!68 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



the treatment of a cow, such as pasturage and the character of food neces- 

 sary to enable her to produce, as well as the most improved methods of 

 handling the milk and preparing it for the market. 



A new interest should be revived in dairy industries; go where you 

 will among the farming community and you will' hear nothing but words 

 of condemnation. 



That most honorable of all industries, the one upon which our ances- 

 tors built the foundations of our government, and which for more than 

 a hundred years has been its mainstay and support, is today without 

 scarcely a friend in this\ whole land to speak a good word in its defense. 

 Abuse after abuse has been heaped upon this greatest of all industries, 

 by the very people who should defend it, so that today the sons and 

 daughters of the farmers are fleeing from their country home to take their 

 chances of gaining a less honorable livelihood in the workshops! and 

 crowded thoroughfares of our large cities. While farm values have 

 shrunk and social structure of our country life are almost destroyed and 

 the lands, which a generation ago, were the hope and pride of our ances- 

 tors, are now occupied by renters Why should not the owner of the 

 farm remain upon it and make the home a bright and happy one, and 

 teach his children the dignity and advantage of farm life? The wealth of 

 our great nation was acquired from the' soil and from their products it 

 has been maintained ail the years of its existence. The country districts 

 have furnished men to us like Lii.coln, Logan, Yates, and Grant. These 

 men came from' the farm and had' the) brains to mould the nation's future 

 and they placed this country in the! front ranks of the nation of the world, 

 and the country home has ever been the embodiment of comfort and happi- 

 ness, its purity of character and love of virtue has always embellished the 

 lives of its sons and daughters. 



With the permission of the Chairman I would like to have Mr. Burke 

 speak to you a little while on our idea of inspection. I thank you. 



