ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 19 



feed and milk some of their cows at a dead loss? If our As- 

 sociation could secure the organization of only one such Test 

 Association^ we should have done more good than we can 

 hope to do with a half a dozen conventions. The need of the 

 farmers in these davs of low prices is a business system. 



In connection with such Testing Associations it is desir- 

 able to have a breeding association, securing a few good bulls 

 for the service only of the best cows. 



CREAMERIES AND CHEESE FACTORIES. 



It is very difficult to get at the correct number of cream- 

 eries and cheese factories in the State, without a special cen- 

 sus for which we have no funds. 



The number has been given as exceeding 800 somewhat, 

 but I have been unable to locate more than 580 creameries 

 and 40 cheese factories. 



The co-operative system is gaining ground, though as yet 

 the individual creamery is in the lead. There is plenty of 

 room for improvement in the buildings and their manage- 

 ment. Lack of a cool room in which to work the butter and 

 a general lack of control of the temperature being the weakest 

 points. 



It is to be hoped that the owners will make up their 

 minds to attend to this, even if the first cost may frighten 

 them. 



Unless individual creamery men keep in view all the 

 time the interest of their patrons, the co-operative plan is sure 

 to gain in spite of their enormous losses owing to ignorance 

 and lack of true co-operation. 



It is, however, too much to ask an individual to risk the 

 heavy investment of a creamery built as it ought to be built 

 and it seems to me that the solution of the problem lies in 

 the building of first-class creameries by the farmers who may 

 then find it more to their advantage to rent them to creamery 

 men who are thoroughly posted in the business. The cream- 

 ery system has come to stay and it is safe for the farmers to 

 invest in as good buildings as for court houses and other per- 

 manent institutions. 



