The Agricultural Lectures We had designed giving in January and February are necessarily crowded along to a later period in the winter. Important duties at home, together with rather poorer health than usual, have made it impossible for us to get away hitherto. It may be possible for us to reach a few points in Dane and the adjoining counties in the latter part of February and in March, should the farmers feel disposed to make the arrangements. The friends in counties more remote, who have so kindly urged us to visit and talk to their people, must "wait a little longer." The Sorghum Convention The Destruction of Turkey"The inevitable turkey," we mean, not the Ottoman Empire. Mr. Wm. Kollock, of Belleville, is responsible for our eating our words on this subject. We beg the injured bird's pardon. If there are any more rare specimens like the one friend K. presented, we have no objections to their living a little longer; pro|vided, always, that we shall, in like manner, be entrusted with the duty of finally putting BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS. Called for February 3d, and 4th, gives prom-them out of the way. ise of being largely attended; several manufacturers will be represented by a fine show of mills, evaporators, and other apparatus. Let there be a general turn-out of all who feel an interest in this important subject. "Notables whom we saw in Europe.”— This series, begun in last No., is interrupted this month by the pressure of other matter and the failure of cuts. Communications From Messrs. Hanford, Topping, West, Miller, Cotton, Plumb, Fellows, and others, arrived too late for our use this month, and will appear in next number. Sketches of Travel in Great Britain Will be commenced in another number. Visits to Windsor Castle, the grave of the poet Gray, the birthplace and home of Shakspeare, to the great manufacturing, coal-mining and farming districts; journeyings to Edinburgh, the home of Sir Walter Scott, through the Highlands of Scotland; and a running glance at Ireland, are on the programme. For this month we are crowded out. Agricultural, Horticultural, And other like associations appear to be waking up all over the country, East and West. It is to be hoped that Wisconsin will not be content to always lag in the rear. Report of the National Agricultural Department for the year 1862. A careful examination of this large and handsome volume prepares us to say much more in its favor than we have space for in this number, and the Commissioner, who has so kindly furnished us with several copies, will excuse our delay in duly noticing its important contents, and the various suggestions and recommendations he has seen fit therein to make to Congress. Only this we will say: It embodies more valuable practical matter of immediate national interest to the agriculture of the country than any previous volume since agricultural reports were first published by the Government. It does the Commissioner and his able staff great credit, and will accomplish much good by its wide distribution. The Commissioner's recommendation as to an Experimental Farm for the use of the Department, is worthy of early adoption by Congress. NOTICES OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Mr. Atwood Of Lake Mills, advertises his Grapes. We have already published a report-see November number on the thrifty and enterprising management of Mr. Atwood's nursery and It would be difficult to find a paper that is. vineyard, and have pleasure in recommending his stock to our readers. Mr. Willey And, if such an one were to be found, conceited fault-finders, who never pay their sub-' scriptions until after having been punched for the third or fourth time, would be the last He is already to really sustain it. Advertises nursery stock. well known to most of our readers. See Tenth Annual Report Of the Dodge County Mutual Insurance Co. We mean just what we say when we state it as our conviction that this is one of the soundest and most carefully managed Companies in the West. Dr. Cook Of Madison, invites an inspection of work as Dentist. We have personally tried it to our great satisfaction. He is professionally well educated, is up with all the