manure for
th soil and the greater your crops of grain and grass in return.
Let me impress upon your minds the liberal use of clover;
and do not be afraid to use from seventy-five to one hundred
pounds of plaster yearly, or once in two years, on every
acre of clover you grow on clay or sandy soil.
A Wisconsin farmer, who farmed it on the exhaustive plan,
producing but little manure and keeping but little stock, on
a
clay soil. complained that the drought of the summer and
cold of winter killed his clover and he "could not grow
grass," so he sold his farm and "went west." The
purchaser, with deep plowing and an application of eight loads
of sheep manure to the acre, produced a fine crop of wheat and
a good set of clover, and the second year produced two and one-half
tons of hay the first crop and four and one-half bushels of clover
seed the second crop the same year, and the third year, with
one hundred pounds of plaster, produced two tons of hay and fine
fall feed, and the fourth year, with one hundred pounds of plaster,
produced two tons of hay then plowed the land, and the fifth
year produced thirty bushels of wheat per acre, and the former
owner of that land is still "going west" in search
of land on which to farm it on the exhaustive plan.
These are no visionary ideas or vague theories, for I have
applied the principles here laid down to the growing of fifty
thousand bushels of wheat, and the average for the last sixteen
years has been more than fifty per cent. larger than the average
of the state for the same time, and did these limits permit,
I might name scores of farmers in this state that are now applying
the same principle, and with like results.
IMPROVEMENTS IN STOCK.
Having shown how we can increase our production as a state,
at least twenty-five per cent., I will now proceed to show
how we can apply the rule of increased profit to a part of
that production - that part consumed in making beef, pork, butter,
cheese and growing live-stock.
Let us examine the dairy product of the state. By the census
of 1870, we find there are 308,377 cows in the state, and
they produced 22,473036 pounds of butter, and 1,591,798 pounds
of farm-made cheese, and factory cheese to the value of $249,056,
which, at 12½ cents per pound, would amount to 1,992,448
pounds, besides 2,059,105 gallons of milk sold. On the basis
of two and one-half pounds of cheese being equal to one of butter,
the total product was only equal to eighty pounds of butter per
cow. But as this only includes butter and cheese made and milk
sold, if we add 25 per cent. for balance of milk used, we shall
have as the total product only equal to one hundred punds of
butter per cow. And if we allow three pounds of cheese to equal
one of butter, the result will be still worse.
A showing so unsatisfactory for our state should call for
thorough and decisive measure for improvement. The average
should not be less for the whole state than 160 pounds of
butter, or 400 pounds of cheese. Mr. WHITE, of Kenosha, averages
600 pounds of cheese per cow annually, but he raises his own
heifers and keeps them in growing condition all the time. They
are graded short-horns, and their cheese product is equal to
240 pounds of butter per cow, and cannot the state average two-thirds
of that amount? The remedy is to improve the common stock of
the country with thoroughbred stock, and then feed on milk-producing
food while growing. Then if we feed our increased production
to our improved animals, our net profits will again be increased
100 per cent. at least, and the same rule holds good in the production
of beef, pork, and all other live-stock. The grade short-horn
will keep as easy as the native, and weigh at three years old
more than the native at four years, and bring a much higher price
per hundred, thus not only saving one year's keeping, but getting
so much more and realizing one year sooner. Had I time, I might
recite experiment after experiment that have proved these facts
conclusively by hundreds in this and other states, where the
improved stock had not only doubled, but had thribbled and even
four-folded the meagre net profits on the native stock after
paying all costs of improvement.
The census of 1870 reports $45,000,000 of live-stock in the
state of Wisconsin. Now, to double the net profits on that
is equal to a perpetual loan of $45,000,000 to the farmers
of Wisconsin, free of interest. A mine of wealth within our reach
nearly equal to the consolidated Virginia mine in the Comstock
lode, above the 14,000 feet level, that is now attracting the
attention of the world, and the cost of rendering that increased
wealth available, is no greater than that of mining that precious
mineral, but because it will take longer to realize we are slow
to invest. From 1860 to 1870, Vermont, Ohio, and Michigan added
over 25 per cent. to their average production of wool per head
on their sheep. Some other states have added even more than that
to the net profit on their beef, pork, and horses, yet in this
state we have depended so largely on the wheat, and a large majority
of farmers have neglected their stock and partially exhausted
their land, and wheat having failed, the hard times has too many
farmers in its iron grasp.
Should there be any farmer present who thinks the importance
of improved live-stock is overdrawn by me, let him
closely consult the sales at the live-stock yards in Chicago,
and then take the testimony of those who bred and fattened that
stock, and they will cease to doubt. At the late great Smithfield
Cattle-Show, which is one of the largest in England, the short-horn
at three years and three months old, beat the most successful
animal in all other breeds at four years and eight months old.
