ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 47 



equalled by few other sections of the country, and that we are doing some- 

 thing towards making Illinois the first wheat State in the Union. 



If these facts and figures show anything, they show that Central Illinois 

 is devoted to stock growing, and the growing of feed for other live stock than 

 their own. 



Now I cannot think that this is accidental, or from the force of habit, or 

 even example. True we are governed more by the actions of other people, 

 than we sometimes realize. A few years ago there was a herd of White Face 

 cattle established at Beecher, 111. After being admired for a short time by 

 the neighbors of their owner, more than a dozen herds were soon found in 

 the same neighborhood. As to our system— or want of system— of farming 

 being simply habitual, I must say, every mother's son of this generation, is 

 supposed to be wiser than his father, and if the latter has driven in the rut, 

 no one is more ready to pull out than the son, when he holds the lines. This 

 age is a progressive one, and it would be unfair to infer that the agricultural 

 portion of this, or any other community, are absolutely blind to their own 

 interests. 



W hile I believe the present course to be legitimate, and for the most part 

 the proper one— subject however to some corrections and improvements— I 

 do not believe we are making the best of all the advantages we have in cli- 

 mate, abundant grain crops, and rich pasturage, and excellent transportation 

 privilege s. 



Notwithstanding it has been demonstrated to a certainty, that our 

 steers in their yearling form may be made to weigh twelve-hundred pounds, 

 and in their two year old form sixteen-hundred, and in their three year old 

 form a ton or more : and this too with an offal of but about forty pounds to 

 the hundred ; our pigs are making a full pound per day, and two pounds 

 per week are the accumulations of some of our mutton sheep, yet I believe 

 that there are wastes that ought to be gathered up, profits that are as yet 

 not considered worth the saving. Believing this, I have asked the Illinois 

 State Dairyman's Association to come to our little city and hold their an- 

 nual reunion. Knowing somewhat of their generous nature, I trust they will 

 cheerfuly do some missonary work with us, and they shall have their reward. 

 For if he that '' makes two blades of grass to grow, where but one grew be- 

 fore," is a benefactor, will not he also be who informs us how to make two 

 profits, where but one was asked for, or thought of before. We did this in 

 hopes they would tell us how we may retain the '' Golden Calf " we almost 

 worship on the farm, and not mar his form or beauty by repeated blows from 

 the churndash, and yet send to the factory cream, the value of which is 

 equal to the value of the aforesaid calf. How to establish and maintain 

 factories, where the accumulated milk of a district may be converted into 

 butter or cheese upon scientific principles, making more of it, and of a better 

 quality, than can be made without the use of factory devices. How the labor 

 of caring for the milk and making the butter, shall be transferred from our 

 already overtaxed wives and daughters, to those more able. If this last is 

 accomplished, I predict, when these people return to their homes, they will 

 take blessings with them, blessings from much the best half of this com- 

 mnnity. 



