174 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



possible extent, and I believe that this policj^ will be a wise one for Iowa 

 farmers to adopt, during the present generation at least, but I strongly 

 endorse the importance attached to the growing of legumes by the afore- 

 said school of scientists. 



The state fair would be the most appropriate place to show the effect 

 on production of one legume crop grown at an interval of four or five 

 years. We need to demonstrate that there is no excuse under our con- 

 ditions for a bare stubble field between the period of the harvest and 

 the time when the ground freezes up, because, as a matter of fact, even 

 with the price of clover seed as high as it was in 1908 the increase 

 in the following crop that results from plowing under even a six mouth's 

 growth of clover will many times over pay for the cost of seed. 



It is the duty of the people of the state directly or through the ap- 

 propriations made by the legislature to make special effort to educate 

 those who adopt progressive ideas slowly to the importance of legume 

 growing. It would be no experiment of which the outcome could be 

 doubtful. In the older countries where agriculture has been carried on 

 for centuries the yield per acre is increasing and indeed in England and 

 Germany the yield has doubled in the last half century largely througn 

 the influence and effect of legumes. In soil productiveness no country 

 in the world surpasses Italy. Live stock there is by no means common 

 and consequently farm yard manure is not plentiful, but the enormous 

 productive capacity of the soil is kept up largely by the growing of 

 legumes. What can be done there can be done here and I believe it 

 would be an important function of the fair to make special effort to 

 increase the legume area in this state. 



It is the duty of the Iowa people to make the state fair a place to 

 demonstrate to the world the productive possibilities of our rich, black 

 soil and the capabilities of an industrious people. The fair should fur- 

 nish the one oi)portunity of the whole year where by concerted action 

 vve blow our own horn. It should be made the one occasion of the whole 

 year when the daily tasks of a very large number of people can be set 

 aside in order that business may be made a matter of pleasure, and that 

 pleasure seeking for the time being may be made a matter of business. 



Convention adjonmed until 1:30 o'clock p. ni. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 



Convention met at 1:30 p. ni. pursnaiit to adjournment, witli 

 President Cameron in the chair. 



Mr. Cameron : The first thing on the program this afternoon will 

 be the final summary of Iowa crops for the season of 1909, juist 

 completed in the office of the Iowa Weather and Crop Service, Dr. 

 Geo. M. Chappel, Director. 



(Note. — This report is published in full elsewhere in the Year 

 Book.^ 