If they will do this as against other improved breeds, what will
they do when compared against the negatives?
The farmer who crops his farm on the exhausting plan, and
keeps only scrub stock, is ever on the descending scale, and
nothing pays; while the farmer who tills his farm on the
soil compensating plan, and keeps improved stock, so that he
not only produces more and cheaper, but turns his product so
as to bring more per hundred, or per bushel, is on the sure road
to success. Unfavorable seasons may come athwart his path, and
for a season retard his progress, but if he profits by their
teaching and the experience of others, he soon surmounts those
difficulties, and moves on with renewed vigor and a more intelligent
system.
I am fully aware that recent efforts have been put forth
to improve the stock of this state, and the result of those efforts
are very conspicuous at our annual fairs; but those efforts
have not yet reached the great mass of the farmers of the state
in the improvement of their common stock, for here is where the
results can be attained so cheaply, and at the same time so quickly.
It is time the inquiry was on the increase, and many, who
a short time ago were opposers or doubters of this question of
improvement, have become firm advocates and active workers,
while others, having failed to investigate the results, plod
on in the same old rut, and are ever complaining that farming
does not pay. The merchant who would bring his goods from New
York by way of New Orleans, thus losing much time, and cost double
freight, might as well expect to succeed, as the farmer who keeps
stock that consumes fifty per cent. more fodder and time to accomplish
a given result, and even then have to sell for a less price.
In this improvement we are being aided by the press of the country,
and I hope the time is not far distant when every paper published
in the state of Wisconsin shall have its well regulated agricultural
department. Not only in financial point of view will the improvements
of the farm and stock result to the benefit of the farmer, for
such improvements once commenced and pursued in earnest, the
farmer will become attached to his calling and justly pride himself
on the improvements, and his sons, if rightly educated, soon
see that there is something worthy of their best efforts, and
feel proud of their accumulations, as one who said "the
proudest moment of my life was when the governor of the state
rode up and said, 'young man, will you sell me one of those heavy
shearing-sheep of yours that I have heard so much about?'"
A LAWES, a JOHNSTON, a GEDDES, a RANDALL, a HAMMOND, a BAKEWELL,
a BOOTH or a BATES
are greater benefactors of their race than the greatest politicians
of the day.
At the conclusion of the President's interesting and profitable
introductory remarks, Secretary FIELD announced to the
convention that it was expected that when papers were presented,
such discussions would be had upon the subject-matter of the
paper as the convention though desirable, saying: This convention
was called for the purpose of reading papers and an interchange
of views by discussions upon all questions relating to the industrial
interests of the state. I especially requested that farmers'
clubs, granges, county societies and all other industrial organizations
of the state should send delegates here and participate with
us.
I am informed that many of those present, and many more that
will arrive to-day, are delegates representing those
different organizations, and I wish to say here, that it
is not understood to be strictly a delegate convention. We invite
all workers, regardless of whether they represent any society
or not, to take part with us. I have sent a programme to each
member of the Legislature, and as many of them are farmers, I
doubt not they will participate with us in the general discussions.
It is desirable that those gentlemen representing organizations
as delegates, should send up their names to the secretary's
desk, showing the names of delegates and the societies they
represent.
And perhaps in order to open this discussion I may say this
one item struck me in the President's paper as of great
interest, that we should request all the political papers
of the day to devote at least a page or two each week to the
industrial interests and all legitimate enterprises which help
to make up a great and noble state. Our papers now are filled
with what? Well, to-day with the senatorial question, but it
is not of that overshadowing importance that it should take up
all the space alloted to the reading matter in the various journals
of the day. We should take those papers that have such a class
of reading in them as we desire and as will promote our interests.
Mr. J. M. SMITH, of Green Bay, said: Mr. President, you spoke
in your paper of short-horned cattle being superior for
beef. I have no doubt of that; but did you intend to state
them to be superior to the full blood, or that they can be so
only as a stepping stone to the full blood? You spoke of them
as being superior, but did not say whether the full bloods are
superior to the grades or not.
President STILSON: I remarked that the way to improve the
thorough-breds was the use of blooded stock on the
common stock. They probably would be superior if it was not
for their exhorbitant cost, but by the use of the in and in breeding,
or the fee potency as we call it, we approach more than half
way to the full blood by the first cross, and the only means
in the reach of the common farmer, is by an improvement of the
common stock by the thorough-bred, owing to the intensity of
this in-and-in breeding for several years; and this may be made
comparatively cheap in that way. They are not superior, but they
are cheaper.
