SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I 101 



and ninety-three, representing the herds of fifty-four breeders, all but 

 ten being from Iowa. The Chester Whites came next in number, 

 there being four hundred and seventy-five, shown by twenty-five 

 breeders, all from Iowa. Then came the Berkshires, the six breeders 

 in this class having one hundred and eleven in the show. Thus the 

 show of two thousand four hundred and seventy hogs was made by one 

 hundred and seventy breeders. There are hundreds of farmers- and 

 breeders throughout the state who wait until they come to the fair 

 before purchasing whatever boars, sows or gilts are needed to strengthen 

 their herds. There have been times in the past when eighty per cent 

 ■of the swine on exhibition changed ownership before leaving the 

 grounds. The condition and arrangement of the barns or sheds in 

 which this exhibit is quartered, and a lack of a show ring of sufficient 

 size, detracts somewhat from this show. With new quarters for the 

 hogs, conveniently arranged both for the exhibitor and the visitor, 

 the show would increase in value many times and be one of the most 

 interesting and attractive places on the fair grounds. 



Iowa is not a sheep state, and considering the small number raised 

 within her borders, the show at the fair was exceedingly good, both in 

 Bumber and quality. The Board has offered inducements in the way of 

 special classes to Iowa bred sheep, and this should strengthen the 

 show materially in the next year or two. 



The poultry exhibit was good, but not what it should be. The 

 money received from the sale of poultry and eggs by the wife has tided 

 many a farmer over a financial crisis in his affairs. The total num- 

 ber of poultry of all kinds reported from the Iowa census now being 

 compiled is 23,470,059, worth $8,083,184. The number of dozen eggs 

 produced in each year is given as 79,456,462, worth $10,794,193; this 

 added to the value of all poultry makes a total of $18,877,377, a sum 

 equal to more than one-half the value of swine, and one-fifth the value 

 of all cattle. It is astounding, the returns that can be derived in a 

 year from a flock of one hundred to two hundred chickens with proper 

 care. 



In the display of farm implements and machinery was to be seen the 

 progress made in the last decade by the manufacturer in his effort to 

 satisfy the people. Here you could see nearly every kind of farm imple- 

 ment, tool, machine or conveyance known to man, representing the 

 products of many of the leading mills and factories of the middle 

 west. All classes of people, from the dealer to the small school boy, 

 seemed to be intensely interested in this exhibit. The factories had 

 their experts on hand to explain the intricate part& of the machine 

 and demonstrate its capacity to do the work for which it was intended. 



In the agricultural, horticultural and dairy building the show was 

 even better than expected. This was more particularly true of the 

 horticullmral exhibit, which, considering the unfavorable season for 

 fruit, was especially good. The visitors seem to take a greater interest 

 in these exhibits since the erection of the new building, it being 

 crowded from morning until night. Several large beds of foliage 



