274 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



The refrigerator which contained these exhibits has a glass 

 front formed of three thicknesses of plate glass with air spaces 

 between. The temperature inside the case was kept close to 

 the freezing point by an ice-making machine in constant opera- 

 tion. 



There was no doubt that this exhibit gave great prominence 

 to the dairy interests of the State to visitors from Illinois, as 

 well as the hundreds of thousands of people from other States 

 and foreign countries, who saw this exhibit were given an object 

 lesson which will be far-reaching in its results. 



Many a young man from Illinois and other States as well, 

 went home with new thoughts and new ideas which will be put 

 into practice as a result of his visit to the dairy exhibits. 



While the wealth of Illinois is in her fertile soil, it is a well 

 known fact that in order to maintain this wealth it is necessary 

 to return to the soil the elements of fertility taken away by the 

 continued cropping from year to year. 



The great increase in dairying in Central Illinois during 

 the past few years not only demonstrates the fact that dairying 

 is a profitable buisness, but also draws attention to the fact that 

 the farmers are beginning to realize that dairying with the proper 

 crop rotation is one of the best methods known of retaining the 

 soil fertility. As an instance of this ; on a certain farm in Madi- 

 son county, the yield of corn per acre was doubled in two years 

 by this method of growing suitable crops and feeding the cows 

 and returning the barnyard manure to the soil. 



Another evidence of the effect of dairy farming on the 

 soil is shown by the fact that in the best dairy counties of North- 

 ern Illinois, which are supposed to be north of the great corn 

 belt of the State, the average yield of corn per acre is forty-two 

 bushels ; while in Central Illinois, where large yields can be 

 obtained by proper methods, the average is only thirty-six bushels 

 per acre. At Greenville, in Bond county, where in 1900 not 

 more than 3,000 pounds of milk was delivered per day, the daily 

 delivery has increased to about 70,000 pounds during the past 

 four years and during this time the value of farm property in 



