268 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



were enough of them to thoroly police all main roads and crossings, with 

 the result that there was very little congestion and delay at any time, 

 and no serious accidents on the grounds during the entijre ten days. This 

 was a remarkable record in view of the thousands of automobiles on the 

 grounds daily, and the large numbers of pedestrians who were constantly 

 crossing and re-crossing the driveways. 



From an educational standpoint, nothing at the Iowa State Fair sur- 

 passes the machinery exhibits. As labor becomes scarcer and higher, 

 the corn belt farmer Is obliged to spread out his available labor by the 

 use of the latest modern machinery, which; enables one man to do the 

 work of several under the old system. The immense Machinery Hall was 

 full to overflowing, and all the available space outside was covered with 

 tents, housing the tractor and threshing machine exhibits and others. . In 

 all the odd corners, exhibits were made by a large number of Arms, of 

 every type of modern farm machinery. Every implement that the Iowa 

 farmer could use to advantage was on exhibit somewhere at the Iowa 

 State Fair. Gasoline engines were out in the usual numbers. Cement 

 mixing and handling machinery were more conspicuous than ever be- 

 fore, showing the increasing use of cement as a building material, and 

 its growing popularity for this purpose. The average farmer can con- 

 struct a great many different improvements, and do it with comparative 

 ease by the use of cement. The small mixing machines adapted to farm 

 conditions were especially noticeable, and attracted much attention. In 

 many cases, the Iowa farmer is able to use electrical luachinery in his 

 home and for lights around the buildings. A number of firms showed 

 electrical machinery, and there were several farm electrical plants on 

 exhibition, where tne power is manufactured right on the farm, and can 

 be used for lighting purposes and also for operating the family washing 

 machine, cooking utensils, and all houseliold and light machinery which 

 can be operated by a small motor. 



The tractor exhibits increase in numbers and interest every year. 

 While the show was not as large as the national exhibit at Fremont, yet 

 the Des Moines exhibition compared very favorably with it in complete- 

 ness and in the number of farm tractors on exhibition. The farm tractor 

 has demonstrated its thoro economic value to the corn belt farmer, and 

 there is a rapidly increasing market in tlie corn belt for tractors suit- 

 able for the quarter and half-section farm. There is also a keen interest 

 in motor trucks for light and heavy hauling, and a large number of 

 these were on exhibition. One entire end of Machinery Hall was well 

 filled with various makes of commercial trucks. There was also a large 

 number of automobile truck attachments on display. By means of these 

 attachments, an ordinary automobile can be converted into a light farm 

 tractor, some of whicli are claimed to give entire satisfaction, not only 

 for liglit hauling, but for the light tractor work around the farm. A 

 great number of automobile and tractor accessory firms were represented, 

 exhibiting various attachments and improvements in carburetors, tires, 

 lubricants, standard makes of tires, tire repair outfits, etc., etc. 



The section set aside for the silo men was about as full of silos and 

 silo machinery as it could be. Most of the silage cutters were shown 

 in actual operation. The silo has become a part of the standard equip- 

 ment on every well-organized stock farm in the corn belt. With the 

 average visitor, it is no longer a question whether or not he should put 

 up a silo, but, provided he has the stock to justify it, what type of silo 

 he should select — wooden stave, concrete, cement block, or clay block. 

 The silo men, lilie the manufacturers of tractors and other lines of 



