24 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



The dairy interests of the state have increased in about the same ratio. 



The position which our state occupies in the diary world is clearly es- 

 tablished by the fact that the Elgin board of trade, which makes the price 

 of butter for the whole country, exists in our state, and this' association is 

 entitled to a large amount of the credit for the rapid strides our state has 

 made in this work. 



Our sister states are following in our footsteps, and we must be diligent 

 and persistent in our work, and devise new and better methods for produc- 

 ing the best butter made in the world, in order to hold our reputation. 



One word in regard to the delivering of milk to the creameries. Many 

 farmers seem to think that any kind of milk is good enough for a creamery. 

 This is entirely wrong. The milk should be delivered to the creameries in 

 the best possible condition. The better condition the milk is in when re- 

 ceived at the creamery, the better grade of butter can be made from it, and 

 the higher price can be obtained for the butter. 



The market demands a better quality of butter each year, and unless 

 a creamery can produce butter of the best quality, it cannot reasonably ex- 

 pect to get the best price for it. and the consequence is the patrons will not 

 get the best price for their milk. 



The better the quality of the mi Ik received at the creamery, the better 

 the skim milk will be when returned to th farm for feeding, and consequent- 

 ly the greater its value. 



While the price of beef calves continues as high as it is at present, the 

 value of this skim milk is high, for it has been demonstrated that calves can 

 be grown on good, clean, sweet skim milk with a grain food added, much 

 cheaper than on new milk, an£, if p roperly handled, equally as good. 



The past season has been more prosperous for the farmer than the prev- 

 ious year; better prices have been obtained for nearly all kinds of farm 

 products; crops have been good in most localities: laborers are all at work, 

 and are buying freely of provisions, which helps to make better prices for 

 farm products, and in fact, helps every branch of business. 



The long looked for prosperity is here. 



Let us wake up and take advantage of the good times, as the old saying 

 is: "Make hay while the sun shines." 



