FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IV. 339 



hibit, and this year the dust was kept down by the use of bark — a condi- 

 tion which the breeders of whi+e varieties especially appreciated. The 

 judging- was finished and ribbons up by Monday, thus giving the exhibitors 

 the benefit of four days of advertising their winnings. It appeared to us 

 that it might as well have been finished on 'Saturday, and avoid the Sun- 

 day judging, which was made necessary when the judges were not allowed 

 to begin till Saturday morning. It is not fair to the judges to be asked 

 to work on Sunday; and we are quite sure that Sunday judging is ob- 

 jectionable to both Judges Russell and Shellabarger. The birds were ad- 

 mitted Thursday, and were required to be in place by nine o'clock Friday. 

 As well as the modern fair and show is systematized, there is mo reason 

 why three hours later, or noon of Friday, should not find everything in 

 shape for the judges, and give them their Sabbath. 



The offer of two silver cups in each class, to be offered as sweepstakes, 

 brought out an unusually good class of young stuff; pullets and cockerels 

 winning sweepstakes were almost fully matured. Buff Orpingtons were 

 a better class than last year. A gentleman viewing them said: "Some 

 years it is hard to get a good Buff inside the ribbons; this year there are 

 many good ones outside the ribbons." The sweepstakes cockerel as the 

 best cockerel in the show room went to a White Orpington — a magnificent 

 bird well worthy the honor. Barred Rocks were a strong class, but the 

 sweepstakes for cockerel in the American class went to a Wliite Rock. 

 The Cochins were a small class. Comparatively few fowls of any breed 

 were shown, owing to the conditiau of plumage. Turkeys were good; but 

 the extreme heat made it impossible to see these birds at their best. 

 Eight or nine days of confinement for these naturally wild birds is a 

 great tax on them. We think the breeders of fine turkeys would be jus- 

 tified in refusing to show. Even the first momey of $3 would scarcely 

 pay for the express, to say nothing of the possible loss in vitality. 



Ducks and geese also suffered, but apparently not to the same extent. 

 The little Leghorns made the most sprightly appearance, their size en- 

 abling them to put up with the warm weather better. The class in White 

 Leghorns was unusually strong in quality; as also in White Wyandotte 

 young stuff. 



The birds in the egg-laying contest conducted themselves nobly — first 

 and second prizes going to White Leghorns — the first with a record of 

 22 eggs, the second with 20, third, 19 eggs (Rhode Island Reds), and 

 fourth, 14 eggs (Silver Campines.) The contest lasted five days. There 

 were eight pens and six birds in a pen. 



THE SHEEP. 



The showing of sheep this year was not as large as the importance oi 

 the industry calls for, although some excellent flocks were exhibitea. 

 There should be more effort made to bring sheep to the attention of fair- 

 goers. More sheep are needed in Iowa, and the State Fair offers an edu- 

 cational opportunity which should be more fully utilized than it ever has 

 been. If the sheep department could be moved nearer the beaten path of 

 the crowds, it should be done. As it is now, the man who is not looking 

 for the sheep exhibit is not very likely to find it. One may spend a week 



