280 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



The sheep in all classes were not too highly fitted — a thing almost 

 impossible under past summer temperatures. Practically all exhibitors 

 brought more sheep than they had planned. Classes of ram and ewe 

 lambs were live features of the show. Iowa breeders demonstrated 

 that they can produce lambs of high excellence in type, fleece and 

 quality. 



Prof. F. R. Marshall, of the Department of Agriculture. Washington, 

 D. C, passed on all the breeds. His decisions were well received by 

 all exhibitors. 



The Shropshire show was very uniform in all classes and the quality 

 of the entries was a topic of ringside comment. Fewer imported sheep 

 were shown and a greater preponderance of Iowa-bred entries. The 

 Hampshires made a good show. The classes were small and most all 

 the winners were from outside the state. 



The Oxford show brought out some good sheep. Iowa breeders of 

 Oxfords have kept size, bone, flesh, and fleece well in mind and as a 

 result sales were numerous. It is notev;orthy that the Oxford show 

 was largely of Iowa bred sheep. 



The Cotswold classes were comparatively large and some very ex- 

 cellent specimens came into the ring. The main competition was be- 

 tween out of the state breeders. 



The Lincolns from the Arnold flock had no competition. This is the 

 first year that a sheep-shearing contest has been held. It furnished 

 both amusement and educational features. In another year many more 

 entries will be made and this feature can be made a permanent part 

 of the show. The largest crowd of the entire show gathered to see 

 the contest. Daily demonstrations by an expert in shearing sheep 

 and tying the fleece would be a good addition. 



The first wool show was a good start for a better event later on. 

 There was enough interest shown in the few entries made to warrant 

 the belief that the rest of the exhibitors and other sheep men will show 

 their choice fleeces another year. Prof. Marshall suggests that the 

 wool exhibits be placed along the ring side and judged at a set time 

 as the classes of sheep were. 



THE DRAFT HORSE SHOW. 



Those who have doubted the ability of the American draft horse 

 breeder to assume a responsible productive position at the close of 

 the war should have visited the horse rings of this fair and had their 

 doubts evicted. Some of the 'best representatives of the continental 

 draft type ever exhibited at this fair were present this year, and the 

 bulk of the winners claimed America as their place of nativity. The 

 Clydesdale breeders have already proved their independence of the 

 mother country so their high-class exhibit was taken as a matter of 

 course, but the strenuous efforts of several Shire breeders gavfe earnest 

 of the possibilities inherent in their stock already in America. What 

 part of this improvement is due to the extreme economic situation 

 is not possible to estimate, but the student of American horse breed- 

 ing previously to 1910 can discern the inspiring hand of J. H. S. 



