134 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



The horticultural exhibit was a surprise, not only to the management, 

 but to the visitors at the fair. It seemed to be the prevailing opinion 

 that on account of the dry weather, in the southern part of the state, 

 there were but few apples and products of the orchard available for 

 exhibition purposes this year. However, the horticultural end of the 

 building proved the contrary. There were about 7,000 plates of apples 

 and other fruits on exhibition this year. 



In addition to this there were exhibits of apples in commercial pack- 

 ages, ornamental designs in fruit, and a box apple exhibit put on by the 

 department. All these added materially to the horticultural division. 



In the dairy end of the building the usual exhibit of dairy equipment 

 and dairy machinery was on display. The Food and Dairy Commissioner 

 also had a booth containing a number of excellent educational exhibits. 

 These consisted principally of a display of pure foods and misbranded 

 foods; also an exhibit showing the nutritive value of a quart of milk 

 compared with other food stuffs of the same value. There were some 

 surprising facts brought out in this exhibit and it created considerable 

 comment and interest. The Food and Dairy Commissioner was also 

 assigned a booth for an exhibit of the weights and measures department. 

 This was made up largely of scales and measures condemned by the 

 department since this law has been in force. 



The machinery exhibit presented a different appearance to the visi- 

 tors than in former years on account of the absence of the large circus 

 tents formerly erected on the grounds to house such exhibits as the 

 International Harvester Company, John Deere, Fairbanks Morse, and 

 four or five other large concerns which had formerly exhibited at the 

 Iowa State Fair. 



The exhibit was made by 327 exhibitors as compared with 341 in 1913. 

 The exhibit was more diversified than in previous years and there was a 

 noticeable increase in the number of Iowa manufactured products on 

 exhibition. Practically all of the floor space in the exhibition buildings 

 was sold and the outside space was well filled. The impression seems 

 to have gone out that there was a disagreement between the management 

 of the Iowa State Fair and the large machinery exhibitors and for that 

 reason they did not show this year. Some infer that it was on account 

 of the excessive charge for space and others said it was on account of 

 the failure of the management to furnish the necessary employes tickets 

 to helpers in charge of the exhibits. I wish to say, however, that there 

 Is absolutely no foundation for either of these assertions and wish to 

 further state there is no trouble or disagreement between these large 

 concerns and the management of the fair. 



In regard to space the rules of the machinery department provide 

 there shall be no charge for outside space other than the $1 necessary 

 to make a legal contract. The rules also provide that employes actually 

 employed in taking care of exhibits, either day or night, will be pro- 

 vided with the necessary helpers' ticket upon application to the super- 

 intendent of the machinery department. As to the treatment accorded 

 these large exhibitors at other state fairs we are not in a position to 

 speak, but it is our understanding that these large concerns came to the 



