ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. ^3 



There is no form of organization among southern Illinois dairymen, 

 ^ven all attempts to organize a St. Louis shippers union has proved a 

 iailure. 



I know of no reason that should keep the dairy industry from in- 

 creasing, that has more real argument in it than the condition that the 

 public highways are in at times during the winter season. I have 

 liuown dairymen in the past year to be two hours on the road makin-^ 

 two miles with two cans of milk. Others have got stuck and actually 

 had to give up their trips. We are in that section of the country where 

 jong freezes don't come, and all winter long w^e don't seem to be quite 

 satisfied if it is not continually freezing and thawing, and good road 

 improvements come slow. 



"Every cloud has its silver lining. ' I would not have you put me 

 down as a pessimist. I have only been trying to state facts as they are. 



On the otjlier hand there are many farmers who have come out to be 

 ^ood, practical and progressive dairymen. They are of the class that 

 Mr. Hostetter spoke of at the Galesburg meeting last year. Those "who 

 have taken a number of cows and given them a fair chance and now will 

 not attempt to farm without them." 



We have but few men that v/e can point to and say, "There is a man 



vho made his fortune dairying." There are many farms to which we 



an go and find a nice house and many comforts of life, good improve- 



jQients all around, and the dairy farm is the one where these comfort;"i 



and improvements are the more r-umerous. 



The work of the Illinois Dairy Association, the State Experimental 

 Station, and of the Farmer' Institute are having a telling effect upon our 

 ■dairymen. While it is true that comparatively few take an active part 

 in the proceedings or discussions or reports of these concerns, there are 

 many who are watching with both eyes wide open, the practical ideas of 

 those who do attend and are profiting thereby. 



The day has gone with us when to buy anything that gives milk, or 



someone else's mistakes, is thought to be the proper thing to do. While 



t is true that few of the most successful dairymen have ever raised a 



