412 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



breeders as well as from importers. It is a notable fact that one of 

 the greatest Percheron brood mares that has recently been imported 

 and that won all the prizes at the leading shows in France was ont- 

 stripped by an American-bred mare that took first in her class and 

 the championship prize. This again called attention to the fact that 

 the day is passed when it is necessary for us to go to France or any 

 other foreign country to secure the best horses. American-bred horses are 

 today not only equal to imported horses, but they are actually superior, 

 as this and other shows have demonstrated heretofore. In view of this 

 it is time for American farmers to patronize breeders of American 

 bred horses as well as American-bred cattle and to realize that we 

 have as good, if not better, live stock in this country than can be 

 found anywhere in the world. 



The cattle show was also immense. The Shorthorns were especially 

 strong and it was considered on every hand that this breed made the 

 largest and best show ever seen. The classes were large and the quality 

 of the animals unsurpassed. The Hereford show was fully as 

 large as last year and the quality of the cattle, taking the show as a 

 whole, superior. The breed was complimented by producing the cham- 

 pion steer of the show. Fair Lad 1st. The Angus cattle were out in 

 their best clothes; they were in fine show condition and excited the 

 usual admiration of the spectators in the show pavilion. Perhaps the 

 Angus show was not quite as large as it has been in former years 

 but the quality was there. 



SWINE. 



The hog exhibition was magnificent. There was no less than 3,200 

 porcine beauties in the new pavilion, which is the finest structure of 

 its kind in the world. Every breeder seemed entirely satisfied with 

 the magnificent accommodations provided for their swine. The hogs 

 did not suffer from the heat in spite of the fact that over 3,000 were 

 gathered under one roof, and in spite of the fact that the weather was 

 hot and sultry all through the fair. It was due to the unique manner in 

 which the building is constructed that the pens remain cool and perfectly 

 sanitary at all times. The only objection to the pavilion is that it 

 is too small. It should have been built twice its present size. Pro- 

 vision must be made in the vei-y near future, either for enlarging the 

 building, or for the construction of another one of equal size. First 

 class accommodation must be provided for the Iowa mortgage lifter. It 

 is due to swine breeders that they should have the best accommo- 

 dations for their stock. There is no class of men that do more for 

 the up-building of the State than do the breeders of swine. Iowa pro- 

 duces more swine than any other two states in the Union. Hogs in 

 Iowa have increased from January 1, 1897, to January 1, 1907, from 

 3,738,000 to 8,585,000. 



Breeders' Gazette, Chicago, Illinois. 



Nothing troubled the Iowa State Fair last week except a deficit of 

 room and a surplus of water. It takes a lot of water to run a big fair 



