STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

Governor of State

... ;i S-att- College, Anj.-
-State Dairy Commissioner
i nnarian

Pres't, W. W. Morrow, Alton
Vie*- Pre.-'i. C. E Cameron, Alta
Sec., John C. Simpson, Des
Treas., (r. D. Eilyson, Dea Moines

IMPSON. Sb

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Urparfmnif of Jftgrtntlfurt

Fiftieth Annual Iowa State Fair

Des Moines

August 19-27, 1904

STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

1 — B. S. Johnston, Columbus Junction
2 — C. W. Pliillips, Mnquoketn
3 — W. C. Brown, Clarion
4— K. T. St. John, Ricevillc
5—9. B. Packard, Marshalttown
6 — T. C. Legoe, What Cheer
7 — M. J. Wragg, Waukee
8 — John LtxigiTwoTd. Leon
9 — M. McDonald, Bayard
HI — J. W Wadsworth, Algona
Il-a. L. Pike, Whiting

/90-

Librarian,

New York Botanical Garden,
Bronx Parte.

New York, N. Y.,
Dear Mad am: -

Ycur le'ter of the 22nd instant requesting complete file
of the annual reports of this office at hand, and in reply to same
will say that wo are sorry that we are unable to ft-r::!.. 1 -. you Till a
complete sat of the reports, owing to the editions of 1900 and 1901
hayin£ beer: long since exhausted. However, we are forward ing you to-day
by express copy of the report of 1902, and have placed your name on
our list for subsequent issues.

Yours trily,

Secretary,

EX-PRESIDENT J. C. FRASIER, Bloomfield, Iowa.

Served as director of the Iowa State Agricultural Society, from January 1894, until
December 1900, when he was elected vice-president of the Iowa Department of Agricul-
ture. He served two years as vice-president being elected president of the department
in Debember of 1901, serving one year 1902.

THE

Iowa Year Book of Agriculture

3.

ISSUED BY THE IOWA DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE.

CONTAINING

Extracts of New Road Law, Etc.-, Report of the State Farmers
Institute for the Year 1902; State Agricultural Convention
for the Year 1902; Meeting of the State Board of Agri-
culture; Report of Meeting of State Fair Managers;

WITH

Extracts from the Reports of the State Dairy Commissioner; State
Dairy Association; Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station;
Iowa Weather and Crop Service; Improved Stock Breed-
ers' Association; Iowa Swine Breeders' Association;

ALSO

Papers Read at County Farmers' Institutes; Reports of Local

County and District Fairs; Statistics and Other

Things of Interest.

LIBRARY

NEW YORK
BOTANICAL

EDITED BY *RDE;N

J. C. SIMPSON,

secretary state board of agriculture.

DBS MOINES:

JS. MUP.PHY, STATE PKINTER.

1903.

,0f

Rev. W

M. Beardshear, deceased, late president cf the;; Iowa State College of
Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.

STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS:

GOVERNOR OF STATE, Des Moines.

PRESIDENT IOWA STATE COLLEGE, Ames.

STATE DAIRY COMMISSIONER, - - Des Moines.

STATE VETERINARIAN, Forest City.

officers:

W. W. MORROW, President, A/ton.

C. E. CAMERON, Vice-President, Alia.

J. C. SIMPSON, Secretary, Des Moines.

G. D. ELLYSON, Treasurer, Des Moines.

DISTRICT MEMBERS:

First District— J. P. MANATREY, Fairfield.

Second District— C. W. PHILLIPS, --.-.... Maquoketa.

Third District- W. C. BROWN, Clarion.

Fourth District— R. T. St. JOHN, Riceville.

Fifth District -S. B. PACKARD, Marshallloivn.

Sixth District— T. C. LEGOE, What Cheer.

Seventh District— M. J. WRAGG, Waukee.

Eighth District— JOHN LEDGER WOOD, Leon.

Ninth District— M. McDOnALD, Bayard.

Tenth District-J. W. WADSWORTH, Algona.

Eleventh District— H. L. PIKE, Whiting.

President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer are Elected for One Year.

Terms of Directors for Odd Numbered Districts Expire Second, Wednesday in December,

1903. Terms of Directors for Even Numbered Districts Expire Second

Wednesday in December, 190&.

LETTER OF INTRODUCTION.

OFFICE OF

THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE,

Capitol Building,

Des Moines, Iowa. February 2, 1903.

To the Members oe The State Board of Agriculture—

Gentlemen — In compliance with Chapter Fifty- Eight,

Acts of the Twenty- Eighth General Assembly, creating a

Department of Agriculture, and Section Ten of said Chapter

providing for the publication of The Iowa Year Book of

Agriculture, by the Secretary, I have the honor to transmit

herewith the third annual "Iowa Year Book of Agriculture,"

for the year 1902.

JOHN C. SIMPSON,

Secretary State Board of Agriculture.

PART I.

ROADS.

ROAD LAW IN IOWA.

The enactment of the Anderson road law (which becomes operative
on the first Monday in April of this year) and several other bills which
were enacted by the Twenty-ninth General Assembly, has greatly
changed the system of collecting and expending the property road tax
in this state, and we have received numerous inquiries, from parties
in this and other states, for information concerning the law as it now
exists.

"We are of the opinion that the changes which have been made in
our road laws will meet with general favor, when they are once in oper-
ation and understood, and that they will result in great improvement
in our public roads.

Believing there is a general desire for information on this subject,
we have had compiled the laws relative to levying, collecting and ex-
pending the road tax in this state, as they will exist after the sixth day
of next Apri] when the new law becomes operative, which, by permis-
sion of the Executive Council of the State of Iowa, we give herein.

J. C. SIMPSON,
Secretary State Board of Agriculture.

O)

10 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

TITLE VIII-OF WORKING ROADS.

CHAPTER 2. CODE OF 1897.

Section 1528. POWERS AND DUTIES OF TRUSTEES. The town-
ship trustees of each township shall meet on the first Monday in April,
or as soon thereafter as the assessment book is received by the town-
ship clerk, and on the first Monday in November, in each year. At the
April meeting said trustees shall determine:

1. The rate of property tax to be levied for the succeeding year
for roads, bridges, guideboards, plows, scrapers, tools and machinery
adapted to the construction and repair of roads, and for the payment of any
indebtedness previously incurred for road purposes, and levy the same,
which shall not be less than one nor more than four mills on the dollar on
the amount of the township assessment for that year, which, when col-
lected, shall be expended under the direction and order of the township
trustees;

2. The amount that will be allowed for a day's labor done by a
man, and by a man and team, on the road. To certify to the board of
supervisors the desire for an additional road tax, of not to exceed one
mill, to be levied in whole or in part by the board of supervisors as here-
inafter provided. At the November meeting, they shall settle with the
township clerk and supervisors of roads.

Section 1529. GENERAL TOWNSHIP FUND— CLERK TO GIVE
BOND— CUSTODY OF IMPLEMENTS. The trustees shall set apart such
portion of the tax provided in the preceding section as may be neces-
sary for the purpose of purchasing the tools and machinery and paying
for the guideboards mentioned therein, and the same shall constitute
a general township fund; and they shall require the township clerk to
give bond in such sum as they think proper, conditioned as the bonds
of the county officers, which bond, and the sureties thereon, shall be
approved by them. Said clerk shall have charge of and properly pre-
serve and keep in repair such tools, implements and machinery as may
be purchased, and may determine at what time the supervisors of the
several road districts may have the u?e of the rame cr any part thereof,
and he shall be responsible for the safe keeping of the same when not
in the custody of some one of the supervisors, and shall receive such
compensation as they shall provide to be paid out of such fund.

Section 1530. COUNTY ROAD FUND— HOW LEVIED AND PAID
OUT. The board of supervisors of each county shall, at the time of
levying taxes for other purposes, levy a tax of not more than one mill
on the dollar of the assessed value of the taxable property in

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 11

its county, including all taxable property in cities and incorporated
towns, which shall be collected at the same time and In the same man-
ner as other taxes, and be known as the county road fund, and paid
out only on the order of the board for work done on the roads of the
county in such places as it shall determine; but so much of the county
road fund as arises from property within any city or incorporated town
shall be expended on the roads or streets within such city or town, or
on the roads adjacent thereto, under the direction of the city or town
council; and the county treasurer shall receive the same compensation
for collecting this tax as he does for collecting corporation taxes.
Money so collected shall not be transferable to any other fund nor used
for any other purpose. The board of supervisors shall levy such an
additional sum for the benefit of such townships as shall have certified
a desire for such additional levy, as provided for in section fifteen hun-
dred and twenty-eigbt of this chapter; but the amount for the general
township fund and the county road fund shall not exceed in any year
five mills on the dollar.

Section 1531. EXPENDITURE. It shall, at the regular meeting in
April, determine from the auditor's and treasurer's books the amount
of money collected and credited to said road tax fund. It shall also
determine the manner in which said tax shall be expended, whether by
contract or otherwise.

Section 1532. CONSOLIDATION OP TOWNSHIP INTO ONE ROAD
DISTRICT. The board of township trustees of each civil township in
this state, at its regular meeting in April, 1903, shall consolidate said
township into one road district, and all road funds belonging to the road
districts of said township shall at once become a general township road
fund, out of which all claims for work done or material furnished for
road purposes prior to the change, and unsettled, shall be paid.

Note. — This section makes the one road district plan mandatory.

Section 1533. DUTY OF TRUSTEES. Where the one road district
plan is adopted, the board of township trustees shall order and direct
the expenditure of the road funds and labor belonging or owing to the
township; may let, by contract, to the lowest responsible, competent
bidder, any part or all of the work on the roads for the current year, or
may, appoint a township superintendent of roads, to oversee, subject to
the direction of the board, all or any part of the work, but it shall not
incur an indebtedness for such purposes unless the same has been or
shall at the time be provided for by an authorized levy; and shall order
the township road tax for the succeeding year paid in money and col-
lected by the county treasurer as other taxes. It shall cause both the
property and poll road tax to be equitably and judiciously expended for
road purposes in the entire road district; shall cause at least seventy-
five per cent, of the township road tax locally assessed to be thus expended
by the fifteenth day of July in each year; shall cause the noxious weeds
growing in the roads to be cut twice a year, when necessary, and at such
times as to prevent their seeding, and it may allow any land owner a

12 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

reasonable compensation for the destruction thereof, when growing in
the roads abutting upon his land. If a superintendent of roads is em-
ployed, it shall fix the term of office, which shall not exceed one year,
and the compensation, which shall not exceed three dollars a day; and
no contract shall be made without reserving the right of the board to
dispense with his services at its pleasure.

Section 1534. QUALIFICATION OF OFFICERS. The trustees shall
require the township clerk, contractor and superintendent, contemplated
in this plan, each to qualify as other township officers, and to execute
a bond with approved sureties for twice the amount of money likely to
come into their hands, respectively.

Section 1535. DAY'S WORK. Eight hours' service for a man, or
man and team, shall be required for a day's work; but except on extra-
ordinary occasions no person shall be required to go more than three
miles from his place of residence to work, and, for the purposes of the
one road district plan, the residence of a man with a family shall be
construed to be where his family resides, and for a single man, it shall
be at the place where he is at work.

Section 1536. CONTRACTORS AND SUPERINTENDENTS. The
powers, duties and accountability imposed on road supervisors, so far
as may be, under the one road district plan, shall apply to contractors,
superintendents and assistants.

Section 1537. TOWNSHIP SYSTEM TAKES EFFECT. In all
cases where the one road district plan for the township shall have been
aciopted, it shall be competent for the township trustees to designate
when the eame shall take effect as to the working of the roads.

Section 1538. COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES, TREASURER AND
CLERK. The trustees shall receive the same compensation per day for
time necessarily spent in looking after the roads as thy do for other
township business; the county treasurer shall receive the same per cent
for collecting the road taxes here contemplated that he does for collect-
ing corporation taxes; and the township clerk shall receive two per
cent of all the meney thus coming into his hands and- by him paid out
for road purposes.

Section 1539. FURNISH PLAT. The township clerk shall furnish
each road supevisor a copy of so much of the map or plat furnished
him by the county auditor as relates to the roads in his district, and
from time to time shall mark thereon the changes in or additions to
such roads as the same are certified to him by the auditor, which map
or plat shall be transferred by him to his successor in office.

Section 1540. TAX LIST— LEVY OF PROPERTY ROAD TAX FOR
1903— DELINQUENT ROAD TAX FOR 1903. He shall within four weeks
after the trustees have levied the property road tax for the succeeding
year, certify said levy to the county auditor, who shall enter it upon
the tax books for collection by the county treasurer as other taxes. And
he shall, not later than the fifteenth day of April, make out and deliver

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 13

to the superintendent of roads a list of all persons required to pay road
poll tax under the provisions of this act. To enable him to make out such
list, the assessor shall furnish the clerk of said township, before the
first day of April of each year, a complete copy of the assessment lists
of said township for that year, which shall be the basis of such poH tax
list. Provided, that the property road tax for the year 1903, shall be
levied as heretofore, that it shall be paid in cash and shall be collected
by the superintendent of roads appointed by the trustees or the town-
ship clerk, as the board of trustees shall determine and direct. Provided,
further, that all delinquent road tax for the year 1903, shall be certified
to the county auditor by the clerk of each township, for collection as
provided by section one thousand five hundred and forty-two (1542) of
the code, as amended by this act.

Note. — Section 1528 provides that, at the regular meeting on the
first Monday in April (1903), the board of township trustees shall de-
termine the rate of property road tax to be levied for the succeeding
year (1904), which section 1540 provides the township clerk shall cer-
tify to the county auditor, who shall enter it upon the tax books for
collection by the county treasurer as other taxes. Section 1540 also
provides, that the property road tax for the year 1903, shall be levied
as heretofore (on the first Monday in April), that it shall be paid in cash
and be collected by the superintendent of roads or the township clerk.
Therefore, at the regular meeting in April, 1903, the trustees are required
to levy the property road tax for both 1903 and 1904.

Section 1542. DELINQUENT TAX CERTIFIED. He shall on or
before the second Monday of November of each year, make out a certi-
fied list of all property, including lands, town lots, personal property
and property otherwise assessed, including assessments by the executive
council on which the road tax has not been paid in full, and the amount
of the tax charged on each separate assessment or parcel of said prop-
erty, designating the district in which the same is situated and transmit
the same to the county auditor, who shall enter the amount of tax on
the lists the same as other taxes, and deliver the same to the county
treasurer, charging him therewith which shall be collected in the same
manner as county taxes are collected. In case the township clerk shall
fail or neglect to make such return, he shall forfeit and pay to the town-
ship for road purposes a sum equal to the amount of tax on said prop-
e:ty, which may be collected by an action on his bond.

