EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IX. 417 



interest in draft liorse breeding, to whicti feature must be added tlie 

 pleasing fact that home-bred mares in several classes were good enough 

 to be set ahead of imported females that had won distinction in French 

 shows. Swine overflowed even the extensive new accommodations. The 

 red hogs executed a flank movement on their rivals through early entries, 

 and when the pens were filled nearly half of them took on that hue 

 suggestive of a blistered harvest field face. Sheep required emergency 

 accommodations, and made a very interesting presentation, although 

 interest in this section of the show is decidedly less than in any other 

 live stock department. Evidently the golden-hoofed animal does not 

 enter closely into the economic calculations of the Iowa farmer. 



THE CATTLE DEPARTMENT. 



Some few changes in classification were made with a view of adding 

 strength to this department. Breeders of Ayrshire and Dutch Belted 

 cattle asked representation on the list and it was granted, provided three 

 herds of each breed would make entries; but the required number did 

 not fill, hence those breeds were missing from the show. The division of 

 the yearling classes in the beef breeds into juniors and seniors was 

 gratifying to exhibitors, and indeed in some breeds it was fairly de- 

 manded by the numerous entries. Governor Packard and his efficient 

 assistants kept things moving promptly, and only in the Short-horn section, 

 where entries were in disconcerting numbers, was there any drag in the 

 programme. Keen interest was manifested throughout the week in the 

 ring work, and those fortunate enough to get admitted to the arena some- 

 times so far forgot themselves in their desire to get as good a look as 

 the judges, as to impede the work of those officials. Horses held the 

 ring in the morning hours, and at 1 p. m. the herdsmen took up 

 their march toward the arena at the heads of their carefully-groomed 

 cliarges, and their session lasted well on toward six in the evening, 

 watched to the last by large companies of spectators. Only the dis- 

 reputable weather dimmed the glories of the 1907 show at Des Moines. 



THE SHORT-HORNS. 



Several of the leading exhibitors whose herds set the standard of 

 our fall shows have acquired the Iowa fair habit, and presented the 

 strength of the Short-horn exhibit at this time. In addition to this 

 feature, which in Itself give assurance of one of our most satisfactory 

 show seasons for this breed, the offer of prize money limited to Iowa 

 breeders brought out the overflowing classes which in one or two rings 

 of single animals totaled over thirty entries, and which filled the arena 

 when the group prizes came to be judged. For the most part the presence 

 of these home entries did not add strength to the exhibit. Indeed, it 

 brought out many an animal never intended by nature or by prepara- 

 tion for a place on any show ground, and which could not by any possible 

 course of reasoning be thought to lend that impressiveness to such an 

 exhibit which lends converts to the breed. 

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