CAN ILLINOIS COME BACK AS A STOCK 

 BREEDING GROUND? 



W. S. CORSA, White Hall 



HE title of the topic assigned carries not only an invitation 

 to a discussion of the problems of live-stock breeding in 

 Illinois, but a challenge to her live-stock breeders as well. 

 We accept both the invitation and the challenge. We 

 recall full well the outposts of the pioneers upon the 

 prairies and the wooded grasslands of Illinois. The names 

 of such worthies as Brown, Pickrell, Potts, Huston, Lovejoy, Dun- 

 ham, Pierce, Goodwin, Judy, and the beneficence of their work de- 

 scends to us as a precious heritage. Along with the inspiration of 

 their example and accomplishment, we still have a notable member- 

 ship of constructive, aggressive live-stock breeders, whose purposes, 

 ideals, and methods are endeavoring to uphold the prestige and pros- 

 perity of our commonwealth. In this they are tremendously 

 aided by 



THE NATURAL ADVANTAGES OF ILLINOIS FOR THE PRODUCTION 



OF LIVE STOCK 



Foremost among these natural advantages, as it appeals to me, 

 is our wealth of limestone and its availability within comparatively 

 easy reach of every farm. At moderate cost we can command this 

 essential in live-stock production. With limestone in our soil to be 

 transmuted through the chemistry of the crops into the bone and 

 tissue of our live stock we may labor happily and confidently through 

 the years, giving play to our fancy as to type; we can bank upon 

 the results of our previous work; we can go forward unafraid that 

 our soil conditions will crumble our efforts. If we obtain a desirable 

 size in our live stock we can maintain it. We are free from this 

 dread struggle which is ever present for the live-stock breeder over 

 vast live-stock areas such as Canada and the Argentine. Illinois may 

 always expect visits of live-stock breeders from those countries. The 

 same compelling reason as theirs prompts many of our sister states 

 to consider favorably Illinois live-stock productions, and this probably 

 always will be so. 



Furthermore the central location of Illinois may be counted upon 

 as insuring constantly recurring visits of live-stock breeders from 

 other states. The main arteries of transportation East and West, 



122 