Section 1543. TAXES PAID TO CLERK. The county treasurer shall,
on the last Monday in April and October of each year, pay to the town-
ship clerk all the road taxes belonging to his township which are at such
time in his hands, taking the duplicate receipts of such clerk therefor,
one of which shall be delivered by the treasurer to the trustees on or
before the first Monday in May and November in each year.

Section 1544. ROAD TAXES APPORTIONED. The county auditor
shall provide a column in the tax lists, in which shall be shown the road
district to which the road taxes belong, and the treasurer, when he pays
the eame to the several township clerks, shall furnish each a statement,

14 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

showing the district or districts to which the money belongs, and the
amount to each.

Section 1545. SUPERINTENDENT— QUALIFICATION. Each road
superintendent or contractor shall give bond in such sum and with such
security as the township clerk may require (but in no case shall a town-
ship trustee sign such bond as surety), conditioned that he will faith-
fully and impartially perform all the duties required of him, and devote
all moneys that may come into his hands by virtue of his office accord-
ing to law.

Section 1547. FOOTING TAX LIST. The road supervisor shall, with-
in ten days after receiving the tax list, post up in three conspicuous
places within his district written notices of the amount assessed to each
taxpayer in said district.

Section 1548. HOW TAX EXPENDED. The road supervisor shall
cause all road taxes collected by him to be expended for road purposes
on or before the first day of November of that year, seventy-five per cent,
of which shall be expended before the fifteenth day of July, except the
portion set apart for a general township fund, which shall be by him
paid over to the township clerk from time to time as collected, and his
receipt taken therefor.

Section 1549. IN EACH DISTRICT. The money tax levied upon
the property in each district, except that portion set apart as a general
township fund, whether collected by the road supervisor or county treas-
urer, shall be expended for road purposes in that district only.

Section 1550. WHO TO PERFORM LABOR. The road supervisor
shall require all able bodied male residents of his district, between the
ages of twenty-one and forty-five, to perform two days' labor upon the
roads, between the first days of April and September of each year.

Section 1551. NOTICE OF TIME AND PLACE— RECEIPTS. The
road supervisor shall give at least three >days' notice of the day or days
and place to work the roads to all persons subject to work thereon, or
who are charged with a road tax within his district, and all persons so
notified must meet him at such time and place, with such tools, imple-
ments and teams as he may direct, and labor diligently under his direc-
tion for eight hours each day; and for such two days' labor the super-
visor shall give to him a certificate, which shall be evidence that he has
performed such labor on the public roads, and exempt him from perform-
ing labor in paymlent of road poll tax in that or any other road district
for the same year.

Section 1552. PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO ATTEND OR WORK.
Each person liable to perform labor on the roads as poll tax, who fails
to attend, either in person or by satisfactory substitute, at the time and
place directed, with the tools, implements or teams required, having had
three days' notice thereof, or, appearing, shall spend his time in idleness,
or disobey the road supervisor, or fail to furnish him, within five days
thereafter, some satisfactory excuse for not attending, shall forfeit and

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 15

pay him the sum of three dollars for each day's delinquency; and in case
of failure to pay such forfeit within ten days, he shall recover the same
by action in his name as supervisor, and no property or wages belonging
to such person shall be exempt from execution therefor. Such action
shall be before any justice of the peace in the proper township. The
money, when collected, shall be expended on the public roads.

Section 1554. REPORT. The superintendent of the township shall
report to the township clerk on the first Monday in April and November
of each year, which report shall embrace the following items:

1. The names of all persons in his district required to perform labor
on the public road, and the amount performed by each;

2. The names of all persons against whom actions have been
brought, and the amount collected of each;

3. The names of all persons who have paid their property road tax
in labor, and the amount paid by each;

4. The amount of all money coming into his hands by virtue of his
office and from what sources;

5. The manner in which moneys coming into his hands have been
expended, and the amount, if any, in his possession;

6. The number of days he has been employed in the discharge of
his duty;

7. The condition of the roads in his district, and such other items
and suggestions as he may wish to make, which report shall be signed
and sworn to by him, and filed by the township clerk in his office.

Section 1555. TAX COLLECTED AND CERTIFIED. If it appears
from such report that any person has failed to perform the two days'
labor required, or any part thereof, and that the road supervisor has neg-
lected to collect the amount of money required to be paid in case of such
failure, the clerk shall add the amount required to be paid to such per-
son's property tax and certify the same to the auditor, who shall enter
it on the proper tax list, and the treasurer shall collect the same.

Section 1556. SHADE TREES— TIMBER— DRAINAGE. The road
supervisor shall not cut down or injure any tree growing by the wayside
which does not obstruct the road, or which stands in front of any town
lot, inclosure or cultivated field, or any ground reserved for any public
use, and shall not enter upon any lands for the purpose of taking timber
therefrom without first receiving permission from the owner or owners
of said lands, nor destroy or injure the ingress or egress to any prop-
erty, or turn the natural drainage of surface water to the injury of ad-
joining owners; but it shall be the duty of the supervisor to use strict
diligence in draining the surface water from the public road in its natural
channel, and to this end he may enter upon the adjoining lands for the
purpose of removing obstructions from such natural channel that impede
the flow of such water.

Section 1557. LIABILITY FOR UNSAFE BRIDGE OR HIGHWAY.
When notified in writing that any bridge or portion of the public road

16 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

is unsafe, the road supervisor shall be liable for all damages resulting
therefrom, after allowing a reasonable time for repairing the same. If
there is in his district any bridge erected or maintained by the county,
he shall, on receiving written notice of its unsafe condition, obstruct the
passage thereon, and notify at least one member of the board of super-
visors, in writing, of its condition. If he fails to obstruct and notify, he
shall be liable for all damages growing out of the unsafe condition there-
of, occurring after the time he is so notified, and while he neglects to
obstruct such passage. Any person who shall remove such obstruction
shall be liable for all damages occurring to any person resulting there-
from, but nothing herein contained shall be construed to relieve the
county from liability for the defects of said bridge.

Section 1558. EXTRAORDINARY REPAIRS. For making such re-
pairs as are required in the preceding section, the road supervisor may
call out any or all of the able bodied men of the district in which they
are to be made, but not more than two days at one time without their
consent, and persons so called out shall be entitled to receive a certifi-
cate from him of the number of days' labor performed, which shall be
received in payment for road tax for that or any succeeding year, at the
rate per day established for that year.

Section 1559. PENALTY. Any able bodied man, duly summoned,
who fails to appear and labor by himself or substitute, or send satisfac-
tory excuse therefor, or pay the value thereof in money before an action
is brought, shall forfeit and pay ten dollars, to be recovered in an action
in the name of the road supervisor, and for the use of the road fund of
the district.

Section 1560. OBSTRUCTIONS REMOVED. The road supervisor
shall remove all obstructions in the roads, but must not throw down or
remove fences which do not directly obstruct travel, until notice in writ-
ing, not exceeding six months, has been given to the owner or agent of
the land inclosed in part by such fence.

Section 1561. CONDITION— GUIDE BOARDS. The road supervisor
shall keep the roads in as good condition as the funds at his disposal
will permit, and shall place guide boards at such crossroads and at the
forks of the roads in his district, which shall be made out of good tim-
ber, well painted and lettered, and placed upon good substantial hard
wood posts, to be set four feet in, and at least eight feet above ground.

Section 1562. CANADA THISTLE— WRITTEN NOTICE. The road
supervisor, when notified in writing that any Canada thistles or any other
variety of thistles are growing upon the lands or lots within his district
shall cause a written notice to be served on the owner, agent, or lessee
of such lands or lots, if found within the county, notifying him to destroy
said thistles within ten days from the service of said notice, and in case
the same are not destroyed within such time, or if sueh owner, agent or
lessee is not found within the county, then the road supervisor shall
cause the same to be destroyed, and make return in writing to the board
of supervisors of his county, with a bill for his expenses or charges

THIRD ANNUAL \EAR BOOK — PART I. 17

therefor, which in no case, shall exceed two dollars per day for such
services, which shall be audited and allowed by said board and paid from
the county fund, and the amount so paid shall be entered up and levied
against the lands or lots on which said thistles have been destroyed, and
collected by the county treasurer the same as other taxes, and returned
to the county fund.

Section 1562-a— WEEDS— DUTY OF ROAD SUPERINTENDENT.
It shall be the duty of road supervisors to cause to be cut, near the sur-
face, all weeds on the public roads in their respective districts between
the fifteenth day of July and the fifteenth day of August of each year.
But nothing herein shall prevent the land owner from harvesting the
grass grown upon the roads along his land in proper season.

Section 1563. RUSSIAN THISTLE— NOTICE. No owner or occu-
pant of any land or lots, or corporation or association of persons owning,
occupying or controlling land as right of way, depot grounds or other
purposes, or public officer in charge of any street or road, shall allow to
grow to maturity thereon the Russian thistle or salt wort (salsoli kali,
variety tragus). It shall be the duty of every person or corporation so
owning, occupying or controlling lands, lots or other real property, or
any road supervisor or other public officer having charge of
any street or road, to cut, burn or otherwise entirely destroy such thistles
growing on such premises, right of way, road or street, before the same
shall bloom or come to maturity; and any person, corporation or public
officer neglecting to destroy all such thistles as aforesaid, after receiving
notice in writing of their presence, shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor and be punished accordingly. It shall be the duty of any person
knowing of the presence of Russian thistles upon any premises, lands,
lots, streets, roads or elsewhere, at any time after the first day of July,
to give notice immediately to any member of the board of trustees of
the township in which thistles are growing; or if within a city or town,
then to give notice to the mayor, recorder or clerk thereof; who
shall immediately give notice in writing to the owner, occupant, or per-
son or corporation in possession or control thereof; and if not destroyed
by such owner or occupant or person in possession in proper time to pre-
vent maturity, cause their total destruction, the costs thereof, together
with the costs of serving notice, to be paid out of the county funds upon
the certificate of the township trustees or the council, as the case may
be, which board shall cause the sum so paid to be levied as a special
tax against the premises upon which the thistles are growing, and against
the person or corporation owning or occupying the same; which amount
shall be collected by the county treasurer as other taxes, and paid into
the county fund. Where township trustees have received notice, as afore-
said, of the presence of such thistles upon lands owned by the United
States or this state, it shall be their duty to cause their destruction, and
the costs thereof, upon proper certificate of the amount, shall be paid
out of the county fund.

Section 1564. INFORMATION— BULLETIN. A bulletin shall be
prepared by the professor of agriculture of the agricultural college,

18 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

briefly describing by words and cuts the Russian thistle, with the best
known means of staying its progress and effecting its extermination,
which shall be printed by the state printer at public expense, from time
to time, in such numbers as the secretary of state and said professor of
agriculture may direct to supply the demand. A sum of money sufficient
to pay for the cost of printing and making suitable plates for illustrating
said bulletin is hereby appropriated from any funds in the state treasury
not otherwise appropriated.

Section 1565. DISTRIBUTION. The secretary of state shall furnish
to the agricultural college such number of said bulletins as it may desire
to circulate, and also to county auditors, on their requisition, such num-
ber as may be necessary to supply all township and town or city officers
with copies, and a sufficient number to supply all farmers desiring the
same.

Section 1566. SETTLEMENT WITH SUPERVISOR. The road su-
pervisor shall, on the first Monday in November, meet the township trus-
tees, at which time there shall be a settlement of their accounts connect-
ed with the road fund, and after payment the trustees may order such
distribution of the fund remaining in the hands of the township clerk
as may be expedient for road purposes, which shall be paid out as ordered
by them.

Section 1566-a. ITEMIZED ACCOUNT— DUTY OF TRUSTEES.
That the trustees of each township shall take (make) and file with the
board of supervisors on or before the first Monday in each year a full
and itemized account verified by the township clerk showing each item
of expenditures and receipts of all moneys received and disbursed during
the preceding year for road purposes in said township, which report shall
remain on file with the county auditor, and a copy thereof shall be pub-
lished in the published report of the proceedings of the January session
of the board of supervisors.

Section 1566-b. MEANING OF "ROAD SUPERVISOR." That wher-
ever the term "road supervisor" appears in the code and amendments
thereto it shall be held so far as applicable to mean the superintendent
cr contractor. ! ! j i

Section 1567-b. ACTS IN CONFLICT. That all acts and parts of
acts in conflict with the provisions of this act, are hereby repealed.

Note. — The above section is a part of Chapter 53, Acts of the Twenty-
ninth General Assembly, and has special reference to any act or part of
an act in conflict with the intent of that particular law.

Section 1568. NEGLECT OF DUTY— PENALTY. A supervisor fail-
ing to perform the duties required of him by this chapter shall forfeit
and pay, for the use of the road fund of his district, the sum of ten dol-
lars, to be collected by an action by the township clerk in his name.

Section 1569. TURNING TO RIGHT. Persons on horseback or ve-
hicles meeting each other on the public roads shall give one-half of the
same, turning to the right. A failure in this regard shall make the de-

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 19

linquent liable for all damages resulting therefrom, together with a fine
not exceeding five dollars, which fine shall be devoted to the repair of
the roads in the district where the violation occurred but no prosecu-
tion shall be instituted except on complaint of the person wronged.

Section 1570. TRIMMING HEDGES. Owners of osage orange, wil-
low or any other hedge fence along the public road, unless the same
shall be used as a windbreak for orchards or feed lots, shall keep the
same trimmed, by cutting back within five feet of the ground at least
once in every two years, when so ordered by the trustees of their respec-
tive townships, and burn or remove the trimmings so cut from the road.

Upon a failure to comply with the foregoing provision the road su-
pervisor shall immediately serve notice in writing upon the owner of the
hedge to trim the same, and if he fails to do so for sixty days thereafter,
such supervisor shall cause the same to be done at a cost not exceeding
forty cent3 per rod, which shall be paid out of the road fund, and make
return thereof to the township clerk, who shall, in certifying the lands
upon which the road tax has not been paid, include the lands along which
the hedge has been trimmed, together with the amount paid therefor,
which shall be collected by the county treasurer in the manner other
county taxes are collected.

Where the one district system is adopted as provided in this chapter,
it shall be the duty of the township trustees to enforce the foregoing
provisions.

