THIRTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XIII 735 



by any influence not directly to the advantage of the entire community. 

 This exposition is an educational institution. Its influences extend to 

 all parts of the pork-raising world. Its types should be accepted as of 

 the most approved and accepted ones. Its characteristics should be in 

 line with breed improvement. Its lessons should be true ones and un- 

 questioned in the information they provide. H. F. Hoffman, Washta, 

 Iowa, placed the awards. 



POLAND CHINAS. 



The Iowa State Fair has built up a well-earned reputation as being 

 the greatest exposition of Poland China excellence to be found in the 

 United States. Some of the show rings of the past years have been re- 

 markalle because of the wonderful uniformity of type, form and char- 

 acteristics. It is a fact beyond question that the Iowa State Fair has been 

 one of the greatest incentives to the production of good Poland China 

 hogs. While from year to year there has been a constant increase in 

 numbers brought to this fair, for some time there has been a falling 

 off in the stronger points and more desirable features of the animals 

 driven into the competitive rings. It is perhaps a fact unfortunate in its 

 influence upon the pork-producing interests of the "West that selfish in- 

 terests have so manipulated public sentiment as to have created dissen- 

 sions and unfair competition among the producers of the breed. Anyway 

 it is safe to say that the wide diversity of types as shown at the Iowa 

 State Fair this year and last have indicated a set of disorganized ideas 

 as to proper, practical and profitable form. The departure from agreed 

 type has brought about such extremes of dissension and ill-will that for 

 several seasons the management of the Iowa State Fair has looked upon 

 the selection of a judge who should be the means of satisfying a ma- 

 jority of exhibitors as a most difficult contract. Certain it is that ex- 

 hibitors have gradually assumed for themselves privileges which could 

 not we!l be accorded and which border closely upon a breach of common 

 courteiy. This situation culminated at the show of the present year in 

 a mcst unfortunate circumstance. The management of the Iowa State 

 F"air had selected as Poland China judge, Harvey Johnson, of Logan, 

 Iowa, an old-time breeder, a gentleman of absolute integrity and a business 

 man whose record is without blemish. Mr, Johnson consented to as- 

 sume the duties of judge only after considerable urging because of the 

 fact of ill health. As a matter of fact, his condition might readily have 

 excused him from assuming any of its duties. At the close of the sec- 

 ond day's judging the contentions of various disappointed exhibitors be- 

 came so loud and assumed such an attitude of discourtesy and injustice to 

 the judge that Mr. Johnson refused to complete the work. At the solicita- 

 tion of the management, J. M. Stewart, of Ainsworth, took up the remain- 

 ing classes and made the awards. In the early part of the show F. L. Rood, 

 of Clearfield, Iowa, acted as consulting judge with Mr. Johnson. Much 

 of the discord shown among breeders arises from their insufficient knowl- 

 edge of what has previously been accomplished. Size is not a late devel- 

 opm^ent of the Poland China hog. A quarter of a century ago King Te- 

 cumseh, a magnificent show hog of symmetrical proportions, style, finish 



