28 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



each cow and applying the Babcock test. An effort is made to 

 bring about more rational feeding and conditions looking toward 

 the production of better milk. Dairymen everywhere are prone 

 to think that almost any place is good enough for the cows, 

 without stopping to consider that wholesome milk cannot be 

 produced in stables festooned with dust laden cobwebs, the floors 

 rotten and never thoroughly cleaned, and where the cows are 

 so filthy as to be actually repulsive to any one not accustomed to 

 such things. The importance of tight floors and ceilings is 

 emphasized together with the use of whitewash and sunlight 

 as aids in producing clean milk, not only for manufacturing pur- 

 poses but also for direct consumption. Another important object 

 of the work is to secure information to aid the experiment station 

 in its efforts to meet public demands. It is an effort on the part 

 of the state to educate the dairymen concerning those things which 

 are of vital interest to them. 



The conditions surrounding the production of milk in the 

 southern part of the state are quite different from those existing 

 in the northern counties, the difference being due to a less rigor- 

 ous climate, peculiar soil conditions, and the use of certain crops 

 not available in the north. The recent interest taken in dairying 

 in the southern part of the state comes as a recognition of the 

 value of dairy cattle in building up and maintaining soil fertility 

 in addition to the direct return from their products. I have been 

 told that not many years ago the soil of certain counties had be- 

 come so reduced in fertility by continuous cropping that they 

 were called " chicken " counties, from the fact that the bulk or 

 their live stock consisted of poultry. Consequently when the 

 interest in dairying began to take root the people were unpre- 

 pared for it, as they had neither barns nor cows nor sufficient 

 knowledge to produce suitable foods for dairy cattle. These 

 conditions still exist in some places, but where the dairy enthu- 

 siasm has been once aroused you would be surprised at the pro- 

 gress made and how easily, seemingly large obstacles have been 

 overcome. Not all parts are adapted to dairying, but in those 

 places where the start h:s been made a great change is taking' 



