74 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



what takes some trouble to represent itself to that board, and I give you the 

 evidence of your own Secretary that when you did make a spasmodic effort 

 for one moment to represent yourselves before that board you had a respec- 

 table hearing, and you not only had a respectable hearing but you had a re- 

 spectable appropriation for the thing you desired, then they simply called a 

 halt and decided they did not want to do what they came to us and claimed 

 they did want to do. As to claiming, there isn't an interest in the State 

 but does come before that board and make its wants known— the horse men, 

 the fast horse men, and the slow horse men, the cattle men and the swine 

 men, have all come before that board and made known their wants, and their 

 wants have been invariably respected by them, and we know something 

 about their wishes and desires, and how to treat their matters ; and I want 

 to say that with the exception of that one elfort there has not, to my knowl- 

 edge, been any effort ever made on the part of the dairymen. Notwithstand- 

 ing all these things, I want to say on behalf of the board that we are willing' 

 we are anxious to represent every interest that comes to our attention, and 

 if you see fit to adopt this resolution I am quite sure that that board, if they 

 are called upon in earnest— not simply that you ask to have dollars appro- 

 priated for premiums, and then leave the benches empty after asking them 

 to be prepared for you, leaving the premiums uncalled for, uncompeted for— 

 I say if this is the object, they may possibly treat you coolly, but if you come 

 with assurances that you mean what you say I assure you, gentlemen, the 

 State Board will meet you more than half way. Motion put and carried. 



Committee of three nominated, composed of C. C. Buell, D. W. Willson 

 and H. B. Gurler, to carry the resolution into effect. 



EEPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DAIRY UTENSILS. 



Mr. President: Your committee on dairy utensils would report that 

 thev find on exhibition one DeLaval cream separator ; one boiler and engine, 

 manufactured by Robinson & Burr, of Champaign ; and one combination 

 milk pail and stool exhibited by Gilmore & Co., of Chicago ; all of which ar- 

 ticles we think worthy of favorable mention. 



Chas. Ellis. 

 Henry Putnam. 



H. B. GrURLER. 



Report of committee on dairy utensils received and adopted. 

 DRAINAGE AND THE DAIRY INTEREST. 



BY C. G. ELLIOTT, TONICA, ILL. 



Whatever can be done to improve the grass crop of our country, either 

 with respect to its quantity or quality, is of great importance to the dairy- 

 man. When we reflect upon the fact that this family of the vegetable king- 

 dom comprises about one- sixth of the whole, and forms the basis upon which 

 the industry of animal husbandry is built ; that it is an important part of 

 Nature's covering, a renovator of the soil and an important agent in the 

 conversion of rock into soil matter, its importance as a factor in our mate- 



