674 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Hampshires were shown in small numbers but of the best quality. The 

 two Wisconsin flocks fought for the awards with a fairly even division of 

 the honors. Harding headed both the aged classes and the yearling ewes, 

 taking the female championship on the sweet, compact, close-fleeced, short- 

 necked yearling. Renk Bros, won with their yearling ram and both their 

 lambs. Their yearling which won the championship is low-set, wide, 

 thick-fleeced and masculine, of the type that has made the breed popular 

 with many flock owners. 



Southdowns made up in quality what they lacked in numbers. The 

 two competing flocks were of a little different stamp. McKerrow's par- 

 take more of the rugged, growthy type with the scale that has always 

 found favor in American showyards. Kite's sheep, newly imported from 

 the most fashionable flocks in England, are of the reflned, very compact, 

 small type now gaining popularity among English Southdown breeders. 

 The aged ram is a wonderful package of prime mutton, winning recog- 

 nition from the judge in the face of his natural bias for a larger type. 



Dorsets from three flocks divided the honors, most of them going to 

 Brown and Nash. Nash Bros, are familiar show winners with their fa- 

 mous flock, well bred, well trimmed and well shown. The Brown flock is 

 a new one just established with an importation this summer. That its 

 type is right and the individuality good is shown by its leading position 

 in the aged and lamb classes and flock, although the Nash yearlings 

 proved invincible candidates for the championhsips. 



Two flocks of the handy, sturdy Cheviots were brought out in good 

 form. Of the two the Parnell sheep were in better bloom and showed 

 to better advantage, besides having in some cases a more acceptable type. 



Cotswolds wore represented by two of the best flocks in America. Lew- 

 is Bros, had first place with their very growthy, strong-backed lamb, but 

 the Harding entries won all the other firsts and the championships. The 

 champion ram is an extremely good-fleeced two-year-old and a solid block 

 of mutton. The champion ewe is a sweet-fronted, compact yearling. The 

 excellent character of both these flocks was a distinct asset to the sheep 

 show. 



Merinos and Rambouillets made an interesting show, for the flocks 

 present included some very good individuals of these wool-producing 

 breeds. There were two flocks of each breed. 



The mutton breeds were all judged by W. H. Beattie, Wilton Grove, 

 Ont., and barring the usual complaints of disappointed showmen his de- 

 cisions were well received by the ringside talent. W. S. Dixon, Brandon, 

 Wis., placed the fine wool entries. 



THE HORSE SECTION. 



The horse section this year was one of the strongest of the fair, ex- 

 ceeding former exhibitions at Des Moines numerically and surpassing all 

 former years in the general high quality of the entries. Importers had 

 the best horses to be found abroad this summer and home breeders dem- 

 onstrated their ability to produce horses that could hold their own in, 