Section 1571. STEAM ENGINES ON ROADS— PENALTY. When-
ever any engine driven in whole or in part by steam power is being
propelled upon a public road, or is upon the same, the whistle thereof
shall not be blown, and those having it in charge shall stop it one hun-
dred yards distant from any person or persons with horses or other stock
in or upon the same, and at a greater distance away if they exhibit fear
on account thereof, until they shall have passed it, and a competent per-
son shall be kept one hundred yards in advance of such engine to assist
in any emergency arising from frightened animals, and to prevent acci-
dents. In crossing any bridge or culvert in the public road, or plank
street crossing in any city or town, four sound, strong planks not less
than twelve feet long, each one foot wide and two inches thick, shall be
used, by placing and keeping continuously two of them under the wheels.
A failure to comply with either of the provisions of this section shall be
a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not more
than thirty days, or by a fine of not more than $100, and, in addition, all
damages sustained may be recovered in a civil action against the violator,
and in no case shall the county be liable for damages occurring to any
eng'ne or separator.

20 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

EARTH ROADS.

Eldridge — United States Department of Agriculture

Bulletin.

introduction.

Drainage is the key to success in making earth roads, and constant
watchfulness is the sure means of keeping them up after they are once
well made. Water is destructive to any road, especially to a dirt road;
therefore, drainage that will at once carry away rainfall or melting snow
is absolutely necessary. Again, little breaks in the road may be made
by rain or by a heavy load at any time, and if not repaired immediately
will grow into mud holes, especially in the winter, and these mud holes
easily and rapidly develop into an almost impassable mire. But frequent
inspection and a little work will keep the road in good condition and
with less cost than under ordinary methods. With good drainage estab-
lished in building the road and frequent inspection to keep the drainage
efficient and to mend promptly small injuries to the surface, the earth
roads of the United States could be maintained in a much higher state
of usefulness than at present, and at considerably lower cost.

The aim in making a road is to establish the easiest, shortest and
mfcst economical line of travel. It is therefore desirable that roads should
be firm, smooth, comparatively level, and fit for use at all seasons of the
year; that they should be properly located so that their grades shall be
such that loaded vehicles may be drawn over them without great loss of
energy; that they should be properly constructed, the roadbed graded,
shaped and rolled; and that they should be surfaced with the best avail-
able material suited to their needs.

It is to be hoped that all the heavy traffic roads in the United States
can be macadamized, graveled, or otherwise improved in the not distant
future; but owing to the absence in many places of rock, gravel, or other
hard and durable substances with which to build good roads, and by
reason of the excessive cost of such roads where suitable material is
scarce, the majority of our public highways will of necessity be com-
posed of earth for many years to come. It is fortunate, therefore, that
under favorable conditions of traffic, moisture, and maintenance the earth
road is the most elastic and most satisfactory for pleasure and for light
traffic. The condition of the common roads in this country, especially in
the Middle West, is so deplorable at certain seasons of the year as to
operate as a complete embargo on marketing farm products. It therefore
behooves every interested citizen to> know something about the location,
drainage, construction and maintenance of the earth road, and it will

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 21

be the object to present in this paper the fundamental principles of
earth-road construction and maintenance and to furnish instruction and
advice to the road builders whose facilities are limited and who are so
often supplied with only inferior materials.

LOCATION.

The grade is a most important factor in the location of any kind of
read, and a common error in the laying out of roads is made in the en-
deavor to secure routes covering the shortest distance between fixed
points. For this purpose the road is often made to go over a hill instead
of around it. To illustrate the folly of this practice, it will be observed
that the bail of a bucket is no longer when held in a vertical position
than in a horizontal. Just so the road halfway around the hill or the
valley is sometimes no longer than the road over the hill or through the
valley. The difference in the length even between a straight road and
one that is slightly curved is less than many suppose. For instance if
a road between two points 10 miles apart were made to curve so that
the eye could see no farther than a quarter of a mile of it at once, its
length would exceed that of a perfectly straight road between the same
points by only 150 yards. Furthermore, graceful and natural curves
conforming to the lay of the land add beauty to the landscape and en-
hance the value of the property.

ERRORS AND THEIR CORRECTION.

One of the chief difficulties with the average country road through
the United States is the steep grade. Many of the steeper ones are too
long to be reduced by cutting or filling on the present lines, and if this
should be done it would cost more, oftentimes, than a change of location.
Many of our roads were originally laid out without any attention being
given to general topography, natural drainage, or road materials. In
most cases they followed the settlers' path from cabin to cabin, or ran
along the boundary lines of farms regardless of grades and direction.
Most of them remain today where they were located years ago and where
a very large expense of energy and material have been wasted in trying*
to travel and haul loads over them, and in endeavoring to improve their
deplorable condition. It is a great error as well as poor economy to con-
tinue to follow these primitive paths with our public highways. A more
advisable course would be to employ a civil engineer to change their
location as was done recently at Knoxville, Tenn. (Fig. 1.)

Another and perhaps greater error in location is made in the "West
by continuing to lay out roads on section lines. These sections are all
square, with sides running north, south, east and west. The principal
reason for this practice seems to be the desire to have the roads follow
the boundary lines of farms, townships and counties. A person wishing
to cross the country in any direction must follow a series of rectangular
zigzags, sometimes crosing and recrossing hills and valleys which would
be avoided if the roads were located without reference to farm or county

22

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

lines. This would often take much more of one farm than another, but
the inequality of burden could be adjusted by a money payment for the
excess.

'MSAfrS'.UiA;

iL!

Fig. 1.— The road from Knoxville to the Experiment Station farm formerly went up one
steep hill A Y, and. down another, Y Z. The relocated road, A to C, is comparatively
level and much shorter.

In the prairie State of Iowa, for example, where roads are not as
steep as in many other states, there is a greater number of roads having
steep grades, and on an average the grades are steeper, than are found
in the mountainous republic of Switzerland. A great saving could be
effected by relocating many of them.

In Maryland the old stage coach road running from Washington to
Baltimore nyakes almost a "bee line," regardless of hills or valleys. The
grades in places are as steep as 10 or 12 per cent,*where by skirting the
hills the road might have been made almost level, or by running it less
abruptly up the hills which had to be ascended the grades might have
been reduced to 3 or 4 per cent.

DISADVANTAGES OF HEAVY GRADE.

Straight roads are best, other things being equal, but in hilly coun-
tries straightness should always be sacrificed to reduce grades. Hilly
roads often become covered with ice or slippery soil, making them very
difficult to ascend with loaded vehicles, as well as dangerous to descend.
Water rushes down them during rainy weather at such a rate as to wash

♦Per cent of grade means so many feet up, vertically, in 100 feet horizontal. A 10 per
cent grade, for instance, means a rise of 10 feet for each 100 feet of horizontal distance
traveled. There being 5, 280 feet in a mile a 1 per cent grade means a rise of 52. 8 feet in
that distance. A 10 per cent grade means a rise of 528 feet, and a 12 per cent grade means
a rise of 634.6 feet to the mile.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 23

great gaps along their sides or to carry the surface material away. As
the grade increases in steepness either the load has to be diminished in
proportion or additional horsepower used.

Accurate tests have shown that a horse which can pull on a level
road 1,000 pounds, on a rise of —

1 foot in 100 feet can draw only 900 pounds.

1 foot in 50 feet can draw only 810 pounds.

1 foot in 44 feet can draw only 750 pounds.

1 foot in 40 feet can draw only 720 pounds.

1 foot in 30 feet can draw only 640 pounds.

1 foot in 25 feet can draw only 540 pounds.

1 foot in 24 feet can draw only 500 pounds.

1 foot in 20 feet can draw only 400 pounds.

1 foot in 10 feet can draw only 250 pounds.

It will therefore be observed that when the grades are 1 foot in 44
feet a horse can draw only three-fourths as much as he can on a level.
Where the grade is 1 foot in 24 he can draw one-half as much, and on a
grade of 1 foot in 10 he is able to draw only one-fourth as much as on
a level road. The difficulty as well as the cost of hauling is therefore
necessarily increased in proportion to the roughness of the surface or
steepness of the grade.

LIMIT OP GRADE ALLOWABLE.

The proper grade for any particular road must be determined by the
conditions and requirements existing on that road. The ideal grade is,
of course, a level, but as the level road can seldom be obtained in rolling
countries, it is well to know the steepest allowable grades for ordinary
travel.

It has been found by experiment that a horse can, for a short time,
double his usual exertion. From the above table we find that a horse can
draw only about one-half as much on a 4 per cent grade as he can on a
level road. As he can double his exertion for a short time, he can pull
twice as much more and the slope or grade which would force him to
draw that proportion would therefore be a 4 per cent grade. On this
slope, however, he would be compelled to double his ordinary exertion to
draw a full load, and this will therefore be the maximum grade if full
loads are to be hauled. Most road builders prefer 3 per cent grades to
those of 4 per cent where they can be secured without additional ex-
pense, but in some places it is necessary, for various reasons, to increase
the grades to 5 per cent. With the exception of mountainous regions,
where steeper grades are often unavoidable, the aim should be, on all
public highways which are traveled by heavily loaded vehicles, to keep
the grade down to 3 or 4 per cent and never to let it exceed 5 per cent.

QUESTIONS OF MATERIAL AND EXPOSURE.

If the road must be constructed out of the materials over which it
passes, it is often possible to select a route where the soil is better

24 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

adapted for the purpose than that found where first located. For instance,
soils adjacent to the beds of streams or in morasses and swamps, being
close and pervious, are very difficult to surface and subdrain, but routes
over such ground can often be avoided by locating the road upon higher
ground, where the natural drainage is better.

Another consideration in choosing the line of travel is that roads on
slopes having a southern or western exposure can be much more satis-
factorily and economically maintained than those located on eastern or
northern slopes.

DRAINAGE.

Water is the most destructive agent to a road, and yet if a few sim-
ple principles are followed it can be easily dealt with. Earth is more
susceptible to the action of water and more easily dissolved and moved
by it than any other road material, and for this reason too much atten-
tion can hardly be given to the drainage of roads. Drainage alone will
often change a bad road into a good one, while, on the other hand, the
best road may quickly go to ruin for lack of drainage.

Most country roads are too flat on top to shed water; indeed, a great
many of them are not only flat but concave, the center being the lowest
part; in other words, their crowns are inverted. The sides of the roads
are often square shoulders (Fig. 2) which obstruct the water on its pas-

Fio. 2. — Improper cross section contrasted with proper cross section.

sage to the side drains, and as a result the water lies on the surface until
it is absorbed by the material or evaporated by the sun. It is often al-
lowed to stand in the traveled way until the material softens and yields
to the impact of the horses' feet and the action of the wheels of the ve-
hicles; the holes and ruts rapidly increase in number and size; wagon
after wagon sinks deeper and deeper, until the road becomes utterly bad.
(Fig. 3.)

The importance of drainage has been emphasized in the statement
that the "three prime essentials to good roads are, first, drainage; second,
better drainage; third, the best drainage possible." On open or pervious
soils, surface drainage, in connection with heavy rolling, is usually quite
satisfactory, provided the slope is good and the traffic is not too heavy;
but for the close, impervious, alluvial and clayey soils subdrainage is
sometimes necessary. With heavy traffic, narrow tires and long-continued
rains, freezes and thaws, the surface of any dirt road is liable to be com-
pletely destroyed, and in this case the only remedy is a consolidated mass
or crust of gravel or broken stone, forming a roof to keep out and carry
off the water. This, of course, constitutes "the best drainage possible."

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I.

25

SURFACE DRAINAGE.

STEEP SLOPES. — On ground with good natural underdrainage, as
on hillsides, surface ditches are sufficient to carry off surface water
from rain or snow. In order to prevent washouts on steep slopes, how-
ever, it sometimes becomes necessary to construct water breaks; that is,

Fig. 3. — Poorly crowned and badly drained roadbed.

broad, shallow ditches so arranged as to catch the surface water and
carry it each way into the side ditches. Unfortunately, some road build-
ers have an idea that the only way to prevent hills, long and short, from
washing, is to heap upon them a large number of those ditches known
in different sections of the country as "thank-you-ma'ams," "breaks," or
* "hummocks," and the number they sometimes squeeze in upon a single
hill is astonishing. Such ditches retard traffic to a certain extent, and
often result in overturning vehicles; consequently they should never be
used until all other means have failed to cause the water to flow into
the side channels. They should never be allowed to cross the entire
width of the road diagonally, but should be constructed in the shape of
the letter V, with the point uphill. This arrangement permits teams
following the middle of the road to cross them squarely and thus avoid
the danger of overturning. These ditches should not be deeper than is
absolutely necessary to throw the water off the surface, and the part in
the center should be the shallowest.
3

26

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

SHAPE OF CROSS SECTION ON HILLS.— Where a road is con-
structed on a hill, the slope from the center to the sides should be slight-
ly steeper than on the level. The reason for this is that every wheel
track on an inclined roadway becomes a channel for carrying down the
water, and unless the curvature is sufficient these tracks are quickly
deepened into water courses which cut into and sometimes destroy the
best surface. (Fig. 4.) The slope must be sufficient to lead the water

^^Jj^^g^j&ii— j^_^^^^£.^=«»

is " S =i ^SjJ* 3 TVo t/?o

Fig. 4.— Poorly crowned earth road on steep hillside.

quickly into the side ditches instead of allowing it to flow down the mid-
dle of the road, but should not be so steep that water will rush off the
surface so quickly as to wash away berms or shoulders. The cross sec-
tion, consisting of two plane surfaces sloping uniformly from the center
to the sides, is perhaps a little better for a steep grade than the circu-
lar form because of the danger of overturning, which would necessarily
be increased if the circular or elliptical cross section were used. Water
should never be permitted to flow long distances or to collect in puddles
by the roadside, for it soon sinks into the adjacent soil and softens the
foundation of the road. Open drains should not be allowed to become

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I.

27

deep and dangerous from neglect of proper outlets. Careful attention
should be given to the regularity of the grade and fall of the side ditches.

PROTECTION FROM "GULLYING."— Where the road is built on a
steep grade some provision should be made to prevent the washing of
the gutters into deep gullies. This can be done by paving the bottoms
and sides of the gutters with bricks or field stones. In order to make the
flow as small as possible in side ditches it is often advisable to construct
f*requent outlets into the adjacent fields or streams, or, if possible, to
lay underground pipes or blind drains with screened openings into side
ditches at frequent intervals. The size of side ditches should depend
upon the amount of water they are expected to carry. If possible they
should be located at least 3 feet from the edge of the traveled roadway.

CONSTRUCTION OF SIDE DITCHES.— All side ditches should have
a gradual fall of at least half a foot in every 100 feet. Their sides, par-
ticularly those sloping toward the roadway, should be broad and flaring,
so as to prevent accidents as well as the caving in of their banks. Their
bottoms should be wide enough to carry the largest amount of water
that is likely to flow through them at any one time. Sometimes the only
ditches necessary to carry off the surface water are those made with the
road machine. The blade of the machine may be set at any desired angle,
and when drawn along by horses or by a traction engine cuts into the
surface and spreads the earth uniformly over the traveled way. (Fig. 5.)

