26 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



It is interesting to note some of the imj)ortant changes in the agri- 

 culture of our State during the past few years. During the years from 

 1886 to 181)1, I was given the privilege of presiding over the delibera- 

 tions of the Michigan State Dairymen's Conventions. I remember tliat 

 I gave prominence in my annual address to the fact that the agriculture 

 of our State was in an unsettled and drifting condition. Whereas. 

 Michigan had been a stock raising, a wheat and wool producing State, 

 for many years previous to that time, the broad range pastures of the 

 Southwest had taken from us the cattle, the sheep and the wool, while 

 the great Northwest had through its natural advantages influenced 

 cheap wheat production to such an extent that it could not be produced 

 upon the improved farms of Michigan with profit. Being deprived of 

 those farm products which had been the main dependence of so many 

 of our farmers for so many years, a time of uncertainty was upon us, 

 and speculation as to the result was common. In our dairy conventions 

 it was pointed out that Michigan occupied a central position in that 

 strip of country from Vermont to the Mississippi River and including 

 the eastern half of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, known 

 as the "Dairy Belt," and which must furnish the larger portion of the 

 dairy products for the whole country. Thus it was urged that cream- 

 eries and cheese factories and general dairy farming could very prof- 

 itably take the place of a part of that which had gone from us. From 

 that time Michigan has developed into one of the recognized dairy 

 states of the Union, not only in quantity of production but in high 

 standard of quality as well. It was also soon learned that mixed farming 

 with dairying was a process especially desirable for the purpose of 

 receiving and bringing back to a natural condition of productiveness 

 the worn out wheat fields of the State. About the same time, the dis- 

 cussion of sugar beet and beet sugar production came into prominence, 

 championed by the late Dr. Kedzie. That industry is now one of chief 

 importance to the State. 



Then, resulting from that forced recognition of our farm operations, 

 came a wonderful development along horticultural lines, and the intro 

 duction of many specialties, some of which give Michigan prominence, 

 as shown through the potato and bean crops. Now that we are well 

 settled in all of these new methods, we have received the cheering news 

 that, in the matter of wheat, beef, mutton and wool, our farms have 

 been moved back from the western plains to the old locations and we 

 are again permitted to produce these great staples at a fair profit. 

 Verily, the farmers of Michigan are especially favored at this time. Our 

 State is situated in the middle ground territory and within the track of 

 commerce between the great producing and consuming parts of our 

 country and the world. We are blessed with soil and climate conditions 

 which make our agricultural possibilities both broad and elastic. We 

 are now settled and well versed in the actual production of a greater va- 

 riety of farm products than almost any other state in the Union. 



You are assembled at this time as representatives of this favored 

 people to express such thoughts and to promote such acts as will per- 

 petuate the many blessings which are now enjoyed. Amidst all of 

 this, do not forget your citizen duties. The farmers of Michigan are 

 in position to wield a commanding power if they are assertive of 

 their desires. In exercising this power let fairness and justice to all 

 be the governing motto. 



