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own activities, its own discussions, and indeed its own convictions that 

 questions of fertility do not solve themselves. 



Yes, the question is with us to stay. Our great leader, Dr. Hopkins, is 

 gone. Peace be to his ashes; his memory is ever green with us, but let his 

 findings and the deliberations of the Farmers' Institute be not forgot. 



IMPORTANT WORK AHEAD. 



To this great work the Farmers' Institute is called, as much as any 

 body of men was ever called to any great service, and I fervently hope that 

 while it heeds the call and follows it, no man will ask the question whether 

 some other body or agency could not do its work more cheaply. The thing 

 that the Farmers' Institute has begun and can continue is what will stand 

 between Illinois and the decadence that has threatened every civilization 

 on earth and that has overtaken and destroyed most of them that have stood 

 for any considerable period of 'years. 



Our fertility and its preservation is not the only great question that 

 awaits the good offices of the Farmers' Institute. Illinois should speedily 

 enter upon a home building era such as the agricultural world has never 

 seen. The time has come now when the country home can be a thing of 

 comfort. We should not make the mistake that France made when building 

 her permanent homes and build them so small or of such character that 

 they cannot be equipped with modern conveniences. A country cannot rebuild 

 its homes every generation. Permanent homes should be built in the youth 

 of a country, while it is strong and rich and before it becomes over popu- 

 lated from expending all its strength in numbers. 



All this means many problems for a State like Illinois, and the Farmers' 

 Institute has a mighty work to do in thinking out these long thoughts ahead 

 and talking about them year after year, because the form of our advancing 

 civilization must develop by plan and intention and not "just happen." 



We are going into a new agriculture and in many respects a new 

 civilization. Within another quarter of a century the center of population 

 will be within the borders of Illinois, where it will probably remain 

 indefinitely. 



We have the fourth largest city in the world, and in time it will be 

 the most important. We are at the center of the greatest agricultural land 

 area of the world, which has also coal and oil under the surface and the best 

 of transportation possibilities both by land and water, connecting it with 

 the most populous and the most highly civilized of all the nations of the 

 earth. Out of this development will rise multitudes of questions that will 

 need exactly the kind of foresight and breadth of vision that can be supplied 

 only ~by a state-wide, non-commercial agricultural organization such as the 

 Illinois Farmers' Institute. 



Illinois must not come short -of her opportunity and her obligation in 

 all this, and if she is to live fully up to her possibilities as she goes along 

 she needs just such a monitor and just such a forum as the Farmers' Institute 

 can provide. Here lies the job for the Illinois Farmers' Institute. 



Mr. ABBOTT: Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: In view of the 

 fact that the relation which has existed for twenty-five years between Dean 

 Davenport and the College of Agriculture is about to be severed, I move 

 that for his labor and help in this work we give him a vote of thanks by 

 rising. (Vote of thanks given.) 



DEAN DAVENPORT: I assure you that is very deeply appreciated. 



PRESIDENT MANN: Now, I think we have had a good week. We 

 have had good speakers, and we have had a good attendance, and I think 

 we have gradually led up to the climax this afternoon. In addition to the 

 thanks that are expressed in the resolution this morning, I want to further 

 express to all here, to the churches who so efficiently served us, to the 

 Model City Florist and others for the flowers they have sent in, and to the 

 people of Monmouth for having created that atmosphere in which we have 

 lived for a few days, the appreciation which I am sure we all feel. They 

 have given us a hearty welcome and made us feel at home. Let us remember 

 the better and higher things which we have heard here all week. We will 

 close our week's Institute. Thank you very much for your attendance. 

 We will now be excused. 