Fig. 5.— Road machine at work on earth road.

CROSS DRAINS.

NEED OF QUICK DRAINAGE.— To drain a road surface properly,
water should be gotten rid of before it gains force or headway or has

28

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

time to damage the road. It is just as economical, and far more prac-
tical, for the road builder to put in four or five 12-inch culverts at such
points as may be found necessary in a mile of roadway as it is to carry
water along the higher side of the road a mile or more and be com-
pelled to deliver it in a 24-inch culvert.

LAYING CULVERT PIPES.— In the laying of culvert pipes or box
drains the upper end or intake should be kept sufficiently high to insure
a proper flow of the water. The excavations for culvert pipes should
be straight and of uniform grade, so as to provide a regular, even fall
from the upper to the lower side of the road. Earth should be carefully
tamped around such pipes and they should be placed at sufficient depth
to prevent their being broken by the traffic. In order to protect pipe
culverts from damage when discharging water under full pressure it is
desirable that the joints be cemented and that the ends of tne culvert be
protected with masonry. (Pig. 6.) Under no circumstances should a

Fig. 6. — Culvert pipe with ends protected by masonry.

ridge over the culvert pipe be allowed; for it not only endangers the
life of the culvert, but is a menace to traffic.

SIZE OF CULVERT PIPES.— In determining the size of the culvert
pipe it is necessary to consider the area to be drained as well as the
maximum rainfall. One inch of rainfall per hour gives about 22,000 gal-
lons of water for each acre, and it is probably true that only about one-
half of this amount ordinarily reaches the culvert within the same hour.
This fact should also be considered in determining the size of pipe or
culvert required. The following table shows the capacity of round vitri-
fied clay pipes ordinarily used for culverts:

SIZES OF DRAINPIPE REQUIRED FOR CULVERTS IN PROPORTION TO
CAPACITY AND FALL.

DIAMETER.

3-inch fall
per 100 feet.

6-inch fall
per 100 feet.

9-inch fall
per 100 feet.

Gallons
per minute.

129

265

355

463

730
1,282
2,022
4, 152

Gallons
per minute.

183

375

503

655
1,033
1,818
2,860
5,871

Gallons

per minute.

224

460

617

803

1,273

2,224

3,508
7,202

It will be seen from the above table that as the fall increases the
capacity of the pipe is increased in proportion. Observing this princi-
ple, it is often possible to decrease the size of the pipe and by so doing

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 29

decrease the cost of culverts. For instance, a 24-inch culvert pipe with
a fall of only 1 inch in 100 feet has a capacity of about 2,300 gallons
per minute, while a pipe of only half that size, when given a fall of 3
feet to the 100, has a capacity of about 2,500 gallons per minute. Fall is
therefore a very important factor in disposing of water.

CONCRETE DRAINS AND CULVERTS.

Culvert or bridge construction forms a very important branch of
highway improvement. Large sums are often appropriated for this
actual improvement of the road. It would be impossible, in the space
allowed here, to include many details in reference to bridge work, but
it is so very important that it can not be passed by without comment.

Wooden bridges and culverts wear, warp and decay so rapidly under
the action of rain, sunshine, frost and traffic that their usefulness is very
short, and their maintenance consequently very expensive. Wherever
the expenditure will justify, and the materials can be had, it is much
more economical in the long run to use sewer pipe, home made or manu-
factured concrete pipe, or stone, brick or concrete arches to carry the
water under the road. These materials are much more durable than tim-
ber, and if protected from frost and traffic they can be considered per-
manent.

Molds for making concrete pipe can be constructed of spring steel and
can be secured at a foundry for a few dollars. They are composed of
an inner and outer casing resumbling a stovepipe, and should be about
2V 2 feet in length, the inner one being less in diameter, so as to leave
a space between the two of from 3 to 5 inches. The diameter of the
pipe may be regulated as necessity may require. These molds are set on
end on a solid base, with the smaller mold inside. The concrete is then
mixed, having a proportion of about one part Portland cement to five
parts of clean gravel, and while one person shovels it into the mold an-
other rams it down with an iron rammer until the casing is full. The
clamps are then loosened and the pipe left to dry, after which it can be
placed in position.

The construction of concrete, brick and stone arches is equally sim-
ple. A false work of common boards can be erected in the shape of the
arch desired, a perfect semicircle being preferred. If concrete is to be
used this arch should be constructed of smooth-planed boards closely
boarded up against the work as it progresses. The concrete can then be
mixed in the proper proportions and rammed well into position until
moisture appears on the surface. The false work for concrete arches
should be substantial and should be left in position for ten days or two
weeks. Enough earth should be placed on the top of concrete arches,
culverts and drains to protect them from the wheels of vehicles.

SUBDRAINAGE.

WET LANDS. — Where a road runs through low, wet lands, or over
retentive or clayey soils, surface drainage is not all that is required. In

30

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

cold climates, where if water is allowed to remain in the substructure
and form a deep frozen crust, the surface is heaved up by frost and des-
troyed by the wheels of vehicles on thawing. If the subsoil is kept dry,
frost has nothing to act upon, and to this end subdrainage is essential. It
is undoubtedly true that many of our worst roads could be improved by
subdrains as to yield benefits to their users many times greater in value
than the cost of the drains themselves. Subdrainmg earth roads is
neither expensive nor difficult, but, like all other kinds of road work,
it takes good judgment.

Hundreds of miles of our roads are located on low level lands and
on springy soils, and thousands of miles in the prairie states are for
many weeks in the year wet and well-nigh impassable. (Fig. 7.) Such

- '3W

Fig. 7.— Western road that could be made tolerable by drainage.

roads may be greatly benefited by subdrainage. When wet weather or
perennial springs exist in the soil under the road, they should be tapped
by blind drains of stone or brick or clay pipe (Fig. 8), leading diagonally

Fig. 8. — Cross sections showing construction of subdrain.

to the side ditches. Where sidehill roads are springy, deep open ditches
on the higher sides will often suffice, otherwise subdrainage must be
resorted to.

REMEDY FOR FREEZING.— When water is permitted to remain in
the foundation of a road through the winter, it freezes, expands and

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I.

31

loosens the soil. One hundred volumes of water make, when frozen, 109
volumes of ice. When the warm spring weather comes, this ice melts,
and, as there is no place for the water to go, the ruts in the springy
soil become deeper and deeper until wagons often sink to their hubs and
horses flounder laboriously through the resulting slough. (Fig. 9.) The

Pig. 9.— Poorly drained eartli road.

remedy, therefore, is to get rid of the water in the foundation of the
road, and get rid of it before it has time to soften the substructure or
freeze. For this purpose it is advisable to construct horizontal drains
under the roadway, which should empty into the open drains or the
natural water courses at frequent intervals. (Fig. 10.) If the road sur-

FiG 10 — Cross sectio of underdrained road. If \ower outlets can be secured subdrains
may be placed as at a and b, or direct\y under side ditches.

face is composed of retentive soils, such as fine clay, there should be two
or three drains; but if the soil is open or pervious, and if two drains
are considered too expensive, one drain in the center of the traveled
way (Fig. 11) will often be found to suffice.

DEPTH AND FALL OF SUBDRAINS.— The depth to which drains
should be laid will depend upon the character of the soil as well as the
depth of the frost line. These drains can be placed parallel with the sur-

32

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

face of the road in rolling countries, provided they have a fall of not
less than three-tenths of a foot to each 100 feet. Outlets into side ditches,
or preferably into the adjacent fields or streams, should be provided as

Fig. 11.— Longitudinal section at "xy," on figure 7, showing discharge of subdrain into

culvert pipe.

often as practicable. The size of the drains will depend upon the dis-
tance between outlets as well as the grade of the ditch. Ordinarily if
the distance is 500 feet or less, 3-inch pipe will answer. If the distance
is greater than that, the size of the tile should be increased about 1 inch
in diameter for every 400 feet in length.

In the prairie states, where the roads are practically level, it is
sometimes advisable, to construct blind ditches of vitrified clay tiles,
into which the contents of the subdrains above mentioned can be dis-
charged. (Fig. 12.) Water can be carried a long distance in well-laid

Fig. 12. — Cross section of underdrained level road, showing method of discharging
subdrains into a larger and lower pipe.

pipes with but little fall. Six or 8-inch pipes can be placed alongside
the road, with a fall of 1 inch to the 100 feet, if carefully laid, with the
discharge in a river or stream. Such drains can be run several miles
with the fall mentioned, and their size increased, if necessary, as they
approach the place of discharge. The level road can then be drained
by giving the subdrains a fall of about 3 inches to each 100 ieet. The
upper end of these drains can be from 12 to 18 inches below the surface,
and the lower end, where the discharge is made into the large pipe,
can be 3 or 4 feet below the surface. The operation can then be repeated
until the entire surface is underdrained. (Fig. 13.)

Fig. 13.— Longitudinal section of underdrained level road, illustrating a system whereby
fall can be secured for subdrains.

LAYING OF SUBDRAINS.— The greatest care should be exercised
in the laying of subdrains. They should be carefully graded and should
have a continuous and even fall throughout their entire length. But it
requires no special engineering skill or expensive instruments to lay

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. SS

an ordinary tile drain. Any intelligent farmer with a home-made level
(Fig. 14) can do the work sufficiently well. If drains are not laid with

*«A^«a^4,Uto»* ) Ji£^Ui^|»l*H^ai*^

Fig. 14.— Grade level of light planed boards, made accurately as shown. To establish a 5
per cent grade, for example, bring the instrument to a level along the line of the drain
by use of spirit level F ; mark center ab; then raise the updrain end through a distance
one-twentieth of the length of the base line A C. The plumb line will cross the board
D E in some bine away from the center, a b. Mark this crossing as x y. The same
grade can then be found at any point in the drain by leveling till plumb line crosses at
a b, and then raising the updrain end till the plumb line crosses again at x y. A
uniform grade can thus be maintained.

great care, low points are liable to form where the mud and sand will
collect and reduce the flow, and finally choke the drains altogether.
(Fig. 15.) After the drains have been carefully laid, the ditch should

Fig. 15.— Poorly laid drain tile.

then be half filled with rough, broken stones, or if no stones are avail-
able, with broken brickbats, coarse sand, gravel, cinders or some other
imperishable material. A little hay, sod or brush packed around the tile
to prevent silt from washing in and clogging the drains will be useful.
The ditch can then be tamped full of firm earth. Care should be exer-
cised in keeping the drains open and unobstructed at outlets. Under-
drains are useless unless outlets are provided; for if the outlet is ob-
structed, the water is kept standing in the drains until it soaks and
softens the foundation.

CONSTRUCTION.

PROPER CROSS SECTION.
The wearing surface of a road must be, in effect, a roof; that Is, the
section in the middle must be the highest part, and the traveled road-
way should be made, by consolidation, as impervious to water as pos-

34 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

sible, so that the rainfall or melting snow will flow freely and quickly
into the gutters alongside. Probably the best shape for the cross sec-
tion of the earth road is an arc of a circle with a gradual fall from
the center to the sides of about 1 in 20, after the surface has been thor-
oughly rolled or compacted by traffic. (Fig. 12.) Such a surface can
be constructed and repaired with the road machine, and a roller can
be used upon it to good advantage. When the surface is not kept smooth
and compact the crown should be a little steeper than 1 in 20, but should
under no circumstances exceed 1 in 12. If the crown is too great, the
traffic will follow the middle of the road, and this will result in making
ruts and ridges which retard the prompt shedding of the water into the
side ditches. Too much crown is as detrimental as too little.

CLEARING THE ROADWAY.

Where new roads are to be built, all stumps, roots, vegetable matter,
rocks, etc., should be removed from the surface and the holes should
be filled in with suitable material, carefully and thoroughly tamped. In
forming a permanent embankment no perishable material should be used.
If suitable material is discovered in the subgrade, it should be removed
and replaced with good material which should be tamped or rolled until
smooth and compact. As stated above, the longitudinal grade should be
kept down to 3 or 4 per cent if possible and should, under no circum-
stances, except in mountainous regions, exceed 5 per cent; while that
from the center to the sides should be maintained at about 5 per cent.
After the roadbed has been brought to the required grade and crown,
a roller should be secured and used in consolidating the material. All
ruts or depressions discovered during the rolling should be leveled off
and rerolled. (Fig. 16.)

WIDTH AND ELEVATION.

The width of the traveled way will depend upon the requirements
of traffic. Sometimes 12 feet will suffice, but 18, 24 and 40 feet are the
usual widths for the various classes of country traffic. Where the road
is likely to be improved with brick, stone or gravel, sufficient width
should be provided for a hard road for winter use and a space alongside
for summer use. The right of way should be much wider than the trav-
eled way, in order to provide for widening when traffic requires it.

In level countries where the natural drainage is poor it is very de-
sirable that roads should be elevated above the subgrade or surrounding
ground. For this purpose the required material may be secured by wid-
ening the side excavations or from cuttings on the line of the roadway
by means of road machines, elevating graders, or modern dumping
wagons. When the earth is brought up to the desired level it should be
thoroughly mixed by harrowing, then trimmed with a road machine, and
finally rolled with a road roller, the weight of which should be gradually
increased by ballast as the rolling progresses. During the rolling the
surface should be sprinkled with water if the character of the soil re-
quires such aid for its proper consolidation. The crown of the roadway

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 35

should be carefully maintained during the rolling by the addition of earth
as needed.

s,~tA

-*— *7 \

\'%\ :-v

UjjM»

'

"xT*"-

■

SBB

Fig. 16.— Properly crowned and well-drained earth road. Note slope from center to sides.
Road was worked with road machine and horse roller in March; photograph taken
June 1, about 48 hours after long, hard rain .

TREATMENT OF CLAY ROADS.

On clay roads a thin layer of sand, gravel or ashes will prevent the
sticking of clay to the roller or to the wheels of vehicles. Clay soils as
a rule absorb water quite freely and soften when saturated, but water
does not pass through them readily. When used alone clay is the least
desirable of all road materials, but roads composed of clay may be treat-
ed with sand or small gravel from which a comparatively hard and com-
pact mass is formed, which is nearly impervious to water. Material of
this character found in the natural state comimonly known as "hardpan"
makes, when properly applied, a very solid and durable road. In soil
composed of a mixture of sand, gravel and clay, all that is necessary to
make a good road is to crown the surface, keep the ruts and holes filled,
and the ditches open and free.

TREATMENT OF SAND ROADS.

