EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IV. 165 



to rest and be amused for the afternoon, and I am sure they feel better 

 than if they tramped all day around the grounds and at night feel so 

 tired they want to go home. But unfortunately we have not grand stand 

 room to accommodate more than fifty per cent of the people who want 

 to take this rest and enjoyment, and I hope some day to see a grand 

 stand that will be in keeping with the fair and the demands of the 

 people. 



The President : We will now listen to the report of the secre- 

 tary, Mr. Simpson. 



Mr. Simpson : I desire to say a few words with reference to an 

 article published in a certain newspaper of the state (it is not nec- 

 essary to give the name, as no one but its editor takes it seriously) 

 during the past summer. In the article the editor seemed to take 

 delight in abusing members of the board, and calling on them for 

 financial report, which he stated had never been made. In 

 making such a statement he displayed his ignorance, or for reasons, 

 known only to himself, maliciously desired to misrepresent the 

 department. If he was at all conversant with the facts, he would 

 have known that at each annual meeting a statement of the receipts 

 and disbursements for the previous year has always been made by 

 the secretary to the convention. This statement is published in 

 the annual Iowa Year Book of Agriculture, the official publication 

 of the department. He would also know that the law provides for 

 a finance committee, appointed by the state Executive Council, to 

 make a yearly examination of the Department of Agriculture, pre- 

 vious to each annual meeting. This statement is published in the 

 proceedings of the Executive Council. He would also know that 

 the State Executive Council has regularly in its employ an expert 

 accountant whose duties are to annually examine the accounts of 

 the various state departments. No further comment is necessary 

 except to state that the Year Books are for free distribution, as well 

 as the proceedings of the State Executive Council, and may be had 

 for the asking. 



SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



I have the pleasure to present my annual report as secretary of the 

 Iowa State Board of Agriculture to the State Agricultural convention. 



The farmers of Iowa have much to be thankful for, notwithstanding 

 the harvests have been less bountiful the past season than for 1906. 

 While the yield of almost all farm corps was lessened by a most un- 

 favorable crop season, first too dry and then too wet, this was over- 

 come to a certain extent by increased prices. The currency flurry has 

 had its effect on the live stock market, which will of necessity further 



