300 iOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



a prize, and the champions won only after a hard fight. The fine 

 quality, so highly commended in the young stuff of last year, was 

 more noticeable than ever in this season's yearlings. The judge, Mr. 

 Thos. A. Shattuck, of Hastings, Neb., worked long and hard in at- 

 tempting to do justice by the fifty-one exhibitors, and the final de- 

 cisions seemed to express the sentiment also of other authorities. The 

 aged boar class, with its twelve entries, was a stickler. The winner, 

 and later grand champion of the breed, was an exceptionally well- 

 proportioned hog with strong back and legs. In quality and smooth- 

 ness he was closely pushed by the senior yearling boar, his closest 

 competitor. The young stuff all show good prospects for prize win- 

 ners in next year's show. So far, sales have been many and prices 

 are ranging high. Many new breeders are entering the Poland China 

 breeding. 



DUROC JERSEYS. 



Seven hundred and five Duroc Jerseys in the pens made that breed, 

 as usual, the first in numbers of any shown at Des Moines. Although 

 slightly less than last year's showing, nevertheless what they lacked 

 in numbers was made up in quality, and the show compared favor- 

 ably with that of former years. Most of the old exhibitors were back 

 and many new faces were seen in the ring. The addition this year 

 of extra futurity classes for spring boars, sows and litters, and the 

 consequent addition of $500 more prize money made competition more 

 keen and the winning of a prize even more worth while than in 

 former years. These new classes are under the joint management of 

 the Iowa State Fair and the National Duroc Jersey Record Association 

 and promise to be a long step toward the advancement of the breed. 

 The classes of aged stuff were all large, none having less than ten 

 entries, and in most cases many more. Forty-five entered the ring 

 in the junior boar pig class, all in the pink of condition bearing the 

 characteristic form and style of the breed. The sow pig class was not 

 quite as large, but in other respects they were up to the standard of 

 the boars. Selling this year, as with the Poland Chinas, is extremely 

 good, and much high-priced stuff is changing hands at fancy prices. 

 The weather has been admirably suited to hog shipping and showing, 

 and general satisfaction is being expressed on all sides at the results 

 of another year's fair. 



CHESTER WHITES. 



Complete satisfaction reigned in the Chester White show ring at 

 Des Moines this year, an unusual condition in any show circle. Ex- 

 cluding a few who were disappointed that their animals did not take 

 higher ribbons, exhibitors and ringsiders alike expressed themselves 

 as well pleased with the placings. The number of hogs shown and 

 the size of the classes was slightly less than last year, but what was 

 lacking in numbers was more than made up in quality. As a result of 

 the previous season's demand for quality, the exhibit was marked by 

 exceptional smoothness and finish as well as scale and bone. The 