While clay alone never makes a good road, except in dry weather,
sand alone never makes a good road except in wet. The more the drain-
age of a sand road is improved the more deplorable becomes its condi-
tion. Nothing will ruin one quicker than to dig a ditch on each side
and drain all the water away. The best way, therefore, to make such

36 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

a road firm is to keep it constantly damp. This can be done by planting
shade trees along its sides to prevent the evaporation of water, or by
growing upon the surface of such sand roads a thick turf, preferably
Bermuda grass. Roads running through loose sand may be improved
by mixing clay with the sand and slightly crowning the surface.

For the temporary improvement of earth or sand roads, any strong,
fibrous substance, especially if it holds moisture, such as refuse of sugar-
cane or sorghum, and even common straw, flax, swamp grass or pine
needles will be useful. Spent tan bark is sometimes beneficial and wood
fiber in any form is excellent. Enough sand or earth should be thrown
over such roads to keep them damp and to protect them from catching
fire.

IMPORTANCE OF ROLLING.

Earth is composed of small, irregular fragments which touch each
other at points, leaving voids between. When the earth is broken up
and pulverized these voids are almost equal in volume to the solid par-
ticles, and as a result the earth will absorb almost an equal volume of
water. In the building or maintaining of earth roads it is, therefore,
very desirable that these small, irregular particles be pressed and packed
into as small a space as possible, in order that surplus water may not
pass in and destroy the stability of the road. To this end rolling is very
beneficial. The work of maintaining dirt roads will be much increased
by lack of care in properly rolling the surface. (Fig. 17.)

,i» f_.

aSEM

Fig. 17.— Section of unrolled earth road showing a loose, soft surface.

After the material has been placed on the surface, it should not be
left for traffic to consolidate or for rains to wash off into the ditches,
but should be carefully surfaced and then rolled. If loose earth is left
in the middle of a road, the narrow-tire wheels will cut it and knead it
into uneven ridges and ruts, which hold water, and this ultimately re-
sults, if in the winter season, in a sticky, muddy surface, and in dry
weather in covering the surface with dust. If, however, the surface be
crowned with a road machine and properly rolled with a heavy roller
(Fig. 18), it can usually be made sufficiently firm and smooth (Fig. 19)
to sustain the traffic without deep rutting and to resist, in a large meas-
ure, the penetrating action of the water. Such work should be done while
the soil is in a plastic state, when it will pack. The rolling not only
consolidates the small particles of earth and leaves less space ^or water,

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I.

37

but puts the road in proper shape for travel immediately. If there is
anything more trying on man or beast than traveling over an unimproved

Fig. 18.— Reversible road roller.

read, it must be to travel over one which has just been worked by the
slipshod methods followed in many places.

pi

Fig. 19.— Section of properly rolled earth road, showing a firm, smooth surface

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. FILLING HOLES AND RUTS.

With earth roads there is a pronounced tendency to rut, and when
ruts begin to appear on the surface, great care should be used in select-
ing new materials with which they should be immediately filled. Every
hole or rut in the roadway if not tamped full of some good material,
like that of which the road is constructed, will become filled with water
and will be made deeper and wider by each passing vehicle. A hole
which could have been filled with a shovelful of material will soon
need a cartful. The rut or hole to be repaired should be cleared of dust,
mud or water and just sufficient good fresh earth placed in it to be even
with the surrounding surface after having been thoroughly consolidated
with the pounder. Sod should not be placed on the surface, neither
should the surface be ruined by throwing upon it the worn-out material
from the gutters alongside. Ruts and holes should not be filled with
stone nor gravel unles a considerable section is to be so treated; for
if such material is dumped into the holes or ruts, it does not wear
uniformly with the rest of the road, but produces lumps and ridges
and in many cases results in making two holes for every one repaired.

USE OF ROAD MACHINES IN MAKING REPAIRS.

Reversible road machines are often used in drawing the material out
of ditches to the center of the roadway, which is left there to be washed

38

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

again into the ditches by the first heavy rain. A far more satisfactory
method, when the roadway is sufficiently high, and where a heavy roller
cannot be had, is to trim the shoulders and ridges off and smooth the
surface with the machine. This work should begin in the center of the
road, and the loose dirt should be gradually pushed to the ditches and
finally shoved off the roadway or deposited where it will not be washed

Fig. 20.— Road surface under weight of heavy block of stone supported on wide tires.

back into the ditches by rain. Where this method is followed, a smooth,
firm surface is immediately secured, and such a surface will resist the
action of rain, frost, and narrow tires much longer than one composed
of loose and worn-out material thrown up from the ditches.

In making extensive repairs, plows or scoops should never be used,
for such implements break up the compact surface which age and traffic
have made tolerable. Earth roads can be rapidly repaired by a judi-
cious use of road machines and road rollers. The road machine places
the material where it is most needed and the roller compacts and keeps
it there. These two labor-saving machines are just as effectual and
necessary in modern road work as the mower, self-binder, and thrasher
are in modern farm work. Road machines and rollers are the modern
inventions necessary to satisfactory and economical earth-road construc-
tion and repair. Two good men with two teams can build or repair
more road in one day with a roller and road machine than many times
that number can with picks, shovels, scoops, and plows, and do it more
uniformly and more thoroughly.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 39

USE OF WIDE TIRES AND SIMILAR MEANS.

One of the best ways to prevent the formation of ruts and to keep
earth roads in repair is by the use of wide tires on all wagons carrying
heavy burdens. (Fig. 20). In most foreign countries they not only use
from 4 to 6 inch tires on market wagons but on many of the four-
wheel freight wagons, in addition to wide tires, the rear axles are
made 14 inches longer than the front ones, so that the hind wheels will
not track and form ruts. Water and narrow tires aid one another in
destroying the roads, while on the other hand wide tires are road-
makers. They roll and harden the surface, and every loaded wagon
becomes, in effect, a road roller. The difference between the action
of a narrow tire and a wide one is about the same as the difference
between a crowbar and a tamper; the one tears up and the other packs
down. By using wide tires on heavy wagons the cost of keeping roads
in repair would be greatly reduced. The introduction in recent years
of wide metal tires which can be placed on the wheels of any narrow-
tired vehicle at a nominal cost, has removed a very serious objection to
the proposed substitution of broad tires for the narrow ones now in use.
The formation of deep ruts has been prevented on some of the toll
roads of Pennsylvania by lengthening the doubletrees on wagons and
by hitching the horsees so that they will walk directly in front of the
wheels, a device worthy of consideration.

REGULAR, PROMPT, SYSTEMATIC ATTENTION.

VALUE OF FREQUENT INSPECTION.— Earth roads should be re-
paired particularly in the spring and fall of the year, but the mistake of
letting them take care of themselves during the balance of the year
should not be made. The greatest need of the common road in this coun-
try is daily or weekly care. A road receiving daily attention will re-
quire no extensive repairs, and, instead of becoming worse, will grad-
ually improve. It is minute and frequent homeopathic treatment that
the earth road needs. It is obviously not within the scope of this paper
to discuss the relative merits of the statute-labor, cash-tax, and contract
systems of building and maintaining roads, but it will be remarked in
passing that so long as the farmers continue to "work" the roads in a
shiftless manner and whenever it best suits their convenience, so long
will they have bad roads.

It has been stated that England and France are justly noted for
their excellent roads, and both have the labor-tax system, and that,
therefore, it is possible to have good roads under the labor-tax system.
This statement, although partially true, is not conclusive argument in
favor of the way in which Americans "work out" their road tax in most
of the states.

It makes little difference what system they have in Europe or what
system we have in this country — the matter of greatest importance in
road maintenance is constant attention. All the important French
and English roads receive daily attention and are always maintained

40 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

in an excellent manner, but our application of the statute-labor system
too often results in promoting rather than in diminishing the defects
which should be overcome. If the great railroads of the country were
to practice the methods ordinarily used in maintaining our public high-
ways they would probably be compelled to go into the hands of receivers
before many months.

SUCCESS IN VERMONT.— It would, therefore, seem wise for us to
adopt a modified form of the system which has been so successful in
England, Prance and other European countries and which has been re-
cently introduced in the State of Vermont; that is, of dividing the roads
into certain lengths and alloting each length to a section man, care-
taker, or farmer. Every one is familiar with this system as applied to
railway maintenance, and it is a matter worthy of note that in Ver-
mont the general results from its application are "that much better
roads are secured at less expense, and the tax rate for highways has been
reduced each year as the roads grow better and as we learn to maintain
them free from damage at less cost."*

Our most important country roads could be divided into sections or
beats varying in length from 1 to 5 miles, according to the importance
of the road and the condition of its surface. A good road man, who lives
on the section or beat, should be placed in charge, and it should be his
duty to devote a few hours each week to the filling of small ruts or holes
and to protecting the road from damage by running water. If the road
is a very important one, and if the funds will permit, such a care-taker
should, by all means, be employed the year round. There is always
plenty of work to do in keeping roads clean, free from loose stones and
rubbish; in cutting weeds and cleaning drains and side ditches. In fact,
the care-taker should be on the road, rain or shine, and particularly in
wet weather, in order to find the uneven places in the road as well as
to note the existing defects in surface and subdrainage. On account of
the great efficiency and economy of this plan it is becoming general in
the State of Vermont, and it has made the roads of France and other
European countries famous. It is the application of the old adage, "A
stitch in time saves nine."

CONCLUSION.

The methods of earth road construction and maintenance given above
are those generally practiced by the most successful road builders. They
are simple and in the main inexpensive. They 'are based entirely on a
thorough system of drainage, and if applied with common sense and
judgment, according to the particular needs of each locality, better roads
are sure to follow. While the earth road, under favorable traffic and
climatic conditions, can be made excellent and satisfactory in every way,
yet it must be borne in mind that the earth road is essentially a light-
traffic road. When the traffic of a road increases beyond a certain point
it becomes necessary to supply new material to take the place of a large

* J. O. Sanford, state highway commissioner of Vermont.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I.

41

amount abraded by traffic and carried off by the wind and rain, or the
way will soon wear down to such an extent that drainage will become
a very difficult problem. As the traffic of most roads increases slowly,
the adjacent earth can first be used for repairs, then gravel or crushed
stone. These, however, are problems to be solved by those familiar with
the local conditions and should be regulated by the requirements of
traffic, the availability of material, and the cost of necessary repairs.
The large majority of roads for some time to come will require only
earth for their construction, and for this reason it is essential to the
prosperity of each community that the earth road be properly cared for.

42 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

PART II.

STATE FARMERS' INSTITUTE.

AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION— PROCEEDINGS OF
THE STATE BOARD.

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE.

Des Moines, Iowa, December 9, 1902.

The annual sesson of the Iowa State Fanners' Institute was
held in the rooms of the Agricultural Department at the capitol
building, on Tuesday, December 9, 1902. In the absence of
President J. C. Frasier, Vice-President W. W. Morrow presided
and called the meeting to order at ten o'clock a. m., as per the
published program.

The chairman announced the first paper on the program,, "How
to maintain the fertility of the soil upon a farm devoted to grain
raising," which was read by its author, Mr. Henry Parsons, Rock-
well City, Iowa, as follows:

HOW TO MAINTAIN THE FERTILITY OF THE SOIL UPON A FARM
DEVOTED TO GRAIN RAISING.

Henry Parsons, Rockwell Cittf, Iowa.

This question is of vital importance to the farmer of Northwestern
Iowa, it being a country naturally adapted to the growing of grain, and
the high price of land making it unprofitable to use it for grazing.

On many farms there is much land that overflows, or is too rough
to plow, which must be used for pasture and meadow. This makes it
necessary to grow grain continually upon that part which is adapted
to grain farming. The West being able to supply us with cattle and
sheep cheaper than we can raise them to which we may feed our grain.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 43

And the increasing demand for corn for manufacturing purposes makes
the growing of corn profitable.

The question has arisen in my mind; is there no way by which we
may take a crop of grain from the ground every year and retain the
fertility of the soil as we received it from the hand of nature.

With these thoughts I began to look about to see in what way na-
ture supplied the soil with fertility. I noticed she made use of all dead
vegetation. The conclusion I drew was there is enough vegetation left
from every crop after the grain has been taken away, if properly saved
and returned to the ground, to retain its fertility.

But how to apply this coarse manure, save the stubble and corn
stalks, and get a full crop the same year it was put on the ground has
been the source of much grief to me. I found that if I plowed under
coarse manure and a dry season followed, there was danger of shutting
off the supply of water from below, thereby injuring the crop for that
year, and to scatter it on top of the ground after it was plowed made it
almost impossible to tend a crop of corn.

I once had a field of oats that was lodged so bad I oould not get
them with a binder, so I turned a bunch of hogs on them, expecting
to burn it off after the hogs had eaten the oats. The hogs rooted the
ground up and mixed the straw with the soil. I did not 'burn it, but
plowed it the next spring and planted it in corn. The summer was rather
dry, but that field had just as good corn as any in the neighborhood. I
have noticed that on low flat ground that has a heavy stubble the plow
will not scour, but only push through the ground leaving the stubble in
rows; that it did not make any difference how dry the season was the
heavy stubble did not seem to shut off the supply of moisture from the
subsoil. So I came to the conclusion that undecomposed vegetable mat-
ter of any kind plowed under did not necessarily shut off the available
water stored below, providing it did not make a complete blanket under
the furrow.

It has been my plan for a number of years to disc the ground oefore
plowing. By so doing the undecomposed vegetable matter is mixed up
with the soil in such a way that it does not break the water connection
between the furrow and the under soil.

The spring of 1901 I covered 10 acres with very coarse manure and
treated the ground as I have mentioned. This piece of ground was quite
high and sloped to the southwest. When the hot winds in July came
this 10 acres was the only part of a field of 90 acres that did not have
white or dead tassels in it. The corn was a darker color and grew about
one and a half feet higher than that that was not manured, and yielded
15 bushels more corn per acre.

It is claimed by some that it is better to well rot all barnyard accu-
mulations before returning it to the soil. My experience has taught me
that manure spread upon the field as fast as made, will cover more
ground, and will enrich it more than manure that has lain in the barn
yard until it was thoroughly decomposed.

44 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

There should be kept upon every farm enough live stock to con-
sume all of the roughness that would otherwise go to waste, thereby
converting it into money and at the same time increasing its value as
a fertilizer.

When sowing spring grain one should estimate the number of acres
that can cover that year with barnyard manure, and on what connot
be covered with manure, sow clover seed with the grain; giving the
clover seed the same covering as the grain. After the grain is harvested
do not pasture the clover but give it a chance to grow. The following
spring plow that part of the field first on which the manure was spread,
leaving the part on which the clover was sown as long as possible be-
fore plowing. In this way all the land sown to small grain would be
fertilized each year. There can be as much loss of fertility from the
way the ground is handled as there is used by the crop. This year has
given us some very good examples. Last March and April were very
dry and windy months. The ground that had been plowed the fall be-
fore blew very badly. Along the edge of some of these fields the dust
drifted two feet deep. In some places where the cornstalks had been
raked and burned the oats and wheat was blown out so badly there was
scarcely half a stand. Where the dust settled on meadow land the grass
grew much heavier, which goes to show there must have been a loss to
the land from whence it blew.

