422 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



troduction will be of greatest benefit in improving the agricultural 

 conditions. The southern half of Iowa is in need of more dairying 

 because of the condition of the soil and the relatively low income 

 obtained with the present methods of farming used on the high 

 priced land. There are but few creameries in this portion of the 

 state and therefore the market for the dairy products is not as 

 well developed as in the northern portions. In order to be of the 

 greatest assistance a large part of the work has been devoted to 

 the southern half of the State. 



Since our last report representatives of the Iowa State Dairy 

 Association have met 268 audiences in 62 counties. The records of 

 the attendance at these various meetings show that 37,480 people 

 have been reached. Of the 268 audiences, 43 were in attendance 

 at the Farmers' Institutes, 89 at Creamery Meetings, and the re- 

 maining 136 meetings were conducted by the Dairy Association 

 directly. 



Up to the winter of 1913-14 the department had operated 12 

 dairy trains. These covered every railroad line in the State and 

 furnished the lecturers an opportunity to reach 595 towns, 47 of 

 which were given two meetings due to the crossing of the various 

 lines. These special trains were conducted in a manner to create 

 an interest in dairying and prepared the way for more detailed 

 information in the localities visited. 



During the winter of 1914, a special dairy train was operated 

 over the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Meetings from 

 one half day to a full day in length were held at each town and a 

 complete program given. Although the train was out nearly a 

 month, the longer meetings would only permit holding from three 

 to four a day. This limited the number of meetings and only the 

 communities that were willing to give assistance were included in 

 the itinerary. The farmers, the business men, and the commercial 

 clubs at each place cooperated in every way to make the meeting 

 a success. 



Upon the arrival of the train, lectures w^ere given in a hall 

 provided by the town for this purpose. The subjects of feeding, 

 breeding, care of the herd, the pure bred sire, barn construction, 

 silos and ensilage, alfalfa, the care of cream, diseases of dairy 

 cattle, etc. were taken up in a practical manner. After each lecture 

 questions were called for and discussions held. 



The exhibit cars carried on this special were equipped more com- 

 pletely than those on the previous trains. The exhibit of dairy ap- 



