768 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



An interesting feature which was seen hy a mere handful of people was 

 the exhibition of traction plows at work. There was not sufficient avail- 

 able ground to permit this exhibit to be made within the fair grounds 

 proper. The manufacturers therefore secured a thirty-acre field adjoining 

 the grounds on the east. Unfortunately, however, this field, while near the 

 vehicle entrance, was at some distance from the railroad and street car en- 

 trances used by practically all of the folks who came from the country, and 

 who were interested in traction plowing. Comparatively few farmers knew 

 such an exhibition was being made and those who learned of it and 

 wished to see it found themselves under the necessity of paying a double 

 admission fee, as the fair management refused to issue return passes to 

 the grounds. The increasing use of gas and kerosene for traction power 

 on the farm makes it desirable that some arrangement he made for show- 

 ing tractors at work within the grounds. If the machinery show could 

 be removed to the north and east, the ground it now occupies would be 

 well adapted for the exhibition of tractors. 



The exhibit of game fowl and fish, made by the Iowa Fish and Game 

 Commissioner, attracted a vast amount of attention. It consisted of a 

 few geese, ducks and pheasants enclosed by woven wire. It was not 

 much of an exhibit in itself, but it was different from anything ever 

 before shown on the grounds, and the enclosure was surrounded con- 

 stantly by large crowds. Three small, shallow ponds had been stocked 

 with fish, which could be seen quite well, and proved very interesting. 

 The fish and game department can well afford to put some money into 

 an exhibit of this kind another year. Permanent enclosures of heavy 

 woven wire could be constructed without a great deal of expense — very 

 little, indeed, considering the value of the exhibit. Arrangements can 

 no doubt be made with the Des Moines park management to secure some 

 of the wild animals kept in the parks. A separate building should be 

 constructed for the fish exhibit, with large glass-sided tanks, in which 

 the fish can be clearly seen. Such an exhibit would be both interesting 

 and instructive. The Fish and Game department has about $100,000 each 

 year from hunters' licenses. Here is a good place to use some of it. 



On Thursday, Mr. Van Pelt, state dairy expert, gave a demonstration 

 lecture on judging dairy cattle. It is much to be regretted that so few 

 heard this lecture. It was not well advertised, and the place and hour 

 were not known. If, say, one hour each day was devoted to lectures 

 on judging beef and dairy cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, etc., giving the 

 demonstrations in the live stock pavilion, where they could be seen by the 

 thousands of people comfortably seated, the educational value of the live 

 stock exhibit would be very much enhanced. Comparatively few of the 

 thousands who witness the judging of the stock get much benefit aside 

 from the opportunity to see the stock. They can not get close enough 

 to understand the work of the judge or to make comparisons between 

 the animals. There is no remedy for this in a show of this magnitude, 

 but daily lectures as suggested would add much to the interest and 

 value of the stock exhibit. 



