642 BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



I had anticipated the honor of extending, on behalf of the University, a 

 cordial welcome to the Association. It is with great regret, therefore, 

 that I find it impossible to take part in the opening of the meeting on 

 account of absence from the city. Will you kindly extend to your col- 

 leagues my assurances of good wishes for a most successful and enter- 

 taining meeting 



The University, which is at all times interested in all that stands for 

 Industrial progress, anticipates, not unselfishly, I hope, much good to come 

 from this visit of expert dairymen. We are laying the foundation for a 

 dairy school at Purdue University, and in this work we realize the need 

 not only of practical advice and suggestions from those who fully under- 

 stand the needs of the dairy industry of Indiana, but we need also the 

 friendly co-operation and interest of everyone connected with the industry. 



It would seem to one not acquainted with all the details of the business 

 that there is not only abundant opportunity, but a gi-eat need for a large 

 development of dairying in this State. The scarcity and high prices of 

 dairy products at certain seasons; the inferior quality of much that is 

 offered in the market; and the very evident lack of general recognition of 

 the importance of dairying in a scheme of diversified agriculture, show 

 that there is need to discuss the business of dairying in such meetings as 

 this, and to study the scientific principles of dairying in such schools as 

 Purdue. We desire to do our part in the enterprise, and in extending an 

 invitation to your society to meet here it was with a feeling that Ave 

 might all profit from the gathering. 



You are heartily welcome here, and we desire that your meeting may 

 be a successful one, that you may spend the brief time here pleasantly, 

 and that you may carry away with you good opinions of Purdue Univer- 

 sity. Cordially, W. B. STONE, 



President. 



Samuel Schlosser: I desire to preface my remarks with a few 

 facts regarding the importance of the dairy industry. I quote from a 

 little pamphlet I received a few days ago from Washington. You will 

 pardon me: "The aggregate value of the annual dairy products of the 

 United States considerably exceeds five hundred million dollars." In 

 accordance with some estimates it is placed at six hundred million dol- 

 lars. Taken at an average between these estimates the value is greater 

 than the yearly hay crop. We can hardly realize that the value of the 

 dairy products is greater than the yearly hay crop, not only that, but 

 greater than the crops of wheat and oats combined, and much greater 

 than the crops of cotton, tobacco and rice. Only one crop exceeds the an- 

 nual value of the dairy products, and that is corn. One thing the dairy- 

 man needs, and especially the dairyman of Indiana, is encouragement. 

 I get a great deal of encouragement from these figures and these statis- 

 tics, and I bring them before you at the opening of this meeting, so that 



