172 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



tutes, and received the state aid through the state auditor's office to 

 the amount of $5,566.50. Agricultural and domestic short courses were 

 held in two or three counties, which are not recognized by the state auditor 

 as regular institutes under the Iowa statute. Through the co-opera- 

 tion of the extension department of the State College at Ames several 

 additional counties will hold short courses the coming winter. Through 

 this department of the college a great deal of assistance has been rendered 

 the county farmers' institutes of Iowa. To encourage a better corn ex- 

 hibit at the farmers' institutes the fair management included a class 

 in last year's prize list for county exhibits of corn made in the name 

 of the county by the farmers' institute. The prize was a cash offering 

 of $200.00, divided into five premiums — one hundred, fifty, twenty-five, 

 fifteen and ten dollars. These prizes were paid to the officers of the 

 institutes winning, and are to be used in cash offerings on com at 

 their next institute meeting. The Polk county institute was first in this 

 class, Dallas county second, Story county third, Mahaska county fourth 

 and Warren county fifth. 



COUNTY AND DISTRICT FAIRS FOR 1907. 



Eighty-nine county and district societies reported holding fairs the 

 past year and received the state aid to the amount of $16,932.00. This 

 is an increase of five over the number reporting in 1906. The compara- 

 tive financial statement will show a slight increase of average receipts, 

 balance on hand at the close of the year, and value of property. On 

 the other hand, it will also show a slight decrease in the average amount 

 paid out for premiums and present indebtedness. The total amount paid 

 out for premiums this year for eighty-six of the eighty-nine fairs re- 

 porting (three statements not being available at the time this report 

 was prepared) was $57,567.00, as against $59,961.00 in 1906 for the 

 eighty-four societies reporting. The total value of fair ground property 

 is listed at $514,496.00, as against $496,702.00 for 1906; and a total in- 

 debtedness of $100,007.00 as against $lOo,507.00. The average value of 

 property is given at $5,982.00, as against !t>5,913.00 for 1906. The aver- 

 age indebtedness is $1,163.00 and for 1906, $1,232.00. The following eight 

 fairs paid out over one thousand dollars each in premiums: 



I.Union district, Muscatine county $1,515.00 



2. Marshall county 1,416.00 



3. Clinton district, Clinton county 1,239.00 



4. Clinton county 1,122.00 



5. Cass county 1,037.00 



6. Henry county 1,013.00 



7. Kossuth county 1,011.00 



8. Columbus Junction district, Louisa county 1,006.00 