modern improvements, and is, in all respects, well worthy the confidence of the public. The State Journal Advertises in this number. Being the oldest paper now published at the Capital, it needs no introduction from us. Read its list of terms, and remember that home papers are more desirable than foreign ones. Reiter & Maddoeks If there are any more delinquents of this same ilk, we have no objections to their grumbling and stopping the paper-provided always that they pay up their dues. A Reader who pays in Advance. PUBLISHERS FARMER:-Enclosed please find one dollar to pay, for myself, the present year's subscription for the excellent WISCONSIN FARMER. I am greatly pleased with the improvements you are constantly making upon the paper, and often wonder how any intelligent farmer can consent to deprive himsels of the luxury of reading it. Respectfully yours. ENOS M. PHILIPS. ANOTHER OF the same SORT.-Messrs. Horr & CAMPBELL:-Enclosed please find $1 for the FARMER for 1864. It pleased me that you stated in the December No. that the subscriptions came in so finely. Every farmer who can read the English language, should be a Of Toledo, Ohio, again advertise their ex- subscriber for the FARMER, and if he intends tensive Nursery stock. PUBLISHERS' CORNER. A Grumbler at Last! The FARMER has, of late, been so universally commended, that we have sometimes thought it would be a luxury to have somebody grumble a little Well, a grumbler has at last turned up, in the person of a gentleman who dates his letter at Sussex, Waukesha Co. But, as he does not deign to particularize the grounds of his general dissatisfaction, we are forced to the conclusion that, even in this case, the complaint is referable to a "dun" for arrearages shamefully neglected, rather than to any very serious fault of the paper. to plant an orchard, I don't see how he can do without it. I can convince anybody of this, if he will come and see my young trees which I have planted since I became a reader of the FARMER. If any one should ask me what has become of those planted fifteen years ago, I can only show them the bare ground. I intend to send you an article on this subject for the next volume. So send the old friend along. JOHN F. GRAVES. HONEY CREEK, Dec. 29, 1863. [So long as letters of this sort come pouring in by the hundred, it will be hard to convince us that the FARMER is not doing a good work. -PUBS.] "Grape Vines &c. to Sell?" No; you must order of the best nursery We have no idea that the FARMER is perfect. men direct. Prizes and Clubbing Privileges. We again ask attention to our Prospectus on cover. A little further time to those who have not been quite ready to send in their dollars and lists of names, has been granted. Several Illustrations Ordered for this number were delayed on the way, and arrived too late for use. Next month, and hereafter, the FARMER will be made more attractive in this respect. NEWS SUMMARY. INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS. Agricultural Convention of Illinois. The Agricultural Convention lately held at Springfield, Illinois, was an occasion of great interest. Delegates were present from many of the counties, and beneficial results can hardly fail to follow. Resolutions were adopted, urging the importance of united action, of concentrating all the efforts of the friends of industrial education upon the upbuilding of one institution "entirely untrammelled by any other institution now in operation," and upon several other matters of interest. Illinois is a great and wealthy State, and should early establish a noble Agricultural College. The Illinois State Fair for 1864 is to commence Sept. 12. The Meeting of the Ex. Committee Of the State Agricultural Society will commence on the 2d inst., and continue until the completion of business. St. Croix Co. Ag. Society. DEAR SIR:-The amount paid into the treasury of this Society the past year, as shown by the Treasurer's report, is one hundred and thirty-five dollars and seventy-five cents; which amount was expended in the payment of premiums, and fitting up Fair Grounds. The Officers elect are:-Wm. Martin, President; T. D. Hall, Stirling Jones, C. A. Hall, Vice Presidents; Wm. M. Otis, Treasurer; S. Curtis Simonds, Recording Secretary; A. F. Gallop, Corresponding Secretary. The addi Are still more favorable to farmers. Wheat has advanced three to four cents per bushel since last month. Other products are looking upward. Milwaukee, Jan. 18. Flour Quiet, sales of 125 bbls spring at 5,25. Wheat-Advanced. Sales spring No. 1, in store 1214@1214. No. 2, 112. Barley-Firm. No. 2, in store, 1,15, No. 1. 