ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



95 



The temperature and rainfall in all portions of the State are quite uni- 

 form, with no extremes of heat or cold, and no lack of moisture to ensure 

 profitable grain and forage crops. 



The average monthly temperature and rainfall in the northern and cen- 

 tral divisions of the State during the past five years are given in the follow- 

 ing table : 



NORTHERN DIVISION. 



YEAR. 



TEMPERATURE. 



RAIN AND 



Highest. 



Lowest. 



Mean. 



MELTED SNOW. 



Inches. 



1882 



75.45 

 72.00 

 74.00 

 75.00 

 73.00 



24.23 

 23.50 

 23.00 

 18.00 

 28.00 



49.47 

 49.10 



48.00 

 46.00 

 49.00 



3 42 



1881 



3 78 



1880 



3 34 



1879 



2 67 



1878 



2.61 



CENTRAL DIVISION. 



■ 



TEMPERATURE. 



RAIN AND 



YEAR. 



Highest. 



Lowest. 



Mean. 



MELTED SNOW. 



Inches. 



1882 



77.60 

 75.80 

 78.00 

 78.00 

 77.00 



29.10 

 25.60 

 27.00 

 23.00 

 30.00 



52.92 

 51.50 

 52.00 

 51.00 

 52.00 



4.42 



1881 



3.79 



1880 



2.81 



1879 



2.16 



1878 



3.05 



There being no question as to the ability of our dairymen to obtain im- 

 proved milch stock, ihat will insure handsome returns for the investment, 

 and the admitted adaptability of our rich soil and favorable climate for 

 dairy purposes, nothing farther seems requisite to success except the proper 

 management of the farm and the skilled manufacturer of butter and cheese. 



It would require many volumes to give the best methods of farming and 

 making superior quality of dairy products and only a brief outline can be 

 given in a paper of this character. 



The dairy farm should be thoroughly tile drained, the lands seeded with 

 such a variety of grasses as will ensure a succession of fresh and nutritious 

 pasturage during the growing season. The seeding of varieties of grasses 

 best suited to the soils and wants of the dairy cow has not received sufficient 

 attention, and comparatively few appreciate the advantages to be derived 

 from a thorough and systematic cultivation of grass lands by seasonable top 

 dressing, harrowing and rolling. 



It is estimated that a proper seeding of our pastures with a variety of 

 seeds best suited to the soils of this State would increase the yield of forage 

 plants from 50 to 100 per cent, and that the quality of butter and cheese pro- 

 duced on such farms would be greatly improved. 



