534 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Thursday was devoted to the pioneers of Iowa, who were In attendance 

 in large numbers. Superintendent F. B. Osborn, of Rlppey, is authority 

 for the statement that 2,500 lowans, who located in the state prior to 

 December 31, 1876, registered at headquarters. Of this number it is es- 

 timated that COO were residents of Iowa when it was yet a territory, be- 

 fore its admission to stat hood in 1846. The old settlers formed a per- 

 manent organization with Col. Alonzo Abernathy, of Osage, president. 

 Work to bring about such an association was begun two years ago by 

 Superintendent F. B. Osborn and others, including Curator E. R. Harlan, 

 of the Iowa State Museum. Mr. Harlan was made secretary. Acting 

 Secretary A. R. Corey, of the state fair board treasurer, and F. B. Os- 

 born, superintendf nt. Eleven vice-nresidents were elected, one fer each 

 congressional district. They are Captain Lot Abraham, Mount Pleasant; 

 James W. Ellis, Maquoketa; Clifford Ham, Dubuque; J. H. Sweeney, 

 Osage; Bernard Murphy, Vinton; P. B. Perry, Albia; Frank DeFord, Valley 

 Junction; I. N. Clark, Leon; John Ward, Audubon; Judge J. P. Conner, 

 Denison; George D. Perkins, Sioux City. Addresses were delivered to 

 the pioneers by Governor Carroll, Senator Cummins, Ezra Meeker and 

 others. Secretary James Wilson, of the department of agriculture, had 

 accepted an invitation to be present, but for some reason did not appear. 



CATTLE. 



Despite the fact that this has been a season of extremes and for a 

 large part sorely perplexing to the stockmen, the cattle displays were 

 again important and attractive features of the fair. The representations 

 of both the dairy and beef breeds with but one exception, the Short-horn 

 was stronger numerically than those of a year ago. With such large 

 classes and at the first fair of the circuit, it was expected that weak 

 spots would be frequently revealed and this year proved no exception 

 to the rule. 



Among the beef breeds none were out in such numbers nor possessed 

 such uniform excellence as did the Herefords. It was, in fact, the larg- 

 est exhibit of the breed ever made at any state fair and it was as superior 

 in character as it was numerous. In the dairy section the Jersey en- 

 rolment was highest, with Guernseys a somewhat distant second. Cer- 

 tainly no better indication is needed to prove that Iowa is soon to take 

 a high place among the dairy states of the Union than that which was 

 tangibly presented day by day in that portion of the judging pavilion 

 given over to the dairy breeds. 



Comparisons of the numerical strength of the various breeds is af- 

 forded by the following tabulation of an enumeration of cattle shown at 

 the fifty-sixth and fifty-seventh annual exhibitions of the Iowa State 

 Board of Agriculture: 



1910 1911 



Angus ...102 99 



Herefords 155 188 



Polled Durham! 40 78 



