TWELFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 549 



where the dominant opinions might be expected to influence the decisions 

 against them. There was less fitting than usual, a great number of 

 breeders preferring to show animals possessing size and making little 

 or no attempt to put them into the accepted show-yard form. The awards 

 were placed by Mr. J. M. Stewart, of Ainsworth, Iowa. 



CHESTEK WHITES. 



The exhibit of Chester Whites was perhaps the leading one of the 

 entire show with respect to average high quality, finish and near approach 

 to breed type. The awards were made by Mr. Wilson Rowe, of Ames, 

 Iowa. 



Breeders' Gazette, Chicago. 



Neither drouth nor flood avails to dim the glory of the Iowa State Fair. 

 Some former years have seemingly sought to drown it out, and now a 

 scorching summer's sun has scattered its discouragement in some sections 

 of the state, but the fair rises to yet greater heights, triumphant over all. 

 It may briefly be summarized as record-making in nearly all respects. 



Cornbelt farming has encountered one of its rare vicissitudes, and 

 Iowa has suffered, but no evidence of that fact could be found either in 

 the exhibits or the attendance. From Des Moines southwest production 

 has been notably lessened from almost unprecedented drouth, but other 

 sections of the state will close the year's accounting with records of pro- 

 duction that range all the way from a little less than the average to a 

 great deal more than the average. No note of discouragement was 

 sounded. The cornbelt farmer is forehanded. He is not dependent on 

 the returns of a single harvest, as crib and bin and bank hold accumu- 

 lations of former favorable seasons. 



Fairer weather never forwarded the progress of an agricultural event. 

 Des Moines is in the center of a sun-blistered spot, and the withered 

 grass on the fair grounds testified sadly to that fact, but the main 

 streets had been oiled so that the dust was well laid. The coolness which 

 overspread the Northwest covered Iowa with its edge, showing traces 

 of frost in the earlier part of the week, and affording almost an autumnal 

 crisp to the air. More agreeable temperature for visitors, attendants 

 and stock could not be imagined. This condition was reflected at the 

 turnstiles. The week was yet young when a record-breaking total was 

 registered. Tuesday's attendance surpassing any gathering on the grounds. 

 The total attendance far exceeded any fair week in the fifty-seven years' 

 history of this institution. 



This record accentuates the need of new clothes for this fair. Much 

 of its accommodations is outgrown, whether designed for exhibits or 

 visitors. Cattle and sheep overflowed into tents and horses into tern- 



