Tl(i IO\YA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



))ackward spring had something to do with the numbers of spring pigs 

 saved and carried into the summer. 



The Iowa fair is pretty cosmopolitan in its porcine clients. The ex- 

 hibitors are usually coming from as many as fifteen states, with Iowa 

 in the lead for numbers exhibited every time. Kentucky, Missouri, Kan- 

 sas, Illinois, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, 

 and some other states we cannot recall instantly, had hogs on exhibition. 

 One cannot tell what state a sv.-ine breeder is from by his looks or his 

 manner of conversation, for the good fellowship that flows through the 

 fraternity cuts away all distinctions. Visitors who are breeders, though 

 not showing this year, were in attendance in goodly numbers. 



Owing to the convenience of the judging arena this work went forward 

 with greater haste than usual. No one was allowed in the arena to block- 

 ade aisles and alleys; showmen and helpers alone being on the floor when 

 the judges were making the awards. As soon as the prizes w-ere hung up, 

 the spectators were invited to take a look at the ribbon winners, each 

 arranged in its order in a series of pens built in the center of the arena. 

 One hundred seventy-nine exhibitors entered about 2,300 swine for pre- 

 miums amounting to $3,203. 



WESTERN POULTRY JOURNAL. 



CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA. 



Never were the exhibitors more agreeably surprised than this year, 

 with an innovation of the advance methods put in force by the State Fair 

 management in the complete renovation of the Poultry Building and the 

 installation of a complete cooping outfit of the famous Empire make. The 

 improvement is certainly well deserving and highly appreciated by the 

 Iowa fanciers. Not only was there an improvement in building and coops 

 but in the entire system of management of the entire department. 



Additional prize money has been added to a very large classification. 



Birds are cooped singly and in pens properly classified so that visitors 

 to the department can easily compare each and every bird in the class, giv- 

 ing the show some character. 



Exhibits are now fed and cared for by competent assistants not re- 

 quiring personal attention by the owners. 



The show this year in general was one of the best all around quality 

 exhibits that has graced an Iowa State Fair in many a year — not as large 

 as some years in the past, due to the fact that many fanciers did not thor- 

 oughly understand the new system of cooping and the fact that exhibits 

 are now fed and cared for by the management — but look out for next 

 year. We predict now one of the largest and best fall shows held in the 

 entire mid-west and that breeders who have never thought of showing at 

 the Iowa State Fair will at least send a few. It will surely be worth 

 their time and trouble. 



