Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-17

wisdom of the last legislature. Here
is sometking for the people and especi-
ally for the farming people.
Every subject wnica pertains to
gram growing, grass growing, stock
raising, Bookkeeping, butter and cheese
making, gardening and fruit growing,
is discussed at length aud with mark
cd intelligence and ability IN this con-
solldated volume. Even the subject
OF birds beneficial 10 the farmer, and
| insects injurious 10 crops receive care
full attention. The latter are illustrat-
ed, showing the different stages of
| growth, from the Larvae to the perfect
insect, SO that all may know them.
Some exceedingly fine cuts Of horses,
cattle and sheep are also shown, and
these cuts are extremely appropriate,
and further show Mr.. Rabbits sa-
gacity and judgment. They illustrate
The text splendidly and are superior
to the ordinary run of agricultural
cuts. The subjects have been well
chosen and the workmanship is ex-
cellent.
1t is to be sincerely hoped that the
/. compilers of succeeding volumes will
be equally successful in the direction
of illustration. Oftentimes a single
cut of an animal, a plant or q device
will tell its story at a glance far bet
ter than scores of printed pages of
description. A volume OF this sort,
in order to be practical, must of neces-
sity be literally illustrated, and the
state can well afford to be at the ex-
ira expense attending this class of
work. In fact, recognizing the truth
that agriculture and its kindred pur-
suits are at the foundation OF the COM
monwealth'S veal, no pains should be
spared, no reasonable expense be-
grudged to make the collective vol
ume an attractive and useful guide 10
the farmers of the state.
| This volume should occupy a con-
spicuous place and be s. book of ref
elence In every farmers home, who is
fortunate enough to secure one. And
he and his children and his neighbors
should peruSe and study it through
the long winter evenings that are
coming. The good things in it if
studied carefully and practiced will
certainly inaugurate new era Ia
these important industries in Wiscon-
sin. If the style of this publication is
followed in succeeding years, these
reports will prove the most valuable
and important of all our public docu-
ments. The experiments and discoy-
cries and conclusions of these ener-
getic societies are all there for the
reader to set by his Preside and feast
upon.
In short, it does not appear that
anything is left uRdone by the state,
and the secretaries of the several socie-
ties to show to Wisconsin farmers the
road to the most complete and perfect
system of agriculture. And the Far
mer wants TO say again that the secre-
taries Of these societies and Prof
Henry. of the University, have done
their work well and demonstrated
that they are the right men in the
right places. And those who take
advantage of their Iabors will be pre-
pared to go on with their farm work
another season, enough better
informed in regard to agri-
culture, to recompense the state
for what it is doing to aid them.
That agriculture lies at the founda-
ton Of the prosperity of the state is
not disputed, nor should it 5e that
the state government and state legis-
lature stand ready at all times to do
whatever can be done to aid, educate
and encourage the important inter
ests SO fully treated in the combined
volume now given to the farmers.
The printing of this excellent publ
cation is done by the Madison DEMO
Graf Company, and is a model of
elegance geographically. The DEM
CoRAT Company are getting as fam
Gus as book publishers as they long
have been as newspaper publishers.