34 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



herds is strong but it simply emphasizes the fact that the man who 

 puts push and brains into his work is rewarded by greater re- 

 turns. 



The Southern Illinois dairyman has an advantage over his 

 brothers in the northern part of the state because of the adapta- 

 tion of certain valuable crops to his part of the state. I refer 

 to the great use which is being made of cow peas and soja beans, 

 more especially the former. In the successful feeding of dairy 

 cows there must be a liberal though not extravagant use of pro- 

 tein. Since protein is the most expensive ingredient, its produc- 

 tion on the farm avoids the purchase of expensive concentrates, 

 and points the way to economical milk production. Cow peas 

 do well in nearly all parts of Southern Illinois and are quite large- 

 ly grown in the more intensive dairy districts. This plant 

 yields a liberal quantity of palatable and highly nutritious rough- 

 ness, and for these reasons its use is becoming more general as 

 its great value becomes better known. Soja beans are equally 

 valuable but not so well known. With a proper adjustment of 

 the corn, clover, and cow pea crops the cost of producing milk 

 may be reduced one-half, because they may all be produced on 

 the farm. In any part of the state where these plants flourish 

 they should be grown, for in no other way can the cost of produc- 

 tion be so readily reduced. 



In conclusion I wish to call attention to two things of great 

 importance to every milk producer. First : The longer dairy 

 conditions are studied the more evident it is that there is a strong 

 demand for products of higher quality. To meet this we must 

 have higher standards. People prefer uncolored oleo to rank 

 butter. Most people relish good cheese but will go without rather 

 than put up with a doubtful substitute. The amount of milk 

 used for direct consumption could be increased three-fold in a 

 short time if the public realized its nutritive value and knew that 

 it had been produced under sanitary conditions. Here is the 

 demand awaiting the efforts of the man who will clean up his 

 place, advertise his goods and invite inspection. Not all dairy- 

 men are so situated that they can reach the special city markets 



