EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART IV 247 



The state institutions, penal, reformatory and charitable, brought 

 home visually the humanitarian work done under state auspices to make 

 society safe and to lighten the burdens of the unfortunate. Under a tent 

 a lot of creditable stock from such institutions was on view and under 

 other canvas a very impressive exhibition of the handiwork of inmates, 

 ranging from lace-making up through all the forms of needle and loom 

 work to brick and tile burning. The public schools made their accustomed 

 display, lending crowning touch to the superstructure of this fair which 

 rests solidly on its educational function in state life. 



Never have so many exhibitors of machinery knocked at the doors of 

 this institution. Significant shiftings of farm interest are mirrored in 

 these' exhibits. Increased space was demanded for the exhibit of auto- 

 mobiles, and the accessories were moved over into the machinery hall. 

 Formerly buggies had occupied two long rows in this shed, numbering into 

 the hundreds. Now six buggies were on view. The space formerly filled 

 by them was taken by light trucks, truck bodies, trailers, rubber tires, and 

 motor car accessories. Consistent with former years the appeal in this 

 building is made to the Iowa farmer for the improvement of home and 

 barn, and the lightening of labor for himself and his family. Varied were 

 the exhibits along this line, including house lighting, heating and ventila- 

 tion, dairy equipment, and the application of power to housework. The 

 open air exhibit of machinery was comprehensive, illustrating the marvel- 

 ous strides invention has made toward solving the perennial, perplexing 

 and burdensome farm labor problem. The tractors and the trucks were 

 there, and the attachments which make trucks and tractors of automo- 

 biles, and the cultural implements conveniently harnessed to gas power 

 were numerously in evidence. A liberal education in farm fittings and 

 appliances could be acquired by the studious man at Des Moines. The silo 

 city grows, as also grow the sales of this preservative receptacle of stock 

 foods — never so badly needed on every cornbelt farm as this fall. 



Attractions in plc-nty were afforded. The shows are kept as clean 

 as such shows can be, but their superfluity on such a fair ground, with 

 its attractions of fast racing and horse shows in front of the grandstand, 

 and a thrilling illustration of modern war at night, seems plain. Verily 

 the devoted managers of the Iowa State Fair labored diligently and en- 

 tered this year into their abundant reward. 



THE CATTLE SECTION. 



In this banner year of trade in purebred beef cattle it was to be ex- 

 pected that a great showing would be made at the principal fairs. Some 

 disappointment was therefore expressed when the judging began with only 

 a few of the older bulls in evidence. However, the barns were filled 

 with almost as many cattle as ever, so something was certain to happen. 

 It was the show of calves and yearlings for which every breeder seemed 

 prepared. Those classes were large, and they were good. The futurity 

 lists drew some of these numerous entries; trade conditions accounted 

 for others. Pedigree beef cattle have been selling like hot cakes and 

 breeders have closely disposed of their older animals excepting those kept 

 on maintenance rations in the breeding ranks. The three principal beef 

 breeds did justice to their showring reputations. There was only one 

 herd of Galloways and two herds of Polled Durhams, while Red Polls 

 were not largely represented. 



Beef steers made the be.st exhiljition they liave ever staged here. This 

 was due to the boys' baby beef contest. Steers fed by boys in this contest 

 and judged by Prof. W. H. Pew, Ames, la., in a special class, were freely 

 entered in the open classes. There they won their full share of money 

 and added much to the glory of their youthful feeders. This baby beef 

 contest has aroused the enthusiasm of farm boys all over the state. Each 

 boy kept account of the feed costs and these data appeared on placards 



