THE WISCONSIN FARMER.



NEWS SUMMARY.



       STATE MATTERS.

  The Legislature convened on the 14th
nlt., and promptly organized by the election of
the following offiicers:
  Senate.-President, Wyman Spooner, of Wal-
worth; Clerk, F. W. Stewart, of Sauk; Ser-
geant-at-Arms, Luther Basford, of Grant.
  House.-Speaker, J. Allen Barber, of Grant;
Clerk, J. S. Dean, of La Fayette; Sergeant-
at-Arms, A. M. Thompson, of Washington.
         THIE GovEsNoR's MESSAGE.
  The late message of Governor Salomon, de-
livered by him Jan. 16th, was a comprehensive,
well-advised, and statesman-like document.
In his review of the affairs of the state there
is no mark of the mere politician, but rather
of the clear-headed, liberal, amnd sound politic-
al economist. ignoring none ot the great inter-
ests of the Slate, but giving to each its due
share of importance, and presenting the claims
of all in a concise, lucid and forcible manner.
We quote a few passages:
    OF MANUFACTURES, AORICULTURE, &C.
  *Manufacturing is yet in its infancy in the
State. Our natural resources give ample op-
portunity tor the advantageous employment of
capital in that direction. It should be the pol-
icy of the State to encourage by proper legis-
lation the development of these resources, for
only thus do they become a part of the wealth
of the State.
  - Our State is mainly an agricultural state;
yet, owing to a modification by the last Legis-
lature of the law requiring,.Lhe Assessors to
make annual returns of the results of the in-
dustry of the State, I am withott sufficient da-
ta for any accurate statement in regard to this
most important branch of our industry. It is
an occasion for congratulation that, notwith-
standing the withdrawal from peaceful pursuits
of so large a number of our citizens who have
voluntzered in their country's behalf, the area
of our cultivated crops has been increased
rather than diminished during the past year.
The last season was not favorable to the pro.
dactiot of the great stples of agriculture in
some portions of the State so8 hat the aggre-
gate yield was probably below the average of
the three preceding years. The amount of su-
gar cane and of syrups and sugar produced
has been, as I am informed. much greater than
at any previous period, and it is believed by
many that as a State we may eventually make



ourselves quite independent of all foreign
sources in respect to these necessaries. Grat-
ifying progress has been made in the propor-
tionate increase of stock as compared with the
grain-growing interest, especially in the im-
portant branch of sheep-husbandry, while the
improvement in breed of all our domestic ani.
mals is constantly receiving more attention.
  - The agricultural societies in operation have
exerted great influence in advancing the mate-
rial interests of the State. They should, there-
fore, be encouraged by wise and liberal legis-
lation. The affairs of the State Agricultural
Society have been much embarassed by circum-
stances which have compelled two successive
omissions of its accustomed annual exhibition,
and by the withdrawal of all State aid by an
act of the Legislature passed at its last extra
session.  Although the nation is at war,
our peaceful State should not forget or
neglect the arts of peace; they become now
doubly important in many respects. The use-
fulness of this Society, especially in the ab-
sence of a State agricultural bureau, which
exists in some other states, should not be un-
derrated or impaired by unfriendly legislation
at a time when its efforts are particularly im-
portant. The transactions of the Society, as
published from time to time, contain material
of great value, and their wide distribution at
home and abroad has done much towards se-
curing for Wisconsin the name of an enlight-
ened and enterprising commonwealth.  The
small appropriation requisite to their regular
publication and distribution could hardly be
more economically expended.

           AGRICULTURAL COLLEOG.
  "By an act of Congress approved July 2d,
1862, the United States have granted to the
several States a quantity of land equal to thir-
ty thousand acres for each Senator and Repre-
sentative in Congress to which the states are
respectively entitled by the apportionment un-
der the census of 1860, for the support and
maintenance of at least one college, where the
leading object shall be, without excluding oth-
er scientific and classical studies. and includ-
ing military tactics, to teach such branches of
learning as are related to agriculture and the
mechanic arts, upon certain conditions partic-
ularly set forth in the act, one of which is that
'No State shall be entitled to the benefits of
the Act unless it shall express its acceptance
thereof within two years of the date of its ap-
proval by the President.'  Under this act the
State would be entitled for our eight represen-
tatives in Congress to 240,000 acres of land,
and it becomes your duty to decide whether
you will or will not accept the gpant on the
conditions imposed. Your careful attention is
invited to this important subject. The condi-
tions imposed are such only as steem to be re-
quIred in order to insure a useful. perpetual,
and bons Aih aunlication of the irant for the



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