40 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN S ASSOCIATION. 



technical skill and capital, coupled with natural facilities, 

 such as climate, adaptation of soil, cheap power, presence of 

 the raw material, etc. All these things are in the line of 

 economical division of labor and are the mark of progress 

 in civilization itself. 



The question for discussion here is, do the various 

 branches of the business of husbandry fall under the same 

 law, and especially is the business of dairying in the imme- 

 diate future and considered as to its rewards and profits, to 

 be most advantageously pursued as a specialty, or other- 

 wise in connection with diversified farming ? I do not hes- 

 itate to take the position that the law referred to does apply, 

 with proper limitations, to the various branches of agricul- 

 tural industry and to dairying in particular. 



It will be noted here that the question is not whether 

 dairy farming will be profitable the next few years. That 

 is an entirely different and separate question. But assum- 

 ing that there will fie any profit at all in the business, I be- 

 lieve it will be greater if pursued under favorable circum- 

 stances as a specialty ; and further, this special attention to 

 it may make all the difference there is between a losing and 

 a profitable business. The day is past when the dairy of 

 five cows, in connection with mixed farming, can compete 

 economically with the dairy of fifty cows, the natural facili- 

 ties being the same ; and the question is by no means set- 

 tled that the dairy of fifty cows, operated distinct and alone, 

 can compete economically with associated dairies of five 

 hundred or a thousand cows, the same skill in the various 

 details being brought to bear in both. The same principles 

 apply here that apply to other branches of industry. The 

 consumer of dairy products has advanced in this direction 

 as he has in others. He demands a more finished product 

 — a product of greater artistic skill. And his demands are 

 inexorable. He is able to pay for it and he will have it 

 The manufacturer who is able to meet this want " takes 

 first money," and is likely to reap the greatest profits. 



Skill and capital are brought into use advantageously 

 here as in other branches of industry. Capital is required 

 to procure the facilities for producing the best product as 

 well as a given quantity of it at the least cost. Skill is 

 acquired by careful study and practice on the part of a 

 capable individual, and this becomes economically possible 

 only when operations are large and the products consider- 



