SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART IV. 279 



class, and increase not only the amount of cash of each premium, but 

 also the total cash paid as premiums on hogs to a figure that is greater 

 than is paid by any other hog show on earth, barring special prizes offered 

 by record associations and others. We have, also, gained a more liberal 

 treatment to exhibitors, and have the assurance that the Iowa State Fair 

 grounds will in another year be graced by the best hog barns and con- 

 veniences that can be devised. 



In conclusion I wish to refer to the fact that the Iowa Swine Breed- 

 ers' Association is the oldest live stock organization now in existence 

 west of the Mississippi, and it is not a little creditable to its membership 

 to note that its meetings have always been lively and interesting. 



Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, wrote that the 

 pressure of official duties at Washington prevented him from 

 being in attendance. He forwarded his paper, however, which 

 was read by the Secretary. 



THE CORN CROP IN PORK PRODUCTION. 



JAMES WILSON, SECRETAKY OF AGRICULTURE. 



It is unnecessary to state before the Iowa Swine Breeders' Associa- 

 tion, that corn is the great grain crop of Iowa. Its value in the year 

 1904 was over $100,000,000, nearly two-thirds that of the total grain crop 

 of the state, and about one-tenth that of the total corn crop of the Un- 

 ion. Add the potato and hay crops of Iowa to the grain crop, and the 

 value of the corn raised exceeds one-half of the whole. 



This great crop is valuable both as a direct source of revenue and 

 for feeding; it makes possible the horse, beef, dairy, mutton, poultry and 

 pork industries of the state, and the secret of your agricultural wealth 

 rests not only in your fertile soil, but also in the fact that a large part 

 of the feed produced on your farms is fed to your live stock. The im- 

 portance of this can hardly be over-estimated. You are familiar with 

 the adage, "Live stock husbandry is the basis of successful agriculture". 

 This fact can be stated in other language. Where a large part of the 

 products of the farms is fed to live stock, there is the greatest yield of 

 products, both animal and vegetable, the sales from the farms are great- 

 est, the land has the greatest value, there is the greatest investment in 

 buildings and machinery, live stock has its greatest value, and there is 

 the least expenditure for commercial fertilizers. According to the 

 twelfth census, the total value of all farm property in Iowa in 1899 was 

 $1,834,345,546, Illinois leading with a little over two billions of dollars. 

 Of this great sum, your investment in live stock was $278,830,096 — far 

 ahead of that of any other state. The total value of your farm products 