Mr. CLARK, of Green County. The matter on which the address
of our President touches is a matter of importance
and touches the vital interest of all farmers - the improvement
of his land. And as he referred to one experiment in the way
of plaster, I will say, I came to Wisconsin in a late day, only
four or five years ago, and I was told that plaster had no effect
on the lands of Wisconsin, and for three or four years didn't
try any. But two years ago I went and got two barrels of plaster
and sowed it on some clover on a poor piece of ground, on which
the wheat a year before I could not bind. On the each and north
of that ground was some new land which had only raised on crop,
and when I moved I had two tons on the ground where the plaster
was, and where I didn't sow plaster I could not get half a ton;
but on the new ground I got about a ton, and I got a large crop
of seed on the old ground, and but a medium crop on the new.
And the next year I sowed it with plaster again, and the wheat
on the plastered ground some of it fell down. On the unplastered
ground, some of it was only six inches high, and right by the
side of that, on the plastered ground, it was three feet high.
And it seems to me a very sill thing in farmers not to sow plaster
when it will produce so much more. Last year I think I got 500
per cent. on the money I invested in plaster. If we can increase
fertility of our soil by plaster, we are making good headway.
I will state that plaster does not have the same effect upon
all soils.
Mr. TUTTLE, of Kenosha, asked Mr. CLARK, what effect does
it have on sandy soils?
Mr. CLARK. At the east it was more favorable than on any
other soil.
Mr. PORTER, of Waukesha. I suppose the question was asked
with reference to the reading of the paper our President
has just concluded, and the questions are to be asked with
reference to that. I wish to inquire in reference to the improvement
of the soil, with reference to clover on exhausted soil. I wich
to inqure whether it was intended to be understood that he would
recommend clover previous to the improving of that soil by manure.
My experience in reference to that has been fruitless; the attempt
to improve land by clover without first improving the soil by
summer fallow or manure, or something. I think I have sown for
ten years about fifty barrels of plaster a year, and yet I have
not been satisfied.
President STILSON. I have always used manure in advance of
plaster, and I shall flank the chinch-bugs by sowing
clover on every acre of wheat. They do not like clover, I
have seen it where I could tell at sight where the clover was.
I have used manure in advance of either clover or plaster, and
my experience is to confine the plaster almost entirely to clover.
Mr. CLARK, of Trempealeau. I wish to enquire about what amount
of plaster it is profitable to sow to the acre?
Mr. CLARK, of GREEN. I usually sow a bushel upon three acres,
and I do it very quick. I generally have to or three
teams in the field, if I am working four men, a couple of
boys and myself. We take two double teams, one drives and has
two barrels of plaster, one barrel in the hind end, and the other
on the near side. I take the field so that the dust from the
plaster will blow towards the center, and sow from the wagon
about two miles and a half per hour, sowing towards the center.
We had three teams last year, and went over seventy-five acres
in a little less than half a day with six men. I generally sow
from the wagon, it covers more ground and spreads further than
if sowed from the ground.
Mr. NORTHROP. I rise to inquire about how much weight there
is in each barrel.
Mr. CLARK. There is about three hundred pounds.
Mr. BENTON, of Dodge County. I have experimented on this
question considerably, and thought and read over it
considerably. It has got one very important consideration
that I think has so far been lost sight of, and that is conveyed
in the term of plaster-sick. I wish to know whether any of you
gentlemen, have any knowledge of that out come of plaster using.
If a man sows plaster from year to year and takes off the crop,
is that land going to respond to plaster afterwards, or is it
going to be like the human system, under stimulants, finally
failing to respond, or does it stimulate his land at all? Is
it to add fertility? It is a question with me what effect it
is to have on the soil in the future.
I have arrived at the conclusion that we cannot always take
out of a pocket and always have it stay just so full, and if
these men increase the product of their land by plaster,
are they more rapidly going to arrive at development by cropping
with plaster? And what is the best method of plowing in, and
whether it is improved under the compensation of plaster? Can
we renovate with plaster alone?
I have done it absolutely alone without using anything else,
and put my land in splendid condition, as well as increasing
its fertility. I don't need so heavy toods, or so heavy teams
to make it work, and that is one of the best uses of plaster
- the condition the soil is reduced to. The root-growth of clover
acts almost like sub-soil in giving us compensation for extreme
wet and dry land, and the advantage of plaster is that it increases
root-growth as well as top growth, and it ameliorates our heavy
soil.
One gentleman raised the question of the amount sown to the
acre, but that is not so material, as that you put on some
plaster; and we all understand that some soil will not bear
plaster.
Another point. I see it stated a great deal in papers that
the use of plaster may increase the growth of our cereals, and
some find fault that the clover is stimulated by the plaster.
It is not the plaster that makes the grain grow the next year,
so much as the condition of the soil by the clover roots. For
instance, I am sowing wheat; next spring I do not expect to see
any difference by the plaster sown on it, but the next year after
that I know I shall.