PART VI 



State Food and Dairy Commissioner's Report for Year 



1922 



R. G. CLARK, Commissioner 



We whose lots have been cast in Iowa have much to be thankful 

 for. The oft-repeated expression that we live in the best state in the 

 Union has more to it than mere local pride. If all the states were 

 scored (a term used in this department in grading) I doubt if there 

 is one that would equal ours. Iowa is indeed a wonderful state. It 

 is first in so much and a close second so often I am afraid that we 

 are becoming more or less indifferent to our own resources and 

 opportunities. You hardly take up a paper that you do not run 

 across an article giving interesting information about our state, like 

 the following: 



"MORE REASONS FOR CONFIDENCE IN IOWA" 

 "The average value per farm including all farm property in Iowa 

 is $39,941.10. The same average for the entire United States is 

 $12,084.00. Iowa's nearest competitor is Illinois and our total farm 

 values exceed theirs by $1,703,778,724," and so on with a series of 

 comparisons that seem almost too good to be true. 



Farming is the big business of this state and it is a business that is 

 susceptible to all the intelligence and experience that one may put 

 into it. I want to say here that at no time in its history have the 

 teachings of our agricultural colleges, experimental stations, and 

 associations which have their representatives in every community ex- 

 tolling the virtues of the pure bred, been listened to and acted upon 

 as at present. 



The deflation through which this country has gone during the last 

 year and a half hit the farmer first, and on him was the most severe, 

 with the result that all now agree more attention must be paid to 

 diversified farming. That means a better utilization of feed grains 

 and crop by-products, by feeding out a great number of beef cattle, 

 by winter dairying and egg production, by planting better gardens 

 and more small fruits. This insures to the home a wholesome variety 

 of foods and thereby lessening the household expenses. The margin 



