88 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



of the highest class, in wliich were entered the best animals, machines 

 and drivers to be found. We saw Ruth Law, America's most spectacular 

 and daring aviatrix, make at least two and three flights every day, and 

 at night she used fireworks so that we might follow her flight in the air. 

 We found a good deal to interest us at the night show at the StocK 

 Pavilion, but for me the best entertainment on the grounds was the show 

 in front of the amphitheater — The Last Days of Pompeii. This to me was 

 a wonderful fireworks display and I also found the fifteen different vaude- 

 ville acts fascinating and entei'taining. I found pleasure in the band con- 

 certs played by the Liberati and Henry bands but especially did I enjoy 

 the Hawaiian orchestra. 



I spent nine notable days at the fair. I have thought of my trip con- 

 tinually since returning home and I shall always remember it by the good 

 times I had, by the wonderful things I saw, by the many things I learned 

 and by the friendships I formed and hope to renew at the camp reunion 

 in 1918. 



COW-TESTING ASSOCIATIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS. 



BY H. C. BARKER, AMES. 



The cow-testing association, as you know, is not a new thing at all. 

 We have had cow-testing associations in the United States since 1905 

 patterned after those in Denmark. They have had associations in Den- 

 mark for about 25 years and have made a wonderful increase over there 

 in their production. You will realize this, I think, when I tell you that 

 when they started their cow-testing associations 20 years ago their average 

 production was 112 pounds of butterfat a year. At the end of 21 years 

 their average production was tetter than 250 pounds to the cow. In other 

 words, it had increased 100 per cent in 21 years. In our own country 

 here we have not been in the business long enough to show such a marked 

 increase in production as that, but nevertheless the increase in production 

 in our associations is growing very rapidly. In the United States at the 

 present time we have about 320 associations; July 1, 1915, we had 210, 

 and July 1, 1916, we had 320. That will give you some idea of the 

 rapidity of the growth and' the way the people are taking hold of it. This 

 increase in the United States is quite characteristic of the increase in 

 our own state. July 1, 1915, in Iowa we had 13 associations and July 

 1, 1916, we had 23; and now at the present time we have 24 in operation. 

 We have three more that are organized and will go ahead just as soon 

 as we can get men to do the work, and we have more than that to be 

 organized before spring. We have 50 communities working at the present 

 time. Perhaps it would be well to say something about the organization 

 of an association. 



The cow-testing association is a co-operating association between the 

 farmers. It takes 26 men to make an organization because there are 26 

 working days in the month. These men get together and agree to test 

 their cows for a year. After they get organized' in a community they h.ire 



