Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1898-02-18

Its annual convention January IL, IL
and 13, at Red Bud, a quaint old town
which bears many substantial evidences
OF thrift and prosperity. Not far from
Kaskaskia, the first capital of the
state, it is situated in the very heart
of the country celebrated in the his
torical romances of Mary ]. Gather
wood The convention was great
success if it was held way down in
Southern Illinois,"
Like other meetings Of its class IT
brought together such a clean-hearted'
keen-witted, jovial set of men, and was
conducted with an absence of restraint
that proved so enticing that the sec
rotary was fairly harassed by appllca-
lions for membership.
The character of the dairy discus
sions has changed materially since the
days when the relative merits of breeds
was the all-important topic. This sub
Ject was so generally ignored at most
of the sessions that an ignorant at
tendant might reasonably have sup
posed that "any old cow would do for
dairy purposes. The attention of the
NOA4N CAAlACA W do ClllCny QGNONSo ~
consideration of the comparative values
Of forage crops and how to preserve
them in the best, most economical
manner. All arguments for old meth
DDS or principles not sustained by the
recent experiments of the agricultural
stations were received with cynical
good nature and the professors in agrl-
cultural lines of whom liberal spr1nk-
ling was present, commanded at all
times the most respectful attention.
Indeed nothing was more apparent than
the growing confidence in and de-
pendence upon the work of the expert
ment stations by the progressive and
practical farmers of the state who rec
ognize their inability as individuals to
conduct such tests with the scient1hc
accuracy attained by the stations and
are glad to avail themselves of the re-
suits.
The most valuable contribution to the
program was generally conceded to be
the address by Mr.. R. A. Pearson, as
sistant secretary of agriculture, who
extensively described the work which
the department has done and is doing
to further the dairy and general agri-
cultural interests of American farm
ers. We hope to give these papers and
discussions in detail in later issues Of
the Farmers Review.
Chief among the resolutions passed
by the convention was one condemn
ing the so-called free distribution Of
seeds, which the Farmers Review has
--tU
posed. Another of the resolutions
passed was addressed to the Illinois
legislature and petitioned that body to
20 amend the present anti-color oleo-
law as to provide for the
of dairy commissioner
Ind for an appropriation for the
of such an office, the as
pledging itself to work by
individual vote and personal influence
or such legislation.
The following officers were elected
or the ensuing year: President, George
1. Gurler of DeKalb; vice-president,
ohm Newman, Elgin; secretary, ]. H.
Ionrad of Winnetka; directors, Jno.
tewart, Elburn; R. R. Murphy, Gar
en- Plain; s. G.. Soverhill, Tiskilwa;
/. G. MILFORD, Red Bud, and A. G.
udd, Dixon.
After the reading of the scores on
ne butter exhibit and announcement
f awards, Mr.. f. W. Brockway ad-
ressed the convention on the DE
lands of the St. Louis Market" which
e summarized in the statement: "St
outs demands good butter" Mr..
rockway was one of the judges of
lie butter exhibit and explained the
oints of the score card. He consid-
ed color a point of secondary i'm
1rtance and said that the tendency
the trade is towards a lighter shade,
lat the Chicago and New York de-
and is for paler hued butter than
;. Louis. In the discussion which
flowed, Mr.. MILFORD expressed the
Union that the various state dairy as
Citations should unite to adopt a.
andard color for butter and urge its
neral adoption.
One would think that three days of
rec sessions each would have ex-
usted the debating zeal of even such
dairy farmers as these,
t no, at the parting of the ways as
g trains bore them north, south, east
d west, wherever two or three were
thered togther the discussions went
and butter, cream, ensilage, corn,
d all the other terms in the bright
icon" of the Illinois dairyman
ated out upon the night air and
ubtless mingled in their dreams al
" sped across the rolling prairieA