ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 27 



tlie reputation we have established in this country for our 

 butter. We hear it talked of by cranks and others that there 

 will be an over-production of butter. What will be done with 

 it? There has always been a market for all of the finest 

 grades of butter. The people have their tastes cultivated 

 up to a high standard. The very best is none too good. 



The steps that our Secretary of Agricultural, Hon. James 

 Wilson, has taken toward finding a market in Great Britain 

 for our butter is a commendable one. 



I think the cause of our partial failure to market our but- 

 ter in the old country has been on account of the quality of 

 the goods shipped there. We have had a home demand for 

 all of our finest butter at a higher price than could be realized 

 for it to ship abroad. The time has come when more of our 

 butter is made in the creameries; will have more fine butter 

 than formerly and wdll want an outlet for it across the water. 

 It is my opinion that we should cater to that trade whenever 

 our market is low enough to enable us to ship it there. Let 

 them have all they will take of it. Try and regain the reputa- 

 tion we have lost in the old country by shipping them goods 

 that were not fine. 



We can compete with other foreign countries on butter, 

 with the recent advantage we have obtained by the improved 

 refrigeration on our transporation boats crossing the water. 



From what information I can get the Southern part of 

 Illinois, opposite St. Louis, is a fine dairy country. I have 

 never visited that locality and cannot speak from experience. 

 It is the wishes of the officers of the Association that the next 

 annual meeting be held in the Southern part of the State, if 

 satisfactory arrangements can be made for so doing. The 

 State is so long it is impossible to do the dairyman of the 

 State justice by holding one meeting each year. The lack of 

 funds to defray the necessary expenses of the meetings, pre- 

 vents the Association from holding more than one meeting 

 annually. 



We have reasons to think that the dairy business will im- 

 proA^e. With the foreign demand for our butter and the anti- 

 color law we will be able to place a large amount of butter 

 where butterine Avas formerl}^ used. We have no longer to 

 compete with the product of the stock yards of Chicago and 



