TWELFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 529 



no rain fell throughout the entire week. As a rule one or two days are 

 spoiled by showers, but the 1911 fair will go down in history as having 

 weather so nearly perfect that only the most confirmed pessimist would 

 have any ground to complain. 



The exhibition in the Iowa State College building attracted much at- 

 tention and showed the practical nature of the work being carried on at 

 the college, in the various departments. For instance, in one portion were 

 several glass cases showing the relative corn yields resulting from dif- 

 ferent numbers of kernels of seed planted to the hill, one kernel to the 

 hill yielding thirty-four bushels to the acre, two to the hill fifty-four 

 bushels, three to the hill sixty-three bushels, four to the hill sixty-seven 

 bushels. In another section of the building was the butter yield for the 

 year of the two-and-one-half-year-old Guernsey Imp. Rouge of the Brick- 

 field, 714 pounds altogether, being the world's record for a two-and-one- 

 half-year-old cow of this breed. Near by was a striking object lesson 

 showing a comparison of the best and poorest cows in two Iowa test asso- 

 ciations, ?107 being the net profit from the best cow and seventy-seven 

 cents being the net profit from the poorest cow. The best cow produced 

 480 pounds of butter in a year and the poorest only eighty-seven pounds. 

 The net profit of the best 200 cows in this experiment was $52, with the 

 cost of feed $36, showing a net profit per cow of $16. The net profit of 

 the poorest 200 cows was only $20, while the feed cost $30, showing a net 

 loss per cow of $10. Elsewhere in the exhibit was a soil map of Iowa 

 showing results of alfalfa growing, different colored pics showing in 

 what counties alfalfa has been grown successfully, where it has yielded 

 fairly good results and where the attempt has met with failure. No 

 visitor to the Iowa State Fair can afford not to spend some time in the 

 Iowa State College building looking at the results of the experiments 

 which are being carried on to make farming in Iowa more sure and more 

 profitable. 



The aeroplane flights throughout the week were invariably successful, 

 although one afternoon thej' were postponed to a late hour on account of 

 the high winds prevailing. The Wright Brothers sent two of their best- 

 known birdmen: Philip Parmalee and Clifford Turpin. As a rule the 

 flights were of the safe and sane order, although on two different occa- 

 sions Mr. Parmalee showed the spectacular possibilities of the aeroplane 

 by cutting sharp figure eights and by volplaning, or dipping, long dis- 

 tances. The intent of the flights, however, was to show the practical 

 possibilities of these heavier-than-air machines, rather than the spectacu- 

 lar possibilities. With this as a criterion, the flights were undoubtedly 

 successful. This was the first time that heaver-than-air flying machines 

 had been exhibited at the Iowa State Fair and the two flights daily 

 proved to be a splendid drawing card. It is an inspiring sight to see the 

 extent to which man has conquered the air within the past two years and 

 there will be thousands of visitors to Des Moines who will remember 

 34 



