778 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



were the leading breed, and in one of the rings four English prize winners 

 were in competition. The flocks of McKerrow & Sons, Win. Cooper & 

 Nephews, and Chandler Bros, were particularly strong, as the record of 

 the awards show. The sheep exhibit was highly gratifying to Super- 

 intendent Escher, the new member of the board, who had the sheep and 

 poultry exhibits in charge this year. Such a show as was made at the 

 Iowa State Fair this year cannot but help but be of much benefit to the 

 sheep breeders and to the Iowa farmers, as there is plenty of room for 

 more sheep in Iowa, and it well reflects the increased interest which is 

 now being manifested in sheep. 



THE POULTRY SHOW. 



Th poultry exhibit at the Iowa State Fair is coming to be one of 

 the leading features of the week. Early Friday morning coops of chick- 

 ens were en route to the fair, and by Monday morning everything was 

 in place, and the chorus of crows began. The Barred Rocks were the 

 largest class; later comers have difficulty in replacing the farmer's first 

 love in the poultry yard, though the Rhode Island Reds were a close 

 second to the Barred Rocks in numbers. Of old birds there were compar- 

 atively few entries, in some classes but a single entry. Undoubtedly the 

 fact that the days immediately preceding the fair were exceptionally 

 warm interfered with the entries of old stock; few breeders can afford 

 to take the risk of shipping and penning valuable breeding stock with 

 the temperature running from 94 to 96 in the shade. Fortunately a cool 

 wave made the birds fairly comfortable during the week. According 

 to Superintendent Warner the quality of the birds was "way up." E. G. 

 Roberts, with 450 birds of good quality, was the only large exhibitor 

 present. 



Indian Runner ducks showed a noticeable increase in popularity and 

 attracted much attention. Apparently each exhibitor feared the class 

 would not be full, as three of a kind, the number of entries required to 

 get first money for the class, was almost universal. This breed is growing 

 in favor, and we hope that next year the management will recognize 

 this fact by awarding three dollars for first money, as in the Pekin duck 

 classes, in stead of two dollars, as at present. 



The poultry department was complimented by having as visitors 

 through the fair,. D. D. Hale, of the Reliable Poultry Journal; E. E. 

 Richards, of the Western Poultry Journal; Theodore Hewes, of the In- 

 land; H. H. Rankin of the American Poultryman, and Reese V. Hicks 

 of Poultry Culture, the first time, we believe, so many of our poultry 

 journals have given personal attention to the Iowa hen at the state fair. 

 A petition was circulated asking of the Board of Agriculture that the 

 poultry department be given a separate superintendent. 



It is a great mistake to leave birds which "could easily beat the prize 

 winners" at home. We met so many people who "had better birds 

 at home than any at the fair," and now while there is plenty of time 

 to plan for the appearance of these birds next year, we trust their 

 owners will arrange to bring them and help out the show in 1911. One 



