152 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



It is to be regretted that the proposition of the Missouri 

 State Agricultural College to make comparative tests on a large 

 scale with all the beef breeds should come to naught through 

 the failure of all but one association to furnish the ten calves 

 required for the experiments. 



Prof. Sanborn's generous offer to take ten steer calves of 

 each of the breeds which are desirable for beef, give them the 

 same feed, care, &c, and report the result to the public each 

 year, would have afforded much valuable information. Said 

 calves were to be selected and furnished by the various associ- 

 ations which represent the various breeds and to be ready for 

 delivery September 1, last. The Holstein-Fresian Association, 

 through a competent committee, selected ten thoroughbred bulls 

 of the best breeding, which were donated by ten breeders, had 

 them steered and in readiness for delivery, when they were sur- ' 

 prised by the notification by Prof. Sanborn that the enterprise 

 must fail, as no other association had responded. It is a public 

 misfortune that the country could not have had the benefit of 

 the information which such an experiment, under such intelli- 

 gent and reliable ^supervision, would have furnished. 



The ultimate end of all the bovine race is the shambles, and, 

 although I would not breed or keep an inferior or even ordinary 

 cow for the sake of having a good carcass when her career is 

 finished in the dairy, yet this is a matter that should not be 

 overlooked, and, other qualities being equal, any dairyman of 

 intelligence would select cows which can be converted profit- 

 ably into beef. 



All the above qualities are essential in the dairy cow and 

 the breed which successfully combines them all is the profitable 

 one for the farmer and dairyman. Very respectfully, 



Edward A. Powell. 

 Syracuse, N. Y., Dec. 10, 1887. 



Vocal solo, " Spring Time" — Becker; Miss Floy Topping. 



