268 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



W. B. BARNEY, HAMPTON, IOWA. 



This association is made up of successful business men, skilled butter- 

 makers and experienced dairymen. 



I cannot hope to instruct you, and shall feel satisfied if I can interest 

 you for a short time. Custom appears to require from your presiding 

 officer a general report of the preceding year; with such recommendations 

 as may be deemed best for the future. 



It affords me great pleasure today to congratulate you on this, your 

 thirty-first annual meeting, on the splendid condition of our association. 

 Your treasurer's report shows a larger balance than at any other time in 

 the existence of the association. Your membership has increased so that 

 it is far in advance of that of any other date. This has been accom- 

 plished without any financial aid, so much needed, from the State. Other 

 states are aiding their dairy associations as follows: Michigan, $500; 

 Ohio, $850; Indiana, $500; Wisconsin, $3,000; Minnesota, $1,500; Illinois, 

 $1,500. 



with a yearly appropriation of $1,500 or $2,000 this association could 

 extend its influence in such a way as to bring returns that would repay 

 our state ten-fold. Our meetings could be held at points where they 

 would do the most good. They would not have to be peddled out as they 

 are now to the cities that can help us in paying our legitimate expenses. 



Every man who is interested in dairying or the welfare and progress 

 of our state should make it a point to impress upon our senators and 

 representatives the fact that we are far behind our sister states in this 

 matter, and that it is his duty to see that there is something done at the 

 next meeting of our legislature. Backed by a good appropriation we 

 could hold three or four conventions or meetings in parts of the state 

 where they would be of the most benefit. Much work could be done in 

 conjunction with the extension department and other work at the agri- 

 cultural college. 



Nothing has so much to do with the success of your business as the 

 cow. You will, therefore, pardon me if I give this, man's best friend, 

 considerable attention. Are you sure that you have done your best to 

 secure the greatest producers possible? 



From all over the land comes the inquiry for more and better dairy 

 cows. How are you to get them? Prices were never higher and it is only 

 by the introduction of the pure bred dairy sire that they are to be secured. 

 Don't let some one who has a bull to sell lead you to believe that if you 

 will buy of him, should he sire a male calf, it will make a fine beef steer, 

 and, if a heifer, a profitable cow for the dairy. There is a place for 

 all the different breeds, but this sort should have no place in the dairy. 



From one railroad station in Wisconsin there has been shipped in the 

 last year $200,000 worth of dairy cows, mostly grades. Many of these 



