526 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
A working feature that attracted thousands of visitors was the steam 
plowing and grain drill exhibitions. A plot of about 15 acres was set aside 
for the gang plow drawn by steam and gasoline traction engines, and at 
regular assigned intervals a gang of plows was started turning furrows. 
Their work appeared to be very satisfactory. Following them came an 
exhibition of the working of grain drills, and so thoroughly had the feet 
of the thousands who followed the plows pulverized and leveled furrows 
that harrows were not needed ahead of the drills. This behemoth depart- 
ment, surcharged with interest and value to the farmer, imperatively 
needs the sheltering roof of the great shed which has been planned by the 
fair managers, and which depends for its realization on the liberality of 
the next legislature. 
Live stock is the corner stone of Iowa agriculture. This fair annually 
submits proof of that fact. This season is summoned exhibits from as far 
east as Ohio and as far south as Kentucky, while Minnesota on the north 
and Nebraska on the west marked the boundaries in those directions. The 
three essential elements to a complete measuring up to the opportunities 
were here present — numbers, quality and interest. The winnowing floor 
of the state fair has blown away the chaff. Not even the attractions of 
closed classes, for state exhibitors only, brought out much sub-standard 
stuff. Numbers were a little reduced in some sections, but the tail-end 
had been cut off to the advantage of all concerned. The net result of th« 
years of successful educational work at this fair was the most satisfactory 
showing in the stock department that has yet been credited to its history. 
Such in summary was the 1908 Iowa State Fair. The prize lists in the 
live stock departments are presented, compiled by our reporters with care, 
and a few general observations are submitted on the several sections. Ob- 
viously a show of such magnitude does not lend itself to the detailed re- 
ports which aforetimes this journal was accustomed to present, when ex- 
hibitors were few and entries light. The battles of the breeds have out- 
grown, through their very magnitude, the detailed accounts of individual 
prizewinners which in the early times formed the subject of these annual 
reviews. 
THE CATTLE SECTION. 
THE SHORT-HORNS. 
The quality of the cattle in the Short-horn section averaged better by 
reason of lessened entries over last year to the number of about 100. 
The offer of prizes open only to exhibitors who live in the state resulted in 
the past in getting out quite a few animals that were not up to state fair 
standard, and it requires some years of experience for exhibitors to get 
that standard well fixed in mind. That the lesson has been learned seems 
evident. This show ground has witnessed some historic presentations of 
the "red, white and roans," and the one last week deserves to take high 
rank among them. Its conspicuous feature was the uniformity of excel- 
lence that ran through most of the classes. Some outstanding animals 
appeared, but even in these classes merit was carried well down toward 
