572 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
of the interest in this class of live stock. The private sales made were 
numerous and practically every breeder present disposed of his surplus 
ewes and rams. This applied not only to the American-bred, but also to 
the imported animals. 
IOWA STATE REGISTER AND FARMER, DES MOINES, IOWA. 
Nothing seemed to be out of joint at the Iowa State Fair last week. 
The weather man after having made a few moves in the way of dark 
clouds and morning sprinkles, settled down to business and gave almost 
ideal weather for the rest of the week save that of Friday when he 
opened his flood gates and a real drenching rain poured down in all its 
unwelcome dampness which drove the thousands of visitors to shelter in 
the various buildings. It was a good natured crowd and if one jostled his 
neighbor it did not matter. 
A suggestion has been made, called out by the rain, that it would be 
well for the Iowa fair management to provide some covered walks, after 
the plan of Illinois, but one who has been there during a time of rain 
complains that while such are very convenient for people to get in out 
of the rain, they likewise furnish a place for the people to stand under 
the shelter while those wishing to pass along the covered walks to some 
building where they may continue their sight-seeing are prevented from 
doing so unless they get out from under the shelter. 
This year is the first year that the Iowa State College has had sufficient 
space to make an exhibit of the work that is being carried on at Ames. 
The old secretary's office had been set aside for their exhibit, where much 
information had been compiled for the edification of those interested in 
such things. Prof. Pammel gave an interesting lecture on diseases of 
grasses and had the various samples of grasses with the cultures of such 
diseases as they are heir to. Prof. Bowman was in his usual good humor 
and tried in every way possible to assist the seeker after knowledge to find 
it. Many hours could be profitably spent in this building. 
The fair began one day earlier this year than formerly and it was a 
matter of surprise to note the great number of visitors who came to the 
fair on Saturday, the first day. That day had more the appearance of 
IMonday or Tuesday and the show was complete. It was children's day 
and if any one thinks there is danger of race suicide, he had better consult 
some one who was at the fair on that day. 
More than 200,000 people saw the great Iowa State Fair this year and 
the throngs kept up until the rain on Friday gave everything a chill that 
meant many thousands of dollars of loss to the fair. Already the fair 
had been pronounced by officials to be a financial success and when the rain 
began to come there was an assurance that the sinking fund would still 
be augmented, despite the rain. 
The live stock exhibit was the best to be found anywhere. It was 
simply a repetition of former years with a few added to the number. There 
was not only a larger number of all kinds of live stock present, but there 
