324 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



show was about up to the standard of other years, while in point of 

 numbers, about 100 animals were actually led into the ring. 



CLYDESDALES. 



If 1912 was Clydesdale year at the Iowa State Fair, 1913 certainly was 

 not in spite of the fact that several good classes were shown. The ab- 

 sence of such veterans as Galbraith and McLay seriously crippled the 

 Clyde showing, while the individuals actually led into the ring were in 

 many cases insufficiently fitted. Some of the animals were noticeably 

 weak in the feet, while others lacked Clydesdale qup-lity. Prof. E. A. 

 Trowbridge, of the Missouri College of Agriculture, who judged the 

 classes, called William Jones, of Williamsville, Illinois, to assist him in 

 awarding the futurity stakes. Osco Beauty, a bay filly owned by A. G. 

 Soderberg, of Osco, Illinois, was placed at the head of the ring, although 

 there were those among the by-standers who had expected Lady Stewart, 

 owned by W. V. Hixson, of Marengo, Iowa, to lead her class. Hixson's 

 colt, Warren's Favorite, defeated Baron Ideal, H. H. Ford's colt for the 

 trophy. Prince Cedric, the aged stallion shown by Ford, and Amaryllis, 

 the mare shown by W. L. Houser, of Mondovic, Wis., were among the 

 leading individuals. According to the experience of other years, a large 

 number of the better Clydesdales were home bred. Perhaps the excep- 

 tional demand of Canadian and African buyers of the breed in the 

 Scottish market may have something to do with this condition, but it 

 may be due fully as much to the fact that Clydesdale breeders are study- 

 ing their problem and trying to evolve an American type. Perhaps the 

 sooner American breeders of live stock devote themselves more con- 

 scientiously to building up their stock, rather than depending on their 

 almost unlimited purse strings to enchant a prize-winning herd or stud 

 over night, the better it will be for legitimate stock industry and the 

 farmer breeder in general. Americans must learn European patience, for 

 without it their money will not achieve type permanency. 



SHETLAND PONIES. 



It was a record-breaking year in the Shetland pony class at the Iowa 

 State Fair. The judge, W. J. Kennedy, pronounced the showing the best 

 that has ever been made at any state fair. Iowa furnished the major 

 portion of the exhibitors, though Illinois put up stiff competition in most 

 of the classes. 



SWINE. 



The swine department of the Iowa State Fair from the standpoint of 

 numbers alone was cut squarely in two as compared with the record of 

 former years. There were between 1,500 and 1,600 hogs in the rings, 

 but this number was sufficient to maintain a lively interest throughout 

 the period of the judging which lasted until Wednesday night. Tlic 

 cutting down of the numbers this year was due to a variety of causes, 

 chief among which was the compulsory serum treatment, as ordered by 

 the state sanitary board. This ruling, although changed as it were the 

 last minute, was in a measure unfortunate this year because of the fact 



