650 IO\YA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



THE RED HOGS. 



The Duroc Jerseys made up in quality what they laclved in numbers this 

 year, and the show was one of the most uniformly good of any that has 

 been seen at Des Moines. There were some very strong classes and a 

 number of close decisions. There were no sensational winners, however, 

 and the champions this year were hardly on a par with last year's cham- 

 pions, and especially in the champion boar class. In the aged boar class 

 Waltemeyer Bros, gave Baxter & Comer a close rub for first place. The 

 outside-the-state competition was strong all along the line and on the whole 

 the showing from outside the state was rather stronger than usual, while 

 the home or state exhibitors were hardly as strong. Several formerly 

 strong low^a exhibitors were not out this year, and this helped make a 

 difference in the Iowa showing. 



THE POLAND-CHINAS. 



The Poland-China exhibit was large and of good quality, although there 

 were no specially outstanding winners. As usual, the small and medium 

 type of Polands predominated and met with the most favor from the 

 judges. As usual tco, the most quality was found in the small type hog, 

 but the exhibitors with the big type Polands claim the most sales during 

 fair week. None, however, were boasting of big sales, and Poland-China 

 enthusiasm was not running high, notwithstanding the high price of 

 pork. Although Iowa raises more hogs than any other state in the union, 

 it will be noted by the awards that most of the principal prizes went out- 

 side the state. One reason for this is that Iowa breeders have largely 

 gone to raising the big-boned type of hogs, which lack the quality and fin- 

 ish that wins. On account of high priced feed a good many of the exhibit- 

 ors did not fit to win. 



THE CHESTF.R WHITES. 



The Chester Whites made about the same showing as last year. In 

 numbers they came next to the Duroc Jerseys and Poland-Chinas. Iowa 

 was pretty well represented and there was considerable competition from 

 outside the state. The premiums were pretty well distributed. E. L. Lea- 

 vens, our advertiser of Shell Rock, Iowa, again had the sweepstakes sow, 

 as he did last year, and he also had st\'eepstakes boar bred by exhibitor, 

 first on get of sire, and was a strong winner all through. 



BEBKSHIBES. 



The Berkshire show at Des Moines is never large as compared with the 

 showing of Poland-Chinas and Chester Whites, but the character of the 

 show^ this year was an improvement over some former Berftshire shows at 

 Des Moines. It was largely an Iowa exhibit, but the Farmer Farm exhibit 

 of Minnesota furnished strong competition all along the line. McDonald 

 Bros., of Montezuma, Iowa, also made a strong showing and won a number 

 of the best prizes, including champion boar bred by exhibitor and first 

 i)rize young herd. Evans, of Elliott. Iowa, won first on aged herd, cham- 



