274 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



Seven years ago, when M. W. Keating assumed management of the 

 camping ground, he said he could sit at his desk in the headquarters 

 building and count up campers' wagons as far as the eye could' reach. 

 Time has changed the perspective. Now it is a line of automobiles from 

 all parts of Iowa, and not only from adjoining states, but from dozens 

 of more distant states. The population of the tented city varied between 

 5,000 and 6,000 persons, most of whom were registered in the camp direc- 

 tory. This year, part of the regular camping space had to be turned 

 over to the soldier boys, but room was found for all who applied. Those 

 v/ho take advantage of the camping privilege have the best opportunity 

 to get the most out of the fair. They do not have to waste two or three 

 hours daily in getting to and from city homes or hotels, and thus they 

 are on the grounds early each day. The campers had access to a well- 

 supplied grocery store, and every convenience possible was placed at 

 their disposal. 



The individual farm exhibits this year were unusually good, there 

 oeing twenty-threei altogether, more than have ever been on exhibition 

 before. The quality is excellent. Practically every farmer now arran'^ej 

 his exhibits in a simple, yet artistic fashion. No longer do they pile up 

 vegetables, fruits and grain sheaves in a huge conglomerate. Judge 

 Heathershaw expressed himself as belter pleased with the farm exhibits 

 this year than ever before. In the SO-acre class. City View Farm won 

 first; in the ISO-acre class, Autunin Leaf Farm first, and in the Polk 

 County class, Greenwood Farm first. 



Ten county agents this year exhibited the products of their counties. 

 Mr. Hoover, the food controller, and Secretary of Agriculture Houston 

 have been keeping the county agents so busj' that they have had very 

 little time to make a suitable showing. We believe that the county 

 exhibits are well worth while, because they encourage the feeling of local 

 patriotism and Simulate the farmers to get behind their agents and 

 boost. It is good advertising for counties to be represented at the fair. 

 The exhibits this year were good, but we hope that next year the qual- 

 ity not only will be maintained, but that the number will be increased. 

 Jasper county, with 939 points, won sweepstakes. The other awards 

 follow: 



Northern District — First, Dickinson county, 865 points. 



North-Central District — First, Buena Vista county. 869 points. 



South-Central District — First, Jasper county, 939 points; 2, Polk 

 county, 932; 3, Greene county, 895. 



Southern District — First, Des Moines county, 934 points; 2, Cass county, 

 911; 3, Wayne county, 897; 4, Marion county, 899; 5, Lucas county, 884. 



PRODUCTION VIES WITH PATRIOTISM. 



From the Iowa Homestead. 



With, Old Glory flying from a thousand flagstaffs, with troops every- 

 where, and with such a martial spirit prevailing as was never seen 

 on the grounds before (and not in the state' for over fifty years) the 

 1917 Iowa State Fair, held at Des Moines this week, goes intol history 

 as a combination of agricultural prosperity and patriotic ardor the like 

 of which was never known in Iowa, or any other state. Not only were 

 the agricultural and industrial products of Iowa on display at Des 

 Moines; the loyal patriotism of the people, now literally at fever heat, 

 was likewise on display. If the 1917 Iowa State Fair had to be summed 

 up in one sentence it would read something like this: "The greatness 

 of a people manifest in the products of their heads and hands and the 

 loyal patriotism of their hearts." Iowa is producing bumper crops this 

 year. It has virtually completed the harvesting and the threshing: of an 



