108 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



and -the best farmers of tlie state, should all co-operate that our system 

 of fairs may be built upon the right idea; that they may stand together, 

 each supporting the other, to make the greatest possible educational and 

 clean entertainment system in the country. Such co-operation has been 

 fostered in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin State Fair the past year did away 

 with all of the questionable shows which in previous years has given 

 it a bad name and spoiled its good influence. It is thus able to lead the 

 way to improvement along this line and to suggest and ask that the other 

 fairs in the state receiving state aid shall clean up in like manner. 



A splendid co-operation has been developed between county and district 

 fairs as a result of which the Department of Agriculture was asked to 

 submit a standard and modern premium list to these fairs In time so that 

 it might be copied and made the basis of premium lists in the county 

 and state fairs. This premium list was made up by the Department 

 of Agriculture in conference with specialists upon each line of exhibits 

 and with the advice of the best farmers and farmers' associations. It 

 embodied in its schedules the best ideals of the day. 



AGRICULTURAI, ACTIVITIES SHOULD EE PEOPERLY ORGANIZED. 



The support of the vast agricultural experiment and educational sys- 

 tems of the nation and state involves the expenditure of immense sums 

 of money. The organization of so vast a system should be most care- 

 fully scrutinized and the field work planned and supervised with greatest 

 care in order that there may be no duplication, useless expenditure and 

 friction. It is to be regretted that illustrations of such duplication are 

 all too frequent both in the nation and within the states themselves. 

 Too often the work within the state is duplicated by the federal work; 

 too often there is friction because of this. All too frequently the state 

 departments are duplicating the work of the experiment station, the 

 college of agriculture, or the extension departments of the same. Quite 

 frequently do we find the college issuing a bulletin on a certain subject 

 and the department of agriculture following or preceding with a dupli- 

 cate. It is time that such duplication of w^ork be discontinued. This is 

 the age of efficiency, economy, organization and co-operation. There is 

 sufficient work for all departments to do within their respective fields. 

 It is important that the field of each be properly outlined and that 

 each adhere to the field thus laid out. 



WISCONSIN ORGANIZATION. 



In Wisconsin the State Department of Agriculture was organized by 

 the last legislature. It has been the purpose of those in charge of the 

 organization of agricultural work in the state to see that this new 

 department shall be organized in such a manner as to prevent duplica- 

 tion of work and expenditure and consequent friction. Through the co- 

 operation of the dean and director of the experiment station and the 

 college of agriculture and the commissioner of agriculture, by the order 

 of the governor of the state, a careful study of the situation has been 

 made and a division of the field work carefully mapped out. The college 

 of agriculture and experiment station have been given the entire experi- 



