TWELFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 599 



bred horses were eligible, brought out a remarkable collection of young- 

 sters in all the four draft breeds and demonstrated conclusively that the 

 American farmer can raise as good horses as any one if he will give his 

 foals liberal treatment. 



Breeders of Hereford cattle made the best exhibit of "white faces" ever 

 witnessed in an American show ring, according to the old timers, and for 

 the first time in many years overshadowed the popular "red, white and 

 roan." The two-polled black herds, the Angus and Galloway, were well 

 represented by perfectly fitted herds, while the Polled Durhams brought 

 up the rear. Beef cattle interests are undoubtedly looking up in the 

 middle west if significance can be attached to these facts. 



Time was. when a specimen of the special purpose dairy breeds was an 

 unfamiliar object at the Iowa fair, but of late years this condition has 

 changed materially and the missionary work done by breeders from 

 Wisconsin and other eastern states is bringing results. Five special dairy 

 breeds were on exhibition for the inspection of fair visitors, the Guernsey 

 leading in numbers. The other breeds stood as follows from the same 

 viewpoint: Holstein, Jersey, Ayrshire and Brown Swiss. Several herds 

 of Red Polled cattle afforded a good study of dual purpose types. 



Swine breeders came near breaking all previous records from a numeri- 

 cal standpoint, there being in the neighborhood of 2,700 head in the pens, 

 of which number Duroc-Jerseys comprised approximately one-third. All 

 breeds made a creditable showing, the Berkshires coming up better than 

 ever before both in numbers and quality. In the sheep barns Shropshires, 

 Oxfords and Hampshires predominated, with a significant showing of 

 long wools and several other medium wool breeds to make this depart- 

 ment well balanced. 



SOLUTION FOR BALANCED RATION. 



If the corn belt farmer adopts the plan suggested at the fair for feeding 

 his live stock he will build a silo and grow alfalfa. Many farmers have 

 delayed the erection of a silo, not being able to decide which type will 

 best fill the bill. A study of the several types exhibited led the majority 

 to the conclusion that there is no best type, and that the failure to obtain 

 a good supply of silage is due principally to improper construction or 

 filling. This was the lesson taught: Get a silo, two if possible, one for 

 winter and the other for summer feeding. The best type is the one that 

 suits your fancy and pocketbook. Then be sure that it is put up right. 



A large map of Iowa, showing the distribution of alfalfa and exhibited 

 by the extension department, offered much encouragement to farmers who 

 have been unable to secure a stand of this valuable protein feed. It 

 showed that alfalfa is being grown successfully in practically every county. 

 Failures to secure a stand where seed is sown in August on a well pre- 

 pared seed bed are growing fewer and any farmer who will persist in 

 the culture of this forage crop will succeed sooner or later. 



