20 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



We have endeavored to bring these facts directly to the 

 farmers. 



The question of Bovine tuberculosis is a very live one. Great 

 interest is displayed- and many cities have adopted strict laws to 

 prevent the entrance of infected milk within its limits. No one 

 can seriously question for a minute the immense importance of 

 this subject. Our neighboring states, for several years have been 

 sending the cows which have reacted from the Tuberculin test 

 to our State. We have been buying them at big prices. It is 

 time that we considered the ways and means of preventing them 

 from making this state a dumping ground. 



Our breeding and milking herds should be jealously guarded 

 from the spread of this disease, from the financial standpoint as 

 well as for the health of our families. 



Upon the recommendation of this Association, the State 

 Board of Agriculture recently combined under one head the Dairy 

 Products Department and Dairy Cattle Department. Mr. A. O. 

 Auten was appointed Superintendent. This appointment will 

 assure us of a Superintendent who is actively engaged in the 

 Dairy work. I earnestly request that every Dairyman will give 

 Mr. Auten his active support. It is up to this Association to see 

 that the classes in butter, milk, cheese, etc., on the premium list 

 of our State Fair are well filled, because we have promised our 

 help and co-operation. Already steps have been taken to give 

 new life and standing to the Dairy Products Department and 

 within a few years I hope to see at our State Fair an enormous 

 display of products. 



I wish to again impress upon you at this time the importance 

 of systematizing your Dairy operations. Keep the records of the 

 production of your cows. Do not overlook the commercial value 

 of the milk scale and the butter fat test, as well as the feed scale. 



Study your farm and dairy Journals. Dairy farming is a 

 special business full of detail and it is necessary to use all the 

 thought and careful study at one's command. I know of num- 

 bers of men who give up the Dairy business because their "wife's 

 health is bad." If those farmers had used a little more "gray 