In June the season changed from very dry to very wet, and now
these same fields that blew the worst in the dry weather washed the
worst in wet weather. How are these losses to be overcome?

First. I noticed that spring plowing blew scarcely any, and fall
plowing that was disced and left ridged did not blow much.

Second. Land that had its cornstalks and stubble burned every
year and had not been manured any, blew and washed out a great deal
worse than land that had not been burned over and had been kept well
fertilized. I have therefore come to the conclusion that it is better to
burn nothing, but leave all rubbish on the ground to decay. Plow only
in the fall when it is necessary to kill weeds that live over winter, and
that as soon after harvest as possible. Never plow over five inches deep
or when the ground is muddy. Keep land well drained. Sow clover'
every spring with the small grain. All hay and fodder raised on the
farm should be fed on the farm. Keep all stock well bedded and haul
manure to field as fast as made. Where these principles have been car-
ried out the land has increased rather than diminished in fertility.

Chairman : This paper, gentlemen, is now open for discussion,
and we will be pleased to hear from any of you. Mr. Calderwood,
we would like to hear from you.

Mb. Oaederwood : Mr. Chairman, I believe that I do not care
to say anything. I would prefer to hear from some of these older
farmers.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 45

Chairman : Mr. Packard, we would like to hear from you.

Me. Packard : Mr. Chairman, I agree, so far as my observa-
tions have gone, substantially with, all that was said in the paper. In
the matter of fall plowing I think that the general opinion is that
where the ground is so situated as not to be subject to any wash
through the winter, fall plowing is favorable; but where, by any
possibility, from the slope there can be a wash as the ground is
thawed and frozen during the winter, there is a substantial loss of
fertility as the result of fall plowing, and the ground and the
crops would be better if the plowing was done in the spring.

I have never before heard of the matter of discing before plow-
ing, to mix the earth with the rubbish. I cannot say as to that,
but the thought strikes me that it might be a good plan to get the
rubbish and dirt somewhat mixed before it is turned under the
furrow. I am not prepared to say as to that but am willing to
accept his observations in regard to the matter, and it seems to me
a good idea in the end. It will help to get the rubbish under and
introduce what the soil wants in the way of humin, which I think
is the best thing with regard to it.

J. R. Waller : Mr. Chairman, in regard to fall plowing, my ex-
perience has been this, that by plowing in the fall you plow under
a great deal of green vegitation, a great many weeds, which you
kill.

My experience has been that it pays to plant the ground I plow
in the fall, as far as practicable and as soon as practicable! — even
in August — I sow the ground to rye, thereby securing fall pastur-
age of the very best quality, on which I turn my stock all winter
and in fact up into the following June. Last year I was away from
home, down in North Carolina, and my wife did not turn the
stock off as early as I would have done, but she turned them off in
June, thinking the crop was probably ruined; but nevertheless I
harvested thirty-five bushels of rye to the acre off that crop, not-
withstanding that there was at least one-third of it that we could
not get on account of its being down.

I have taken the same character of land and plowed it this fall,
sowing it to rye. I sowed last spring to clover as soon as the snow
was gone sufficiently, sowed it on the ground and harrowed, and

46 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

I got a stand right on that rye ground, so that I have a magnifi-
cent field of clover on that and if I want to plow it under I have
all the humus I need, and thereby keep my land clean.

My experience is that with the character of fall cultivation I
have referred to, if the ground is anyway clean, if I plow the rye
under I have got a good manure turned under. But where I do
not sow clover or use rye, I take my fall plowing and pulverize
thoroughly before planting corn, so that it is like a garden. I be-
lieve that almost as mtuch is acomplished by this cultivation be-
fore planting com as there is by cultivation afterwards. By so
doing I find that my ground is like a garden bed, and that the seed
germinates quickly and thrives better.

Another thing; I believe that there is as much trouble with
corn in planting too early as in planting too late. Il would not
plant corn the first day of May under any consideration. I would
rather have com, one year after another, planted the first day of
June than on the first day of May, because I believe that the first
day of May is out of season.

S. B. Packard: I would like to ask the gentleman a ques-
tion. What objections have you to planting in May providing the
conditions are right?

Mr. Waller: My experience has been this: that when corn is
planted the first of May the ground, as a general thing, is not
warm enough. The climatic situation is not such as to make
rapid germination and growth. When the ground gets thoroughly
warm and you have it thoroughly worked up, it is in such condi-
ton that your corn germinates quickly and when it comes up it
has a more rapid growth, has a dark green color and does not get
stunted, nor turn yellow by cold nights.

Chairman : Are there any further remarks by any one ? If
not, we will proceed with the program. The next paper is "How
to Secure a Perfect Stand of Corn" by W. W. Morrow.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PARISH. 47

HOW TO OBTAIN A PERFECT STAND OF CORN.

W. W. Morroxc, Afton, Iowa.

To obtain a perfect stand of corn requires a perfect seed bed and
reliable seed. If fall plowing is desired the stubble fields should be
plowed early — clover and timothy sod as late in the fall >as possible.
The depth to depend upon the character of the soil.

Spring plowing should be as near planting time as possible. If the
ground should be damp the harrow should follow the plow. If the
ground is in good condition, the harrowing should be postponed until
ready to plant. In that case the harrow will kill the young weeds and
also create a dust mulch, which is desirable.

In fall plowing a disk or pulverizer should be used. The same may
be used in the spring plowing, if the season is wet, followed by the
harrow prior to planting.

Early planting is desirable, but in no case should corn be planted
until the ground is in proper condition.

In order to obtain your seed corn, the first thing to do is to get the
kind of corn you wish to raise — the variety that will best mature in
your latitude. Remember, however, that a small ripe ear is preferable
to a large one that will not mature in your locality. To insure good
seed, corn should be gathered some time in Sepetember, by going through
the best part of your field and selecting ears of uniform size and length.
Sufficient husks should be left on the ears to tie together and the corn
should be placed in a dry place and left until the following spring, when
it should be taken down and shelled off both ends sufficiently to insure
an even size of grains which will enable the planter to drop an equal
number of grains in a hill, three grains in a hill being sufficient of such
seed. Under ordinary conditions corn should be planted two and one-
half inches deep. The harrow should follow the planter. This will
leave the ground in good condition and give you a perfect stand of corn.

The matter of seed corn is one in which every farmer and stock
feeder should be interested. When we take into consideration the facts
that the principal grain used in the production of beef, pork and mut-
ton is corn, and that Iowa produces more pounds of meat than any
other state, you will agree with me that the members of this Institute,
also the members of the State Department of Agriculture should encour-
age all honest efforts to secure the best possible corn for seed.

Chairman ; I would like to hear from any of the gentlemen
present. I see Prof. H-olden is here. I would like to hear from
him.

Prof. P. G. Holdex : Mr. Chairman, I agree with the Pres-
ident in the main, and especially in regard to the one point that
lie brought out so emphatically, viz., the importance of selecting

48 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

ears of uniform size until we have insured an even-sized grain. If
there is any one thing more than another that would conduce to
the production of four or five or six bushels to' the acre increase in
Iowa next year, it would be the procuring of even-sized grains,
because we must depend upon the planter to plant these and it is
entirely mechanical. Last year in selecting the seed for a little
over 7,000 acres of ground at the Funk Bros. Farm, Bloomings
ton, 111., we separated the corn and shelled it by ears; each ear
was one by itself. That corn was then laid on a table and, a man
who had been trained, examined it, and if there was
anything wrong with the grains or the shape was not right,
the whole ear was thrown out, for we found that the strength of
the corn is peculiar to the ear and not to the grain. For example,
if there is four or five grains that — you take four or five grains
and test them and find them defective, you can be sure the whole
ear is weak, and if you plant rows, an ear in each row and you
will see the difference. Even though it may have been in a wet,
low place, the strong ears will come up all right, while the weak
right by the side on the same ground would suffer. So we threw
out the whole ear.

We found by taking different planters and putting this corn in
and testing them by sorting and kept sorting until we would plant
19 out of 20 hills three grains. Of course with some of the plant-
ers we had to drill in a place or two, but we tried to get the ker-
nels uniform with the result that we got over ten bushels to the
acre more than was ever produced before, and I attribute it more
than any one thing to the fact that grains were of uniform! size,
It takes some time to do this, but it pays. It costs just as much
to cultivate the ground for seed not thus selected and when you
get through you will certainly be surprised to see how greatly they
count.

In regard to the question discussed before, I was interested in
it considerably. The matter of discing the ground before plow-
ing. For two years I had charge of the growing of about 3,000
acres of seed corn and through some accident we discovered that
the ground disced before plowing would retain the moisture long-
er and finally we went ahead and made several tests, in which we

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 49

tested, I suppose, with the disc about five or six hundred acres
out of 3,000, and in every case the disced ground went through
the dry weather better than the plowed land.

Mr. E. T. St. John : Mr. Chairman : I am' much interested
in your paper, and greatly interested in what Prof. Holden has
told us in regard to securing a good stand of corn and the impor-
tance of good seed. All I know about seed corn is from practical
knowledge on my farm; and I know this, that I have made the
same mistakes in northern Iowa, for the first time, that a great
many of our people in our part of the state have made, and that
is, trying to raise too large corn. I know some of my neighbors
raised good, big, nice corn and I thought I would raise some and
improve a little on the size of it in my county, and I discarded my
corn that I had been raising, that had been adapted to this soil,
and I made the mistake of my life. Some of it is sound and the
rest of it is cheap and soft. But I took the precaution to go back
to the old plan used when I was a boy, of going into the field and
selecting my seed corn and tying it up and drying it — putting it
in a good sunny place and letting it be dried thoroughly. I took
the precaution not to gather that corn where there were barren
stalks. Some say it is in the soil ; some say it is in fertilizing the
polen that is the cause of these (things. Let it be as frt may, I
think it would be a good thing in selecting the corn to avoid doing
so around those barren stalks ; and, as has been said here in the
discussion, select even kernels, well-formied ears and those which
are the most mature, and this year has been a grand one to exper-
iment on that, and I believe that next year I can say to this con-
vention I mil make no mistake ; I will have a good stand of corn.
It is true that if we miss a good stand, we miss a great part of
the product of the farm. So that matter of having good seed
corn is a very important one.

Mr. Waller : Mr. Chairman : This question of seed corn is one
that is paramount to anything else,, and I might say, everything
else in the state of Iowa, because it is virtually our crop. And
while I endorse almost everything the gentlman said on this, I do
thing that sometimes we are mistaken. Now, I might say it has
been my misfortune to plant a large variety of corn this year. I

' r )0 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

planted the Iowa Silver Mine which you all know is a large white
corn. Some may say plant yellow com, which is much earlier,
whereas my yellow corn was sounder and more fully matured, but
much smaller variety, and I didn't get much more than half as
much corn or feed per acre. Nevertheless, my immatured crop
both in fodder and corn was greater and was worth more acre for
acre. I don't think I lost anything by so doing. While our Sil-
ver Mine corn for the last four years has ripened well, this year
it did not get ripe and I guess this will hold good throughout the
whole state.

In regard to the time to plant corn, I believe the great trouble
is that we ask of our soil more than it is in condition to bear. I
beLyeive that is one cause of the trouble of our having barren
stalks. Now, I have made a study of that to a considerable ex-
tent. This last fall Mr. Wallace, through Wallaces' Farmer, sent
out papers containing questions to be answered by people through-
out the state. For the fanners to go through the cornfield and
count the ban-en stalks. I noticed his report when it came in was
that there was twenty-five to thirty-five per cent of barren stalks
throughout the state reported on. That caused me to go into my
field. I counted 200 stalks in a row. In the first 200 stalks I
counted only one barren stalk. I then went six rods further and
counted 200 stalks in that row and found three barren stalks. I
went another six rods and counted 200 stalks and found three bar-
ren stalk, so out of 800 stalks I counted in the row I only had
seven banen stalks of corn. That set me to thinking as to what
might be the reason for this ; that while others found from 25 to
35 per cent, I found less than one per cent. I will tell you what
the reason was : This land of mine had been thoroughly manured
both with horse and cattle manure for the last ten years ; has been
thoroughly covered with not less than twenty loads per acre every
three years. Consequently, the elements were to be found in the
soil for genninating, growing and producing and perfecting a stalk
of corn in every hill, and, mnd you, these hills had from three to
four stalks in every hill, and where there would be less than three
stalks in a hill there were two ears to the hill. Consequently, I
came to the conclusion that these people that had such a per cent

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 51

of barren stalks did not put sufficient elements in the soil to make
a stalk produce for the amount of seed planted ; that if they
had enriched their ground more and put the elements in the soil
for producing that amount, every stalk would have an ear on it.

Now last season I spent all the season up to July in Virginia
and North Carolina, and I was studying the farm conditions
down there. I went into the cornfields and saw that they were
doing there. They told me that they fertilized their soil in order
to produce the largest crops possible, and I universally found this
fact : they planted their corn six feet apart in rows with only one
stalk in a hill and, mind you, they have no barren stalks at all
They have from three to five ears on almost every stalk of corn.
I wrote this up for Mr. Trigg's Register. One man just over the
line, but joining North Carolina, drew $1,000.00 in premiums
on corn where he produced 254 bushels and three pecks per acre.
He did this, notwithstanding the fact that he only planted one
stalk in a hill and six feet apart. Another man told mie he planted
but one stalk in a hill and he raised 152 bushels of corn to the
acre and he drew $150.00 on it. He told me that this coming
year he intended to plant his corn five feet apart and he thought
he would raise over 200 bushels to the acre. And I believe it is
the elements in the soil. If you put your manures or necessary
fertilizers in the soil to raise the com properly and force it,
you will have no barren stalks in your hill ; that it is owing to the
barrenness of your soil in comparison to the amount of seed
planted.

I was talking to a gardener at Charles City, who was engaged
in raising cauliflower. He said to me, "\Kr. Waller, did you ever
know a man in the United States to raise cauliflower seed ?" 1
answered it was a thing I was not informed with reference to.
He said, "you can't find a man in the United States that can raise
cauliflower seed," He said "I have succeeded in doing it." I
said, "How do you account for that?" He said, "I have a piece
of sandy land inside of the limits of Charles City, and I have fer-
tilized it so thoroughly, — I have forced it to such an extent that
I can raise cauliflower seed." I am not informed on that subject,
but he told me that was a fact, and I leave it to you.

