ILLINOIS STATE DATIM MEN'S ASSOCIATION. 205 



was to dry up the perennial fountain and let nature have a little rest, be- 

 fore the function of maternity caused the copious streams to flow afresh. 



There was no lack of individuality about old Brindle. She was good 

 enough to breed to any foreigner and when the enterprising dairy man is 

 weeding out bis herd preparatory to breeding for business, it will be wis- 

 dom to let the lineal descendants, if worthy of her parentage, remain. The 

 world seems to have gone daft after imported things, and the dairy world 

 seems to be marching near the head of the procession. 



We want imported horses, imported cows and bulls, sheep and swine, 

 imported clothing, and imported luxuries of every description, and 'Vte 

 are apaprently anxious to pay well for what we suppose we get. There 

 is moreover reported to be a good demand for imported husbands for the 

 daughters of some of our rich men, and they are apparently ftuxious to 

 pay well for what they (3o not get. Perhaps though like some breeders 

 they want to pay for a pedigree. We all know that 25 years ago there 

 could not have been found in all A merica ten herds of dairy cows pro- 

 ducing an average of 7,500 pounds of milk per capita per twelve months. 

 Today we have herds producing more than 10,000 pounds of milk per 

 capita per twelve months. Twenty years ago the prophecy that we would 

 soon have cows in the United States capable of producing 20,000 pounds 

 of milk in a twelve month, would have been esteemed as idle, reckless, 

 guessing. 



But a few years ago fifteen pounds of butter was regarded as an ex- 

 ceptional performance. 1 need not tarry to speak of the number of cows 

 which have already produced over 20,000 and even 30,000 pounds of milk 

 per twelve months, or of the number which have made a butter record of 

 over twenty pounds per week. 



Were all these cows imported to this country? By no means. The 

 foundation for this great excellence may have been laid beyond the sea, 

 but the superstructure has been bult upon American soil, American skill, 

 American sagacity, American pluck and persistence have produced the 

 cows, on American soil. 



Twenty-five years ago and before she was ruined by the practical ap- 

 plication of the All-Purpose idea, we had many grand specimens of founda- 



