ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



:o7 



given in the program as '' Dairying and Other Farming," for it 

 should have been '' Dairying With Other Farming." 



The subject seems to be of some import^rce when I am re- 

 mined that about nine-tenths of the milk produced in this country 

 is from farms where mixed farming is practiced. This is per- 

 haps a condition which we as special dairymen are somewhat 

 averse to as we would rather see the dairy business carried on as 

 a more special branch of farming. 



The fact, however, remains that diversified, or mixed farm- 

 ing, is the prevailing tendency of the majority of farmers. It is 

 only here and there we find a dairyman who will even admit that 

 his principle business is in the line of milk and butter production. 

 The great mass of milk producing stock in this country is made 

 Lip of grade or native cattle. Then the conditions we naturally 

 confront are, first of all, that the milk is produced by grade or 

 common cattle, and by farmers who are engaged in several 

 branches of farming. This condition can not be changed in one 

 day, or one year, or perhaps even many years but, of course, can 

 be greatly improved. 



Farmers will learn from experience how best to conduct 

 their method of farming and ascertain which branch is the most 

 profitable, and, yet it is a question whether it is wise to advocate 

 special farming in the sense that farmers in general should de- 

 pend on one branch of husbandry for their entire profits. 



I believe that we can well afford to give some time and study 

 in ascertaining what departments of farming will best go with 

 what we understand as dairy farming. 



Dairying as an occupation is one which demands regular and 

 constant attention. It is a 365 day year with the dairymen. 

 The cows must be milked and fed at certain hours and no excuse 

 can be given for delays in any of the operations. 



Dairying may also be classed as an intensive form of agri- 

 culture, that is to say, a form of agriculture resorted to by people 

 who are living on small farms and in sections thickly populated. 

 It is not necessarily better adapted to such conditions, but such 

 conditions have proven that dairying is quite essential. The cow 



