576 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Nearly every farmer has one cow having several daughters, which 

 he highly values, and which he refuses to sell. This cow is of good type 

 and a large producer; just the kind of a cow he wants. Her daughters 

 are all of the same color, similarly good type, and equally good producers. 

 These desirable characteristics are regularly transmitted to one calf 

 each year. These calves again may possess this same power of trans- 

 mission to their offspring, and so on from one generation to the other. 

 Who can value this work of a cow of transmitting these desirable char- 

 acteristics? The informed, wide-awake dairy farmer co-operates with this 

 force of heredity, and highly values that work of the dairy cow, and the 

 writer believes that the time is near when every farmer who milks cows 

 will realize and appreciate this great work. When that time comes then 

 the improvement of dairy cattle will go forward, with astounding rapidity. 

 At the present time, one owner of the cow, who is a student of her work, 

 will concentrate this force of transmitting desirable dairy characteristics; 

 and another one, working less intelligently, will undo what has already 

 been accomplished. 



The above discussions have been confined to the direct results of the 

 chief functions of the dairy cow while alive. The indirect benefits, and 

 the value of her carcass cannot be considered here. 



A rising vote of thanks was tendered Prof. Larsen, and, on 

 motion, the secretary was instructed to have this address printed 

 in circular form to be distributed among any members who wished 

 to use it for distribution among creamery patrons. 



Secretary Ross, at this time, paid the exhibitors a very high 

 tribute on the quality of the butter. He said : 



There were 167 tubs entered, only two being from outside the 

 state. There are sixty tubs in the whole-milk class and 105 in the 

 cream class. The average score of butter in the whole-milk class 

 is 94.45; in the cream class, 92.43. Average of the entire 165 tubs, 

 93.43. The average of the highest ten tubs is 97.3. 



This is certainly an excellent showing and the Iowa boys are to 

 be congratulated. Last year there were 159 tubs entered and the 

 general average score was 93.4. The average score of the highest 

 10 tubs last year was 96.97. In 1911 only 143 tubs were entered, 

 which shows that the number of entries is steadily increasing each 

 year and the quality is improving likewise. 



With one or two exceptions, the low of butlci' was in exeelletit 

 condition and showed fine workmanship. 



When it comes to presenting prizes, there is one man who can 

 do it perhaps a little hettei- than anyoiu^ else. ITe is a master of 

 presentation speeches. E. M. Wentwoi'th, of Des Moines, was 



