88 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



ing appeared alongside of splices, knots, hitches, patches and garments. 

 The state board of public health furnished convincing educational posters 

 dealing with influenza, and tubercular and sex hygiene questions. The 

 state library association not only exhibited a variety of its traveling li- 

 braries, but made engagements for hundreds of hamlets and rural com- 

 munities that hitherto had been limited in library facilities. 



As usual the state agricultural college furnished an exhibit of methods 

 of agricultural improvement for the entire farm. Demonstrations of the 

 results of spraying fruit, sanitary milk and butter production, the use of 

 Improved sires, the value of testing for dairy production and the need of 

 quality products were presented by striking exhibits. Girls from the 

 county clubs took turns in demonstrating methods of canning fruit, and 

 cooking the staples of the farm menu in an appetizing way. 



The campers' city grows each year. The eastern grounds housed more 

 than 20,000 people in tents who came to study the fair at their leisure. 

 Certain families have become so pleased with this type of outing that they 

 have built concrete foundations for their tents, to be reserved so long as 

 they regularly attend the fair. 



The last legislature appropriated $54,000 for the purchase of 30 acres to 

 the north of the grandstand. This is being developed into a landing field 

 for aviation, and as an area for tractor and farm machine demonstrations. 

 Aviation as an amusement feature was strongly developed this year, and 

 with proper facilities in future will become one of the leading departments. 



Due to the co-operation of the War Department, an excellent military 

 display was made available for the Iowa Home folk. A heavy and a light 

 tank, a tractor-drawn 155-mm. howitzer, a 4.7-inch gun, an anti-air 

 craft 75-mm. rifle mounted on a truck, and a complete field hos- 

 pital equipment furnished two parades daily, and were so disposed 

 as to permit minute inspection. The public safety at the fair was main- 

 tained by discharged infantrymen of the Rainbow Division, while the first 

 Saturday of the fair was a soldier, sailor and marine day. More than 

 15,000 men in uniform were on the grounds. 



In some branches the live stock exhibit soared. Of hogs there were 

 3,19'7 head shown. In the major breeds the largest classes and evenest 

 quality in the history of the fair prevailed. Sheep also took an upward 

 jump, with home-bred and imported animals vying with one another. 

 Fine-wools picked up this season, and three classifications had full entries. 

 Horses were affected by the general market' depression, and their numbers 

 were reduced as compared with past years. Quality was high, however, 

 in this section, and a number of new farmer-breeders made their initial 

 bow. The night horse show brought out some big saddle and harness 

 rings, although many of the stables of past years were not represented. 



On Thursday afternoon, following the conclusion of the judging in the 

 live stock department, a parade of the horses and cattle round the race 

 track was a memorable sight. It was admirably conducted, and left an 

 exalting Impression on the thousands who witnessed it. 



