To the Dairymen of Illinois. 
It is an old and well-established saying that, to insure success in any 
undertaking, one must first thoroughly understand the business in which he 
is to engage. The dan? business is no exception to this mle. There are, 
no doubt, many persons in Illinois who are now engaged in dairying who. 
unless they become better posted in their business, had better turn their at¬ 
tention to some other branch of agriculture to which they and their farms 
are better adapted. Many are not making the dairy a real success, in any 
sense of the word; they are putting an inferior article upon the market, 
with no profit to themselves, but a decided injury to the general business. 
They are not possessed of that methodical system, close application and 
cleanly habits which are indispensable to complete success. The question 
arises.” How shall the dairymen of Illinois become thoroughly posted in 
all that pertains to their business? It would seem that any rule which is 
applicable to the great leading industries of the country would apply to 
dairying or any other branch of agriculture. 
Perhaps by no other way can this thorough knowledge be possessed better 
than by experience and interchanging of ideas; and no method is more 
direct for the diffusion of ideas than by organization. 
The great leading industries of our nation have their organizations, for 
the double purpose of protecting themselves from imposition and fraud as 
well as maintaining their commercial rights and privileges among kindred 
associations of the world. Iron, leather, lumber, corporations of all kinds, 
as well as the professions, trades and callings in all the pursuits of life, are 
represented through their organizations. There should be no exception m 
regard to any branch of agriculture. Stock-raisers, wool-growers horticul¬ 
turists, fruit-growers, believe that in union there is strength; and, there- 
fore, all have their organizations. 
