Q ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN S ASSOCIATION. 



its excellent butter and poor cheese. I presume, however, 

 skim cheese will continue to be made so long as factory 

 patrons and manufacturers can both make money by so 

 doing. Class me as one of a large number who will not 

 eat cheese thoroughly skimmed. " If this be treason, make 

 the most of it." 



McHenry county is one of the pioneers in the manu- 

 facture of good cheese and " Gilt Edged " butter. Barthol- 

 omew, Stewart Brothers, and a few others in this county and 

 Kane, made cheese, long years ago, that superceded the 

 noted *' Western Reserve " and New York cheese. Mr. 

 Israel Boies (a name honored by dairymen everywhere) may 

 justly be considered as the pioneer in the manufacture of an 

 extra quality of butter in this vicinity, where now so much 

 is manufactured, and is so widely appreciated. 



Dairymen of Illinois, your executive committee have 

 outlined an extensive field for discussion on this occasion. 

 Very few dairy topics have as yet received solutions that 

 command universal assent. The field is wide and still open 

 for both argument and experiment. In the same neighbor- 

 hood several methods are considered best for feeding dairy 

 cows. The causes and prevention of abortion, a very seri- 

 ous drawback to dairymen, remain unknown. The best 

 methods of setting milk, still in dispute ; the best breeds of 

 dairy stock a subject of difference, and so on. Above all 

 these topics, so useful, and necessary to be discussed, let us 

 not forget to study to so manage this industry that its most 

 noted product shall be a race of men and women noted for 

 intelligence and worthy manhood and womanhood. Illinois 

 is a great state — only in its infancy of development. I am 

 proud of her past progress, and hopeful for a glorious future. 

 I feel quite sure the dairymen of Illinois will bring no dis- 

 honor to its fame. One word more, and I give way to your 

 regular proceedings. Dr. J. Woodworth, one of the mem- 

 bers of the Kishwaukee Farmers' club, who was also a 

 member of your association, and a worthy patron of both, 

 and I may justly add, a man of science and a practical man 

 as well, convenes with us no more on earth. I am sure we 

 all duly appreciate his energy and suggestions in the cause 

 of dairy improvements, and offer in this public manner our 

 grateful tribute of respect to his memory. 



In the absence of Judge Wilcox, of Elgin, who was to 



