ELEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XII 793 



first money, but Wheeler Homestead of New York broke into the front 

 rank with a senior yearling boar, senior boar pig, aged and senior yearl- 

 ing sows, and senior and grand champion sow. B. F. Kunkle of Iowa was 

 the only other exhibitor and he succeeded in getting the blue on his 

 junior yearling boar. 



AMONG THE SHEEP. 



An increasing prominence marks the sheep department of Iowa's fair, 

 reflecting in a measure the growing inclination of Iowa farmers to give 

 sheep a permanent place upon their lands. From a small beginning in 

 the sheep business with the feeding of bands of western lambs and 

 wethers, men of the cornbelt are gradually acquiring breeding ewes and 

 are finding them valuable as income-producers and useful as weed ex- 

 terminators. The consequent demand for rams and ewes in Iowa has 

 drawn more and better sheep to the show at Des Moines each year of 

 late. This year there were 700 sheep altogether. Even the poorest were 

 of creditable quality in most cases, for the demand for cheap inferior 

 breeding sheep is now easily satisfied by the local trade of breeders, and 

 buyers who take the time and expense to select breeding animals at the 

 fair have acquired an appreciation and a desire for stock of correct type 

 and prepotent character. In all-round excellence the sheep show was un- 

 doubtedly the best ever seen at Des Moines. Not only was the number of 

 entries large but there was an unprecedented proportion of high-class 

 stock, including many winners at the summer shows in England. 



The sheep were comfortably quartered in the east end of the hog barn 

 which was devoted entirely to them, while the old sheep sheds were used 

 for cattle which exceeded in numbers the capacity of their barns. If the 

 growth of the sheep department continues as it should additional room 

 will be needed another year unless the number of hogs contracts. A 

 temporary slight reduction of swine entries occurred this season owing 

 to the general curtailment of breeding operations the past year, but next 

 year is expected to witness such an expansion in swine entries as shall 

 tax the capacity of the pens to the limit and leave no room to shelter the 

 sheep unless a new and capacious sheep barn shall be provided. 



The mutton breeds were judged by W. H. Beattie of Ontario, and he 

 adhered to the compact, thick-meated, low-set animals of quality and cor- 

 rect breed type. His selections were in most cases commended by ex- 

 hibitors. Of course some animals of excellent killing type had to take 

 low places because they fell below breed standards. His work was careful 

 and consistent. Unfortunately except in Shropshires and Hampshires 

 there were not enough exhibitors to make the most lively competition, 

 and interest in the judging lagged somewhat on that account, but Iowa 

 farmers were constant frequenters of the sheep pens and judging tent, 

 learning and buying. 



Shropshires predominated to an overwhelming extent. The 320 sheep 

 of this breed constituted an exhibition never before excelled at a state 