52 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

I had some corn from thirty miles southwest of Savannah,
known as the "Maryland, White." I planted that at Charles City
and it ripened well and it produced very well, and two or three
stalks per hill. The corn raised there is generally white. It is
not what we call large corn, but a medium sized corn and every
single ear of corn raised in that country is equal to the very best
seed corn we have here that we can pick out for our seed corn.

Me. Wallace: Mr. Chairman: It would not be hardly best
to let the statement made by Mr. Waller go without explanation.
The percentage of barren stalks, as has been reported by the paper,
is correct, but it was so unusual that we asked the parties to
make another count, and owing to that, it reduced the amount
— I do not remember just the amount — but my recollection is
that the percentage was a little over ten per cent on the second
count, in which great care was taken to have it accurate.

Mr. D. B. Nims : Mr. Chairman : I would like to hear some-
thing in regard to maintaining the standard of corn. I have not
had in a great many years trouble in starting corn, but when it
comes to forming the ear I lack a great deal of having a full
stand of corn, a great many times having only two or two and 'a
quarter ears to the hill. Two to two and a quarter is about as
much as I have been able to succeed in getting. It is not be-
cause of the weakness of the seed, but is because after it has got
up to 16 or 18 inches in height it dies off. I think that is largely
the cause of producing the barren stalk. In years like this while
T have not gone through and counted, I think in one field that we
husked we would not find one-half of one per cent barren stalks ;
in fact, we do not find any; but in looking through the field we
occasionally found a weak stalk that had no ear, with either a suck-
er or one stalk alongside, which overshadowed and prevented it
succeeding. If some will tell me how to prevent the destruction
of the stand, we will have no trouble in procuring the starting off.

The Chairman: Professor Holden, can you not answer the
gentleman's quetion ?

Professor Holden : Mr. Chairman : He has certainly sug-
gested a very important question, and one I know causes all of
us a good many heartaches when we see our harvesting going to

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 53

pieces; when, instead of having three to three and a quarter ears
on an average, we have two. On two hundred and fifty acres
out in our fields, we found that during the season just before it
began to show the joints, the stalks were very tender, and a heavy
wind would break off a great deal of the corn, and that in certain
rows the stalks were vigorous, and none of them in the whole
eighty rods were broken, and in another right by the side of it
there would probably be a third or a quarter of them broken off.
And another thing, we found in some of those row?, there was a
great difference in the strength of the kernels ; the grain was uni-
form throughout the ear. It is rot always so. Sometimes we find
one or two kernels very weak, that were started behind the others
and remained behind all the year, and were overshadowed ; and
there is where the barren stalks come in. And the thing that ap-
peals to us most in our work seems to be the need of strong, vig-
orous, even corn-branch.

I would have been very glad to have had some suggestions
myself. But I can say this; that the only thing is for us to take
these and experiment with them and help them over, as we are
here. It seems to me it would aid more than any other one thing
in this corn matter (and we all know that corn lies at the very
foundation of our prosperity, as well as the success of every in-
dustry in this state), if we could have an appropriation sufficient
to carry on experiments throughout the state. Xow, as the gen-
tlemen said, corn that has given excellent results in the southern
districts will not give best results in the northern part of the state.
In Illinois we found about one hundred miles made a great differ-
ence in the adaptability of corn, and we ought to co-operate with
these men to know what variety is going to give the best results
in any particular district. Men in portions of Illinios have year
after year gone on raising corn that yielded 50 per cent of what
might be raised, and yet, they supposed they had the greatest corn
in the whole state. But a great change has come over the condi-
tion of things there owing to this study that has been given to the
corn question and those varieties that are yielding so small a per-
centage, just like the condition of trying to make a big animal out
of the Jersey and the Hereford. We do not want a variety in the

.e£

•„''••

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 55

that lies at the foundation of all our prosperity and that nobody has
given attention to these things. I wish we had the data that has
been gathered at the agricultural college since September, in regard
to corn. We have sent out a thousand letters asking for the variety
of corn, and a great majority of answers that have come in give,
"corn, without any name; com, without any particular variety;
mixed corn" ; showing that there has been no attention paid to
these things. I know from my experience in Illinois that two-
thirds or three-quarters of the people are just growing com ; that
is all ; just as though they had picked up a dog, no difference what
he was, while they wanted a Shepherd dog, and find out it is noth-
ing but a pug-nosed dog. Very great improvement could be
made. Where we now grow thirty to fifty bushels to the acre
it is just as possible for every farmer to grow forty-five to sixty
with the soil that we have. This year on these farms where this
corn was selected, as I have before said, on this seven thousand
acres, there is fifteen hundred acres of it growing over one hun-
dred bushels to the acre. Think of it. It would amount to a
great deal of corn ; one hundred and fifty thousand bushels every
year; and you know what that means to grow.

Chairman : The next on the program is a paper by H. O. Wal-
lace, entitled, " Winter Wheat Growing in Iowa."

WINTER WHEAT GROWING IN IOWA.

H. C. Wallace, Associate Editor Wallaces' Farmer, Des Moines, Iowa.
It is most difficult to secure with any degree of satisfaction reliable
statistics covering the production of winter wheat in Iowa during the
past twenty-five years. The government reports do not separate the
winter wheat from the spring. The only figures available are those be-
ginning with the year 1892, and collected by the State Agricultural So-
ciety, and the accuracy of these figures, for several years at least, is
open to serious question. However, they are the only figures we have
and we must use them for what they are worth. According to the best
available statistics, the acreage of winter wheat in Iowa for the year
1892 was 235,000 acres. It decreased steadily but slowly until the year
1898, when there were 191,451 acres. The next winter was a most dis-
astrous one on the winter wheat crop and in 1899 but 27,427 acres were
harvested. In the neighborhood of 200,000 acres were grown annu-
ally up to that time, this winter proved a permanent backset to this
crop, for in 1900 but 76;080 acres were harvested, and in 1901 but 49,068

56 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

and in 1902 but 48,449. The highest yield of the decade was 19 bushels
per acre, in 1895. In 1901 the average yield was 17.6 bushels and in 1892,
17 bushels. The yield for 1902 has not yet been reported, but will prob-
ably be heavy. The average for the ten years is 15.6 bushels per acre.

If the acreage of winter wheat in Iowa is anywhere near correctly
reported in the figures above quoted, and if it has decreased as steadily
and as materially as they seem to indicate, it is pertinent to ask, why?
While a small grain crop may not be an absolute necessity to the Iowa
farmer, it is a practical necessity. Successful farming in Iowa or in
any other state or country makes it imperative that crops be rotated
for the double purpose of conserving and restoring fertility and to keep
the land in good mechanical tilth. The clovers and grasses are vital
in such a rotation in this state, and the study of the best nurse crops
for them is an important one. What will be the result of tentative ex-
periments with new leguminous plants, it is too early yet to know, but
at the present time clover is the one legume upon which the Iowa farmer
can depend to restore to the soil the fertility which he can remove with
other crops. Clover he must have, for the double purpose of forming
a balanced ration for his growing stock and dairy cows, and to draw
upon the air for the nitrogen, the most important element in plant nu-
trition. The question of securing a stand of clover has become a most
serious one throughout the state, and in considering the claims of any
small grain crop to recognition, its value as a nurse crop for the young
clover must be given much weight.

Assuming that the clover will be sown with a nurse crop, as it is in
this state in ninety-nine cases out of every hundred, success in securing
an even and thrifty stand will depend largely upon: First, getting it
in early and covered pToperly; second, giving it a sufficiency of sun-
light; third, getting the nurse crop off the ground before the hot days
of July. Winter wheat enables these requirements to be fulfilled as well
or better than does any other small grain crop. First, it is sown in the
fall, and the clover can be sown at any time during the fall, winter or
spring, at pleasure, preferably on the last snow in the spring. It can be
harrowed in, if thought desirable, without injury (usually with positive
benefit) to the wheat, if the ground be not too wet. Second, the wheat,
if drilled in north and south as it should be, gives the sunlight oppor-
tunity to reach the young clover plant nicely. Third, the wheat is har-
vested early, and as it stands up well the clover suffers little injury by
the change from shade to sunshine. As compared with oats, winter
wheat is very much superior as a nurse crop. The oats cannot be sowed
until the ground is fit to work in the spring, and as a result the clover
is not sowed for from one to three weeks later than with wheat. It not
infrequently happens that it is not properly covered, owing to frequent
spring rains between the time the oats is sowed and the clover, and even
when covered sufficiently to germinate, the field is often left rough for a
meadow because of the impossibility of getting onto it with a harrow.
The oats makes a denser shade than the wheat, thereby increasing the
danger of smothering the clover; it is much more likely to lodge, espe-

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 57

dally on our rich land, and it matures later, thereby increasing very
much the danger of the tender plants being killed by the hot sun.

Tb^- absolute necessity of a rotation which includes the clovers
makes it important to consider the value of a small grain crop in the
light of its adaptability as a nurse crop, and measured by this standard
winter wheat, in that part of Iowa where it can be successfully grown,
is very much superior to oats. But throwing this out of consideration
altogether, i f is difficult to understand why we are growing so much oats
and so little winter wheat. In the year 1901, according to the figures
found in the annual report of the United States Department of Agricul-
ture, Iowa grew 4,104,180 acres of oats, the average yield per acre being
25.4 bushels and the average value per acre being $10.73. The average
value per acre of our winter wheat the same year was $10.56. For the
ten years beginning with 1892. the average yield of winter wheat was
15.6 bushels per acre; the average price on the farm December 1st of
each year was 56.8 cents and the average value per acre, $8.86. The aver-
age yield of oats for the same period was 31 bushels; the average price
on the farm December 1st, 21.8 cents and the average value per acre,
$6.75. a difference in favor of winter wheat of $2.11 per acre. For the
same period of ten years, the average value per acre of the corn grown
in Iowa is given by the same authority as $8.01 per acre, and the average
value of rye as $6.88 per acre. In other words, the gross value per acre
of the winter wheat crop of Iowa for a period of ten years exceeds the
value per acre of the corn crop by 85 cents, of the oats crop by $2.11 and
of the rye crop by $1.98. In the light of these figures it is rather diffi-
cult to understand why, with its almost 9,000,000 acres of corn, over
4,000,000 acres of oats and over 76,000 acres of rye, Iowa grows so little
winter wheat. It is true that winter wheat may be said not to be adapted
to the entire state. It can, however, be safely grown in all that part
south of the North-Western railroad and in some of that section north
of it. It does best in the very part of the state where oats is most un-
satisfactory.

To grow a good crop of winter wheat requires a more careful prep-
aration of the seed bed than for oats. The ideal seed bed for wheat is
firm below and mellow above. The corn field, so far as the condition of
the soil is concerned, furnishes a seed bed that can hardly be improved.
The continual working of the field through the season compacts the
lower soil while leaving the upper two or three inches loose and mel-
low. The corn field offers the ideal seed bed ready made, and as this
is where clover is .usually wanted, it is the place for the winter wheat
field. This makes it necessary that the corn be cut and shocked, a prac-
tice already established on most well managed, average sized farms in
this state. The wheat should be drilled in, using a disk drill in prefer-
ence to any other and either drilling closely around each shock or mov-
ing the shocks. A careful driver will put the wheat within one to three
inches of the bottom of the shock. I have found it better to cross the
rows; that is, to drill opposite the way the corn is laid by, rather than
run with them. There are two reasons for this: one, because when drill-
5

58 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

ing with the rows the drill riding the row will put in the wheat too deep
while the drills next to it on either side are likely to put in it too shal-
low, and the other because drilling crosswise will knock out more corn
stubs, and leave the land more level, as well as covering the wheat more
uniformly. For the benefit of the young clover, the drills should run
north and south to give as free entrance as possible to the sunlight; and
therefore, if it is intended to sow wheat in the cornfield the corn should
be laid by east and west. In 1889 I raised one crop of winter wheat by
drilling in standing corn with a hoe drill, the hoes set on arms which
could be spread or contracted as necessary, in the same manner as the
one-horse garden cultivator of today. This drill was pulled by one horse
between the rows of standing corn. It is not a satisfactory way, although
I think an excellent crop could be raised if the corn stands up well.
If the corn is down much, more of it will be broken and wasted and
the wheat stand will not be even. With the hoe drill, it would be diffi-
cult to secure a very even stand if there is much foxtail in the field.
The stalks would have to be thoroughly harrowed the next spring.

On the farm owned by Wallaces' Farmer, 7 miles south of De&
Moines, we raised this season over 1,100 bushels of winter wheat on
about 27.5 acres, one field of 7 acres averaging 43 bushels to the acre
and another of 20.05 acres averaging 40 bushels. As much of this sold
for seed at $1.00 and $1.50 per bushel, it would not be fair to take our
returns per acre as a basis for averaging figures; but taking the aver-
age market price of say 50 cents per bushel, which is full low enough,
these fields yielded us over $20.00 per acre. The financial statement
would be as follows:

40 bushels of wheat, at 50 cents per bushel .... $20.00

Seed, 1*4 bushels, at $1.00 per bushel $1.25

Labor of man and team, drilling 40

Harvesting 1.75

Cost of threshing, about 3.60 7.00

Net profit per acre $13.00

This statement does not include the cost of harrowing the field in
the spring for the purpose of covering the clover seed, for that does not
properly belong to the cost of raising the wheat crop. The figures given
are not actual. The seed of the 7-acre field was imported from Russia
last season, and cost us say something over $2.50 per bushel. Our re-
turns per acre from this field were considerably over $20.00, but cue fig-
ures I give are representative and will apply in an average year and to
the average farm. The first part of this season was very favorable, but
from harvest time on it was most unfavorable. There were probably
one or two acres of the larger field that we were not able to cut at all
on account of the wet weather. And the yield on all of it was several
bushels less than it would have been under favorable conditions.

In April we sowed the clover seed. It should have been sowed earlier
but we could not secure the seed we wanted in time. The ground was
very dry when the clover was sowed, and as there was no chance of its

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THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 59

germinating unless covered, we determined to run over the field with
a Hallock weeder. The wheat at this time was several inches high and
looking very nice. The ground was so dry and hard, however, that the
weeder was ineffective, and at what seemed to be a risk of injuring the
wheat, we put on the heaviest steel harrow on the farm and went over
the field thoroughly. As a result, the clover seed sprouted with the first
shower and the wheat seemed to have been helped, rather than injured,
by the harrowing. The clover made a splendid growth; so much, in fact,
that, contrary to our original plans, we expect to turn most of it under
for corn this coming spring. This is mammoth clover. The season was,
of course, favorable for clover. Such a yield cannot be expected every
year, but with proper attention to preparing the seed and putting in the
crop, I am confident that a good farmer on a good piece of land can
make an average wheat yield of 25 bushels per acre for a period of ten
years, and that he will find it as profitable a crop, one year with another,
as any staple crop he grows.

