134 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



maintaining the type with which he starts, that is if his start has been 

 rightly made. He must know that a failure to do this leads to a rever- 

 sion to original types, lack of uniformity, and an ever increasing ten- 

 dency away from the correct form. It is in fact the same in effect, with 

 perhaps a less rapid result, as cross-breeding, and unfailingly harmful. 

 At the State fairs there has been a gradual improvement in quality from 

 the very first up to the present day. The quality of the stock on the 

 farms has followed closely after, and as a direct result. 



Showing at the Iowa State Fair has been a benefit to the entire pork 

 producing industry, to farmers who have never attended the fair as well 

 as those who have. It has shown them just what a good hog should look 

 like. It has, through the ever increasing sale system, given him an 

 opportunity to buy breeding animals at fair prices and nas in many 

 instances cultivated a pride in the matter of improvement in the farm 

 stock. I have customers who have bought stock from me year after year, 

 and continued so long that their herds show the very highest quality. 

 Through this means animals are produced that make a rapid growth, 

 mature quickly, and may be ready for the market at about eight months, 

 and in such form as to bring the highest price. Since I began showing, 

 the age for profitably marketing hogs has been more than cut in two. 



Committee on Credentials reported as follows, and on motion 

 of Mr. Van Houten the report was adopted and the committee 

 continued, so that any question in regard to credentials could be 

 taken up and not occupy the time of the convention. Motion 

 seconded by Mr. T. W. Purcell, and carried. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS. 



Gentlemen: The Committee on Credentials report the following per- 

 sons duly qualified and entitled to seats in the Agricultural Convention 

 for the State of Iowa, assembled December 12, 1906: 



DELEGATES FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL 



SOCIETIES. 



Adair County Agricultural Society — C. A. Gibbs, Greenfield. 

 Adams County Agricultural Society — George E. Bliss, Corning. 

 La Porte District Fair Association — B. L. Manwell, La Porte City. 

 Buchanan County Agricultural Society — A. K. Cole, Independence. 

 Beuna Vista County Agricultural Society — A. L. Denio, Alta. 

 Cass County Agricultural Society — E. F. Berg, Atlantic. 

 Massena District Fair Association — W. C. Williams, Atlantic. 

 Big Four District Fair Association — G. C. Hoyer, Nashua. 

 Elkader Fair and Track Association — John G. Hemphill, Elkader, 



