384 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The corn entries were all of last year's crop and of splendid quality. 

 The northern section was not as well represented as it was last year, but 

 the central and southern sections were better both in numbers and qual- 

 ity. Mr. George Steen, of West Liberty, Iowa, was the owner of the grand 

 champion single ear, with W. A. Hook second. Mr. Hook's ear was the 

 champion ear in the southern section of the State. The grand champion 

 ten ears of corn went to Mr. 0. Osborne, of Maxwell, Iowa. In the ten- 

 ear samples of yellow corn A. J. Door, Greene, Iowa, was given first place 

 in the northern section; O. Osborne, Maxwell, Iowa, first place in the 

 central section; and Shaw & Nims first place in the southern section. 

 In the ten-ear samples of white corn George Henry, West Union, Iowa, 

 secured first place in the northern section; Fred Hfethershaw, Des Moines, 

 first place in the central section; and T. B. White, Oskaloosa, Iowa, first 

 place in the southern section. Mr. J. Sundberg, Whiting, Iowa, awarded 

 the premiums in all the corn classes, assisted by Mr. D. G. Wilson of 

 Panora, Iowa. 



The chief attractions Monday forenoon were the boys' and girls' judging 

 contests for the free scholarships at the Iowa Agricultural College at 

 Ames. The boys' contest has been a regular feature of the fair for the 

 last three years, but the contest for the girls was introduced only this 

 year, due to the earnest efforts of Miss Mary F. Rausch, who has charge 

 of the domestic science work in the Iowa agricultural extension work. 

 The girls' contest promises to be a regular feature of the fair in the future 

 and we predict a great many more entries next year than this. At the 

 exposition building Miss Rausch also had four nice rooms fitted up in a 

 very home-like fashion, showing what can be done with small means 

 to make the home cheery and comfortable. Nine of Iowa's best girls 

 competed in the cooking contest and they were eagerly watched by an 

 interested crowd throughout the test. Many of the visiting ladies ex- 

 pressed themselves as getting more out of the lectures and demonstration 

 work than anything else at the fair. These lectures on domestic science 

 were given at the rest tent and were always well attended, the tent being 

 filled to its full capacity at each lecture. During the week Mrs. L. D. 

 Mathos of the Woman's club of Dubuque lectured on "Clothing for Young 

 Children," and assisted Miss Rausch in showing the visitors through the 

 cottage. 



The boys in the stock and grain judging contest were put through a 

 most severe test, lasting from nine o'clock in the forenoon until nearly 

 four in the afternoon. This scholarship contest is open to any boy in 

 Iowa under twenty-one years of age, who has not been enrolled in any 

 of the regular courses at the college. There were more boys participat- 

 ing this year than ever before, and their work consisted in the placing 

 of two samples of corn, and two classes each of cattle, horses and hogs 

 by each contestant. The money prizes are given in the form of scholar- 

 ships at Ames. 



The exhibit of the Agricultural College was better this year than ever 

 before. All the departments were represented, including the animal 



