FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IV. 343 



whatsoever. It would seem as though some plan might be devised to make 

 the agricultural and horticultural exhibits more educational as well as 

 more pleasing to the eye. 



The Iowa fair, barring the Chicago International, has for years been 

 acknowledged to be the greatest live stock exposition in the United States. 

 This reputation will be maintained this year. In some of the breeds the 

 classes were not so large as last year, but in no case was quality lacking. 

 From the breeder's standpoint this year's show was the most satisfactory 

 that has ever been held at Des Moines, because more boms breeders were 

 represented with stock of their own raising, while importers played a less 

 important role. While we have no disposition to cast reflections upon im- 

 ported stock, it is always easier to go to Europe with a full purse and pick 

 out prize winners than it is to actually raise them, and this year's show, 

 more than any previous exhibition at Des Moines, demonstrated the well 

 known fact that we can raise as good stock at home as can be found in 

 .Europe. This is a fact greatly to the credit of our breeders and one that 

 every farmer who desires to improve his stock should remember. The 

 magic word "imported" is gradually losing much of its prestige, and it is 

 well that it should, for, other things being equal, the animal that has been 

 bred and raised at home is better adapted for the farmer in this country 

 than the one that has been bred and raised across the water. 



The Percheron show was a conspicuous example of what home breeders 

 have been doing in recent years. Many small breeders were in evidence 

 and they succeeded in getting away with a number of good prizes and 

 that in competition with imported stock. We know of nothing that could 

 offer greater encouragement to the American breeder to continue this im- 

 portant work of improvement. To create a superior horse, sheep, cow, or 

 hog is as great an achievement as to create a superior work of art, and we 

 believe it is of greater value to the human race. The aged and three- 

 year-old classes were not quite so strong as they have been in former years, 

 but the younger classes were above the average in quality and numbers. 

 The first-prize two-year-old stallion Matador was bred in Iowa and won 

 over an imported horse that took second prize in the Paris show this year. 

 The Percheron show was generally considered one of the best ever made. 

 It was a credit to the fair as well as to the ability of the American breeders. 

 The Belgian show was stronger than last year, in fact it was by all odds 

 the best show ever made by this breed in Iowa. The older mares and 

 fillies made an especially fine appearance, being in good form and showing 

 plenty of weight. While Shire and Clydesdale classes were not large, both 

 breeds were represented by excellent specimens that made a most favor- 

 able impression in the show ring. 



The draft colt futurity show, initiated by the Chicago Live Stock World 

 some years ago, was one of the important features of the exposition. The 

 interest manifested by the breeders as shown by the number of entries 

 made and the crowded condition of the stock pavilion when the young- 

 sters were judged, was proof sufficient that this feature will be permanently 

 maintained at the Iowa fair, and, in fact, become a leading feature at all 

 fairs throughout the country. In the Percheron futurities there were 19 

 stallions and 28 fillies to be judged, and they made the finest line-up of 