1,20. Oats-quiet. Sales at 59c. Dressed Hogs-Receipts 4,369 head; market quiet, price unchanged, with sales dividing on 200 lbs. at 6,50@7,50. Gold-1,56@1,57. New York, Jan. 18. Flour-7,95@@ 7,00 extra State; 7,50@7,75 members are men of legislative experience, and both houses include many of the ablest men of the State. NATIONAL AFFAIRS. Nothing remarkable or of great national importance has transpired since our last issue. Volunteering is going on briskly everywhere, and it now looks as though in the spring we might give the rebellion that death blow of which there has been so much talk since the opening of the war. Congress has been busy, chiefly on military matters. The amended Conscription Bill has passed the Senate. Its most noticeable features are raising the commutation fee to $400, reducing the number of exemptions, and ab rogating the distinction of classes. FOREIGN MATTERS. Affairs between Germany and Denmark are very threatening. The general opinion in Europe seems to be that war is unavoidable. Garibaldi has resigned his seat in the Sardinian Senate; and Kossuth has issued a Proclamation to the Hungarians, calling on them to be ready. Europe seems to stand on the verge of stirring events. STATEMENT OF THE Madison Mutual Insurance Co. FOR THE YEAR ENDING Made to the Governor of the State of Wisconsin, as required by the provisions of chapter 103, of the General Manitowoc David Smoke, P P Fussenick, Thomas Laws of 1858. Thornton. Marathon and Wood-Bart Ringle. Milwaukee-Levi Hubbell, N B Caswell, JO U Neiderman, David Knab, J W Eviston, FT Zetler, James Watts, Anthony Fry, Ed McGarry. Monroe-C E Rice. Outagamie-George Kreiss. Pierce and St. Croix-J S Elwell. Racine-Geo C Northrup, Henry Stevens, Philo Belden. Rock-Thomas Earle, T H Goodhue, Guy Wheeler, H Richardson, Jerome Burbank, Perry Bostwick. Sauk-Alonzo Wilcox, A W Starks. Sheboygan-Carl Zillier, Lewis Wolf, Michael Winter, Mark Martin. Trempeleau, Pepin and Buffalo-Fayette Allen. Vernon-W H Officer, Albert Bliss. Walworth-Dan'l Smith, DC Roundy, Lucius Allen, John Jeffers. Washington-Nicholas Marx, Martin Schottler, H Hil debrandt. Waukesha-J R Carpenter, N Shultis, John Smith, Wm Costigan. Waupaca-AK Osborne. Waushara-W C Webb. Total amount of accumulations................. ASSETS. Unimpaired premium notes of Cash on hand and due from polpolicy holders........ .$281,000 07 icy holders and agents for cash premiums..... ....... 45,464 60 Office furniture and fixtures...... 1,000 00 Whole No. policies issued Am't of outstanding risks thereon...... Number of policies issued in 1862....... Am't of outstanding risks thereon... Am't premium notes thereon.... Am't cash premiums thereon, less commissions to agents....... Am't interest received... Total am't losses reported during 1862... Total am't losses paid during 1862, 89 in number.... Am't claimed for loss, resisted as fraudulent All other claims against the company. Am't paid for policy stamps. Winnebago-R C Russel, Geo S Barnum, Jeremiah Am't paid taxes to Com'r Internal Revenue Hunt More than the usual proportion of these Expenses paid, including all compensation to Officers and Directors, stationery, extra clerk hire, fuel, lights, and other incidental expenses.. DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR 1862 J. W. BOYD, Walworth Co. D. WORTHINGTON, Waukesha Co. $314 50 5 00 15 35 LOSSES PAID IN 1860. JS Wilmarth, Sun Prairie, Dane Co......... Lewis Thompson, La Prairie, Rock Co.... LOSSES PAID IN 1861 LD Lateer, Janesville, Rock co...... OC Burdic, Christiana, Dane co... 172 52 12.50 600 600 00 700 20 00 10 00 400 00 6.00 558 17 61 115 00 1,041 71 18.00 382 71 5.00 496 05 200 06 751 80 1.000 00 400 00 85,903 23 $499 53 306 80 15.00 20 00 371 00 1,000 00 200 13 50 11 13 380 00 699 01 350 00 2.00 046 65 |