276 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



which has a tendency to detract from the exhibit. If a new Liberal Arts 

 building could be built, it would then be possible to make it one of the 

 finest and most popular exhibits on the state fair grounds. 



CHINA DEPARTMENT. 



A few years ago the part of the Exposition building devoted to this 

 exhibit was greatly improved by putting in glass cases in which to place 

 the exhibits and our china oxhibits have increased from year to year, 

 so that at present we have a fine annual exhibit in this department, but 

 we have now reached the limit of space and cannot increase the exhibit 

 unless more space is devoted to it, and more space would be useless un- 

 less glass cases were made in which to install the exhibits. However, 

 I will say that our china exhibits are good and more interest is being 

 taken in same from year to year, and I do not know of anything that 

 (!an be done to make the exhibit more attractive except to increase the 

 show space and provide same with additional cases in which to install 

 the exhibit. Any improvements in the building, such as a concrete 

 floor, will add to the attractiveness of the exhibit. There is this fact 

 to be taken into consideration in the matter of all exhibits, and that is 

 the more attractive the exhibition space is made the better the exhibits 

 will show up; besides, more people will take an interest in making ex- 

 hibits. This fact will apply to all the exhibits. 



NEEDLE WORK DEPARTMENT. 



In the needle work section the same improvements were made in regard 

 to glass cases in which to install the exhibits and we now have a very 

 good place to show our needle work and other fancy work and the space 

 we have for same is large enough for present needs. A few years ago 

 the board limited the exhibits to ne:\' work. This rule of course has a 

 tendency to decrease the exhibits at first, but now the exhibits have been 

 exhibit is much finer than it formerly was. The only thing that would 

 increase the exhibits in this department would be the raising of the 

 premiums, which is a matter for the management to determine. 



In view of the fact that we now have a school exhibit, I believe the 

 children's department should be eliminated and all their exhibits and all 

 premiums for children should be awarded in the school children's depart- 

 ment. The fact that such a department was a part of the fair last year 

 decreased our children's department exhibits greatly. Of course this 

 matter of the children's exhibits should have been mentioned in another 

 paragraph, but what I say here will apply to the children's department 

 generally. 



PAINTING (art) department. 



In the painting department, this being the department that has been 

 under the direct supervision of Mrs. P. H. Schoenhut, will say, that this 

 department does not come up to the standard that should be expected at 

 the Iowa State Fair, and it seems that the only way it can be improved 

 is by giving larger premiums in the professional classes. By doing this 

 a much better class of exhibits can be obtained for exhibit, as it is a 

 well known fact that exhibitors will not exhibit for the benefit of the fair. 



