24 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



through the medium of dairying. They place so much stress on 

 dairying in that country that the dominion and provinces have 

 given considerable state and government aid in developing the 

 dairy industry ; not so much as here maybe, but they apply it in a 

 wiser manner. They have educated the farmers there to a line 

 of farming that is making them richer than the average farmer 

 in Southern Illinois. 



If any of you entertain the idea that it is a small business 

 just think of these things and of the possibilities before you if 

 you are intelligent men. Think of the chances for learning, the 

 teachings now given in every state in the union through the dairy 

 schools and colleges. 



The main part of my remarks I want to confine to the dairy 

 cow, and what she ought to be, and what she is on the average 

 farm. Although we have produced so much wealth, the average 

 yield for a cow in the United States is 125 pounds of butter a 

 year, and 125 pounds of butter a year will not pay for the feed 

 that is given to the cows in this country, if we value that feed at 

 the selling price on the market. The farmer has been able to 

 grow the feed and feed it at that great loss, and make a bit of a 

 profit if I may put it that way. 



We find, in looking over dairy records, and this herd that 

 your President mentioned is one of the best in this country, that 

 the possibilities are almost beyond conception what a dairy cow 

 can do. Individual animals in the past twelve months producing 

 almost 1,000 pounds of butter in that twelve months, instead of 

 125 pounds. You have that wide margin before you. Isn't 

 that worth considering? How did that man get it? Think 

 about it. One thousand pounds; that is abnormal, as few 

 attain it. A good cow and well kept. I will venture to say that 

 on every farm in Illinois, yes, on every farm in this country, you 

 will find some cows that do not come up to the 125 pounds of but- 

 ter per year. I won't say every herd in this country. There are 

 a few who have brought it up to 300 pounds and 500 pounds, but 

 the rank and file only 125 pounds, and there are some below 100 



