TWELFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 587 



nest breeder. The third and fourth prizes, won with twelve and ten 

 eggs, were from birds that had not been trap nested. The individual 

 record of each hen was kept during this contest. This record showed 

 that some of the birds entered in the contest had not laid an egg. It 

 is such dead-beat boarders that rob the poultry breeder of his profits. 

 These non-producers can only be weeded out by means of the trap nest; a 

 lesson which many of the farmers who interested themselves in watching 

 the contest were apparently glad to learn. 



The headquarters of the Women's Poultry Association, in a tent at the 

 side of the poultry building, was a popular place with the ladies. 



One of the surprises of the fair to the farmer was the comparatively 

 small number of Barred Plymouth Rocks on exhibition. The Plymouth 

 Rocks have for so long been considered the farmer's fowl that we miss 

 them at a farmer's fair. Some well-grown young stock was shown, but 

 there was nothing so exceptionally fine as to attract especial attention. 



The Rhode Island Reds were the largest class. More good birds of this 

 breed were shown this year than have ever been brought out before at a 

 fall show. The first single comb cockerel was the bird of the show, taking 

 sweepstakes cup as the best cockerel in the show. The coloring of this 

 bird was almost perfect, showing an ideal wing with uniform color in 

 wing coverts, and a tail without a touch of foreign color. He had good 

 shape and carriage, and his under-color was a rich, deep red to the skin. 

 The first pullet was a bird of remarkable quality. The second best cock- ■ 

 erel of the show was a White Orpington, a bird which crowded the first 

 cockerel very close for sweepstakes. 



There was a good showing of Black and Buff Orpingtons, the Orping- 

 tons as a whole ranking next to the Reds in numbers. White Leghorns 

 were also much in evidence; the class being larger, we understood, than 

 in any previous year. , 



The Wyandotte class was not large, but some good birds were shown. 

 All the American breeds were well represented, and the usual number 

 of fancy breeds and varieties attracted the attention of visitors. 



Th turkeys were out in larger numbers than last year, which might have 

 been expected, as this has been a good year for turkeys generally. The 

 Indian Runner ducks are evidently increasing in popularity; some good 

 Pekins were also shown. 



The old birds, as is always the case at this time of year, were in poor 

 shape for showing, owing to the moult, and the inevitable breaking of 

 feathers during the season in the breeding pen, but the young stock 

 looked fine, the birds all appeared thrifty, and everything promises well 

 for a successful season to the Iowa farmer in the poultry yard. 



Farmer and Breeder, Sioux City. 



Will Iowa crops be much smaller this year than usual? If so, will the 

 shortage have an appreciable effect upon the business the farmer will do 

 next year? Will they postpone improvements for a season? These are 



