LIVE STOCK breeders' ASSOCIATION. 237 



their annual meeting elected five members to serve as advisory members 

 for tvsro years and make plans for it. This whole thing was planned out 

 by Professor Mumford in co-operation with five leading stockmen of Illi- 

 nois. Our soil investigation committee took up their work on that line. 

 Nine sub-stations in Illinois tested corn. We have two or three represent- 

 atives of the college study actual conditions in regard to feeding cattle 

 on the farm, and actual market conditions. They go around and take 

 notes and keep records of the weights and gains and the food consump- 

 tion. We are trying to bring the work of the college and the stations 

 close to the farmers. The question is often asked of us as to whether the 

 money is appropriated to the association or to tlie university. It is given 

 to the university for the special purpose of extending different lines of 

 investigation. 



Now, I have spoken quite personally in regard to what we have done 

 in our own State. We do not do this with a spirit of boastfulness. We 

 are trying to bring ourselves up, and the people of Illinois feel personally 

 responsible for the work we are doing. The organization stands for 

 something. The people have assumed this responsibility and it is to be 

 hoped that they will carry it out and follow it up. Now you have a class 

 of representative, responsible men interested in this work who can accom- 

 plish anything they set about. I know your work will aid us and help us 

 in Illinois. 



Gentlemen, I thank you very much for your kind attention. 



President Robbius: I am sure we have had a grand talk from Mr. 

 Rankin, but. just now our time is very limited. We will take perhaps five 

 minutes, if anyone wishes to ask Mr. Rankin a question. He has pretty 

 clearly shown us what we should do and it seems to me it is a pretty big 

 job he has saddled onto us. 



We have with us todaj^ Colonel Harris, of Chicago, and I am sure he 

 is in a position to speak on co-operation among farmers and breeders. 

 We will now give him a cha'nce to say something along this line. 



Colonel Harris: Mr. President and Gentlemen — My presence before 

 you is entirely accidental. I came down here yesterday in order to make 

 a little talk as a representative of the National Shorthorn Breeders' Asso- 

 ciation. Your Secretary wrote me that he would like to have me stay 

 over and meet with you. I did not know exactly what topic would be 

 discussed, but I am very glad that I could take advantage of the invita- 

 tion, as it gives me an opportunity to hear your program, and especially 

 as it gave me an opportunity to liear the paper, which was very able and 

 very carefully thought out, and very well prepared, on the subject of 

 organization. 



I want to say to you now that I want to bring you down to earth. 

 It is all well and proper to appeal to your pride and your intelligence. If 

 you build up the agricultural interests of your State you must use every 



