272 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



for the cooperation of the buying- public in seeing- tliat the law is lived 

 up to. Whenever any fraud is noticed, it should be reported to the state 

 pure food and dairy department at Des Moines. 



Food conservation and utilization lessons were in evidence in many 

 places about the grounds. It was logical that the state pure food and 

 dairy department pay some attention to this matter, which is demanding 

 world-wide attention. The exhibit showed the relative economy of dif- 

 ferent food products, how much a dime would buy of the various foods 

 commonly used, and the food value of such commodities. Special em- 

 phasis w^as put on milk and cottage cheese as being economical, very 

 nourishing, and good substitutes for meats. Cottage cheese at 20 cents 

 a pound headed the list, while cream cheese, at 35 cents a pound, was 

 second in providing protein or muscle-building material. The food booth 

 urged more system in saving fruits and vegetables for future use, and 

 emphasized the saving in cash outlay that can. be made by buying in 

 quantity instead of in small packages. 



The showing of fruits, vegetables, small grains, etc., is not quite up to 

 the usual standard in the point of quantity, except in the case of vege- 

 tables. The small grain is of superb quality. The apples and fruits, how- 

 ever, on the whole, are somewhat below the usual standard. Perhaps the 

 hard winter was to blame, and also the late spring and dry July. 



Few people appreciate the extent and importance of Iowa's state in- 

 stitutions — the work that they are doing and their value to the public. 

 For the second time, a cooperative display of twelve of the state insti- 

 tutions brought thousands of fair guests into closer acquaintance with 

 their good work. In all of these institutions, the old idea of simply con- 

 finement and isolation is giving way to a policy intended to mold crim- 

 inals and useful citizens, to restore to health the inentally unbalanced, 

 and to teach the unfortunate and deficient how to earn a living and 

 become independent of public and private charity. These inmates are 

 taught trades, given an education, and an opportunity. Among the in- 

 stitutions represented were tha State Hospital for Inebriates, at Knox- 

 ville; the State Sanitarium for Tuberculosis Treatment, at Oakdale; the 

 Girls' Training School, Mitchellville; Men's Reformatory, at Anamosa; the 

 Glenwood Institution for Feeble-Minded; Clarinda State Hospital for the 

 Insane; the Cherokee Hospital; Soldiers' Orphans' Home, at Davenport; 

 State Penitentiary at Fort Madison; Boys' Training School, at Eldora; 

 the Independence and the Mt. Pleasant institutions! for the insane and 

 various mental di.seases. At the latter place, 1,025 acres yielded $142,382 

 worth of farm products^ and $60,000 worth of garden stuff during the 

 last two-year period. Inmates of all the institutions have been taught 

 industrial trades, and a highly creditable display of their accomplishments 

 was worth visiting and studying. If the state institutions exhibit were 

 given up, the Iowa State Fair would be lacking in an important feature. 



The splendid Women and Children's Building was headquarters for a 

 large number of exhibits of particular interest to the women folks. This 

 inagnificent building, with its wide, cool porches and comfortable seats, 

 is a veritable haven, of rest for the tired mother w^ith small children. 

 There is the day nursery, in w^hich babies can be left in care of compe- 

 tent nurses, while the mothers see the fair or rest. Thei'e is the play- 

 ground for the larger children, where they are safe from any possible 

 danger, and where they are in charge of ladies who understand child 

 .nature and who know how to keep little folks interested and entertained — - 

 all this for a nominal fee. 



The Red Cross Association, in charge of the Red Cross workers, ex- 

 plained the work they are doing for our own soldiers and for the deserv- 



