534 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



as a pure bred herd, especially after four or five crosses. We always 

 advise the use of a pure bred sire and never discourage the buying of 

 some pure bred females if the dairyman has a few hundred dollars left 

 after buying the sire. 



SAVE THE CALVES. 



We think the tendency among the dairymen to rush the calves to 

 market as soon as they are dropped deplorable. We are greatly limiting 

 the supply of dairy cows by this course. There is already a shortage of 

 she stuff and the only remedy we know of is that of saving the larger 

 share of the best heifer calves. Prices for good dairy cows were never 

 higher nor the demand better than at this time, and if we wish to come 

 anywhere near keeping up the supply for the future the heifers at least 

 must be spared. If some change does not come at once and more 

 calves can be raised the price of cows will be prohibitive, and as a 

 result our supply of dairy products will be materially reduced. 



NEW BUILDING A NECESSITY. 



New quarters for this department should be provided. Within the 

 last two or three years the work of this department has more than 

 doubled. The help has, and will have to be increased as extra work 

 is added. Permit me to call attention to the following, which is a fair 

 indication of the growth of the department: The receipts turned over 

 to the state treasurer for 1909 were $9,593.24; for 1910, $17,435.32; 

 for 1911, $20,892.97; for the first nine months of 1912, January 

 1st to October 1st, $18,422.88. Besides the above, all the fines under 

 the Pure Food Law are turned into the school fund in the different 

 counties where prosecutions are made. 



The quarters now occupied by this Department were never suitable 

 to the work, and at this time are too congested to permit the best 

 service. There are so many other departments in the capitol that are 

 overcrowded that we sincerely hope that the Thirty-fifth General As- 

 sembly will see the necessity of the erection of a new building with 

 the least possible delay. 



NEW MEASURES RECOMMENDED. 



The enforcement of the Weight and Measure Law was added to 

 the duties of this Department late in the last session of the General 

 Assembly. This has given us at least 2 5 per cent more work than 

 we formerly had to look after. No additional help or increase in 

 appropriation was given on this account. The enactment of an entirely 

 new weight and measure law, a cold storage law, and a sanitary 

 measure similar to the one passed by the senate at the last session are 

 recommended as absolutely necessary. A net weight law would be 

 most helpful in correcting some of the evils now existing. 



If the members of the senate and house could be impressed with 

 the fact that there is such a general demand for these laws as we 

 know exists, they would not question the advisability of their enact- 

 ment without delay. 