Where the wheat is sown on fall plowing instead of in the cornfield,
the ground should be plowed early and carefully and well harrowed re-
peatedly, until the furrow slice is thoroughly settled down and com-
pacted. This is absolutely necessary for two reasons: First, to estab-
lish capillary connection with the subsoil, and second, to eliminate the
air spaces and thus lessen the danger of the wheat winter killing. The
object should be to get the field in as nearly as possible the same me-
chanical condition as the September cornfield. This will take work and
time, but the wheat grower will be well repaid for both. If he is not
willing to go to the pains necessary to secure a good seed bed, he should
not attempt to grow winter wheat on summer or fall plowing. When
the season for sowing arrives, and the seed bed has been well prepared,
the wheat should be drilled in as in the cornfield. The disk drill leaves
the ground in what might be called small ridges. Let the field alone, as
the drill leaves it, as these irregularities in the ground help hold the
snow.

The cost of growing a crop of wheat on plowed ground will be con-
siderably more than in the cornfield. The logical place of wheat in the
rotation, is following corn and in the cornfield is the place to sow it.

I have spoken of the importance of drilling wheat. Too much em-
phasis cannot be laid upon this. The drill puts in the seed at an even-
depth, covers it all so that it is ready to grow as soon as there is suffi-
cient moisture and enables it to make a well developed root system be-
fore cold weather sets in. One or two successful wheat growers, with
whom I am acquainted, this year tried drilling the field both ways, using
half the necessary amount of seed each way. They report such a plan
to be very satisfactory, the advantage being that it makes more thor-
ough use of the land. Whether there would be sufficient advantage in
this, to justify the extra expense, I do not know. It would have one
disadvantage, that of shading the clover more than when drilled but
one way.

60 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

As for varieties, the Turkish red has been grown in this state for
15 years and seems to be as hardy as any variety could possibly be. It
is probable that we will find one or two other varieties that will prove
hardy, but the Turkish red can be depended upon. The seed I spoke
of as having been imported from Russia last season, came from the
original home of the Turkish red and is the same variety. It has, I
think, some advantage over our Turkish red, as modified by Iowa con-
ditions for 15 years. It grows closer to the ground, spreading out over
the surface in the fall, instead of growing upright, and it stools better.
After it has been grown here for a number of years, it will probably
develop the same characteristics as the Turkish red we have been grow-
ing. It has a longer head and I think, other conditions being equal,
will yield several bushels per acre more.

There is no staple crop that the up-to-date Iowa farmer, on his
own land, can afford to grow year after year, for the money value of
that crop alone. The claims of every crop for his consideration must
be based, not alone on its value, but on its adaptability to fit into the
rotation and do its part in the general farm economy. Measured ~y
this standard, winter wheat has strong claims for consideration at the
hands of every farmer in northeastern Iowa, and in that part o. the
state lying south of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad. I believe
that it may be grown successfully farther north than is now supposed.
Briefly summed up, these claims are:

The small cost of putting in the crop.

Its superior value as a nurse crop for clover.

Its profitable yield per acre as compared with our other staple crops.

To these claims must be added its value as food for animals, when
the market price is too low to justify selling it. Experiments have dem-
onstrated it to be worth pound for pound, about as much as corn for
fattening cattle and hogs, while for growing animals it is worth more,
because of its muscle making constituents.

Taking winter wheat at its just valuation, the farmers in the part
of Iowa before mentioned, will certainly consult their own interests by
reducing their oats acreage, which yields less net profit than any other
crop they grow, and substituting winter wheat. They will not lose as
much wheat by winter killing, if they stick to known hardy varieties,
as they will oats by going down before harvest, and whereas they can
grow oats successfully only on their poorer land, they will find with
wheat, the richer the land, the greater their returns.

Chairman : This paper is now open for discussion, gentlemen.

Mr. John Fox: Mr. Chairman: This question of raising winter
wheat is one of locality. My location is the north half of Dallas
county ; soil, black prairie loam. From nine to ten years ago my
neighbors beagan to raise Russian wheat ; had one or two heavy
crops; during a dry fall or dry winter it failed to germinate or

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II. 61

perished; not from winter killing, but from drouth in winter, and
it became so uncertain that very few are growing it now. How-
ever, there were some very large crops of it grown. At that time
we were not drilling much; hut those that did drill had the same
trouble; found trouble in getting it started in the fall of the year-
There have been several occasions when it would lie in the ground
and not germinate until spring. I have known of seventeen
bushels to the acre, winter wheat, that when spring opened showed
scarcely a sign of life.

Mr. Trigg : Mr. ( hairman : It is a matter of history that when
Iowa quit raising wheat she commenced to prosper. In 1878
the fanners of the state were bankrupt as the result of wheat
raising. Now, while wheat may be raised to fairly good advantage
in the southern tiers of counties of the state, here a few spots
and there a few spots, it is not profitable when taken up generally.
It is my idea that any crop raised in the state should be convert-
ible into some other form for market. A bushel of corn that
sells on the market for twenty-five cents is easily convertible into
fifty cents, one year with another, by any man who will feed i:
as it may be fed. Our state is a great stock and dairy state, and
we never should lose sight of that fact. The only recommenda-
tion in the paper that I would indorse is the fact that winter wheat
i> a god nurse crop. In any event, rye will do just as well. Then
how can we compete with this northern country on wheat? The
record shows that in the territories of Manitoba they have raised
1.9.95 bushels of wheat per acre for an average of ten years. Just
think of it; a record we cannot approximate into nearly nine
bushels. So I honestly think that the best thing farmers can do
is to let wheat raising alone and raise corn, hogs, cattle and nice
fat, healthy boys and girls.

Chairman: The next on the program will be a paper entitled
"Points to be Considered in the Economic Production of Beef,"
bv W. J. Kenned v.

62 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE ECONOMIC PRODUCTION

OF BEEF.

W. J. Kennedy, Ames, Iowa.

A prominent statistician, in a recent report, has very clearly shown
that the greatest gain in wealth, education and population in this coun-
try has taken place in those states where farming and the production
of first-class live stock are being carried on together. This has been
amply illustrated throughout the corn belt states and in this respect
we as Iowa people may well be proud of the fact that our state stands
first and foremost of them all. When comparisons are made in almost
every instance Iowa is used as an illustration of what live stock, when
properly bred and cared for, can do for the farmer.

Notwithstanding the fact that we are in the very front rank, we
still have a great deal to learn regarding the production of the various
kinds of meat producing animals. High priced farm lands and stren-
uous competition from many sources are daily making the profitable
production of meat a more difficult problem. Things are very much dif-
ferent to what they used to be when land was worth from twenty to
forty dollars per acre and corn could be purchased for twenty cents per
bushel. In order that we may successfully meet these changed condi-
tions which have been brought about by the marked advances in the
value of farm property our former methods may have to undergo some
modification. Not that the stock men who bred and fed animals during
the last two decades were ignorant men and did not understand their
business. They, as a class, were just as intelligent and solved the prob-
lems which confronted them in a much better way than most of our men
are doing today. Old time methods which can be successfully applied
under present conditions must not be replaced by new and untried the-
ories. Before adopting any method, new or old, we should consider very
carefully as to what the outcome will be; as to where we will land
should we follow the same. In this connection I am reminded of an
epitaph which is to be found in a cemetery in old Virginia which reads
as follows:

"Remember, man, as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I;
As I am now, so you must be;
Prepare for death and follow me."

The Virginia epitaph, however, has received an addition in the fol-
lowing couplet which has been written below the original in a clear,
old-fashioned hand:

"To follow you is not my intent,
Until I know which way you went."

Just so in the live stock business; before following the methods of
those who have been successful we must be sure of what the outcome
will be \inder the present conditions.

P- o

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II. 63

It is not my intention to dwell on the production of live stock in
general as I have been asked to* discuss a few features pertaining to the
economical production of beef. In the past no branch of live stock, save
the fat hog, has been so generally handled throughout this state as has
beef cattle. Iowa's natural conditions have been most favorable and
have done much towards making her the greatest breeding and feeding
center of the central west. Her virgin soil was so well adapted to the
production of corn and the growth of blue grass pasture, the two things
which, when combined, have no equal for economical production of beef
of the very best quality. Then she is situated between the range terri-
tory, where so many cattle are grown, and the leading cattle market of
the world. These conditions have been of untold value to the Iowa
farmer. Notwithstanding these advantages, in many sections of this
state farmers who formerly reared and fed cattle for the market are
no longer engaged in the business. They claim that with land selling
in the neighborhood of one hundred dollars per acre that it is too valu-
able to carry stock on. When land was cheap they reared their own
cattle, when land advanced in price to fifty or sixty dollars per acre
they changed their business and became cattle feeders, but now, since
land has made such marked advances in value, they are compelled to go
■out of the business. We are glad to note, however, that we have a great
many very successful beef producers. Men who reared cattle when land
was cheap, when land advanced and who are still successfully and prof-
itably rearing and finishing cattle which, when consigned to market,
a i ways command the very top prices.

We have had and are likely to have for some time to come two
•classes of men engaged in the beef cattle business. The first class,
which at one time was much the larger of the two, might be called the
'beef grower."' He reared his own calves, fed and finisned them for
the market. To the second class belong that now large number who
might be termed "cattle feeders." They do not pretend to rear their
own cattle as during a part of the year they have no cattle whatever
■on the farm. They buy their feeders from the ranges or from the small
farmer who rears a few calves each year.

One of the most vital problems which many a farmer has to solve
.at the present day is where he should classify. Will he be a beef grower
or a cattle feeder? At the present day and under existing conditions
there is room for both. Where good judgment and common sense busi-
ness methods are applied a man can make a success of either method.
Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. The man who
rears his own cattle can control the quality of the animals he feeds. On
the other hand he must force them from the day they are dropped until
ready for the butcher if he hopes to realize a profit on our present high
priced lands. He has a herd of breeding cows to feed and care for the
year round. Can he afford to keep and feed a cow for the calf alone?
It takes a good calf to bring twenty-five or thirty dollars at weaning 1
lime, while at the present prices of feed stuffs it will cost at least thirty
dollars per year to feed a cow. This looks like a losing proposition and

64 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

it surely is on high priced land. This leads up to the question of milk-
ing cows, something which the average man does not take kindly to,
but a question which sooner or later he will be obliged to solve. In
England this question has been solved. Over there the first requisite
of a beef cow is that she be a fair milker. A cow that will not give a
liberal flow of milk is condemned. At the Iowa Experiment Station we
have cows of more than one of the recognized beef breeds which, in
addition to possessing the desired beef form, have produced from three
to four hundred pounds of butter per year. We have also found that
when the milk is separated while warm and fed directly to the calves
that, by addition of some flax seed meal, oat meal, or corn meal to the
skim milk, practically as good calves can be reared as when whole milk
has been fed. The butter fat, when separated from the milk, netted us
from fifty to eighty dollars per cow. Calves from these cows, fed on
skim milk and the adjuncts mentioned, have been marketed at twenty-
six months of age when they weighed over fourteen hundred pounds.

When land reaches the one hundred dollar mark it requires careful
farming and stockraising to return a paying profit on the investment.
But the Iowa farmer must not abandon stock raising, else his land will
surely deteriorate in value. In many of the eastern states when land
advanced in value the owners considered it too valuable for stock rais-
ing, thus in many instances they went out of the business. What has
been the result? There is but one outcome to any such practice, which
Is wornout farms, which, in many instances, have been deserted. They
have been taught a valuable lesson, one which the farmer of the Cen-
tral West should not have to learn through experience. Successful farm-
ing cannot be carried on continuously without live stock. Commercial
fertilizers may apparently answer the purpose for a short time, but soil
fertility can only be maintained in one way and that is by stock farm-
ing. In England stock farming is the mainstay of the farmer and land
is worth twice as much as it is here. In the island of Jersey
land rents around twenty dollars per acre, still live stock, especially
dairy farming, is their main occupation. If Iowa farm: lands are to
maintain their present values, and they surely will, it will be because
the farmers will adhere to the live stock business. In this respect no
line of live stock is better adapted to our conditions than beef cattle
when produced from dual purpose cows. The cow that will net her owner
forty dollars or upwards for the butter fat sold and at the same time
produce a calf which can be marketed at the age of two and a half years
weighing in the neighborhood of fifteen hundred pounds. Such a method
is practicable and when adopted by the Iowa farmer he will not con-
sider land too valuable even at one hundred and fifty dollars per acre
for the economical production of beef.

We have at the present time a great many men who are cattle feed-
ers. This method has some advantages and many disadvantages. There
seems to be a great many uncertainties about this kind of work. The
cattle feeder mjust. first of all, buy his cattle right else he cannot hope
to realize a profit. It is very difficult to get animals of good quality.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. (>5-

This is due largely to the fact that the men who breed the cattle have
been accustomed to receiving a certain price for animals of the various
ages with little or no discrimination so far as quality is concerned. All
two-year-olds brought about the same price, thus there was not much
encouragement for the breeder who spent money in securing valuable
sires. We are glad to note a decided change in favor of the man who
breeds good cattle. The feeders are acting wisely when they are willing
to recognize good blood and quality by paying more for the same. It
is certainly most gratifying to receive a letter from a commission mer-
chant stating that he is about to receive a bunch of cattle from a cer-
tain ranch where nothing but the best of pure bred sires have been used
for a certain period of years. Range cattle are no longer being sold as
just "range stuff." They are being graded and sold on their merits.
When this policy is universally adopted the results will be far reaching.
It will mean better markets for our surplus bulls, better feeders for
the corn belt farmer to put in his feed lot and last and most important
of all, a much better market through which the farmer may dispose
of his corn crop.

Success in any line of work is largely governed by the methods pur-
sued at the beginning. This is especially true in the production of beef.
There is no other one feature of the business quite so important as to have
the right kind of an animal. An animal possessing the desired form
combined with plenty of quality. Bear in mind that width of back, loin
and hindquarters are indispensable in the good steer. The three factors
which determine the selling price of the steer on any of our leading
markets are percentage ; that is, per cent, of dressed weight to live
weight; quality, that is, a thick covering of good flesh over back and
loin; and proportion, which means as much weight as possible in the
back, loin and hindquarters where the high priced cuts are to be found.

Having secured the right kind of an animal the next and most es-
sential point is how to secure the greatest gain in weight at the very
lowest cost. When feed stuffs were low in price and labor was high the
feeder acted wisely when he economized labor at the expense of feed.
With corn ranging from forty to fifty cents per bushel he can no longer
follow such methods. It is now a question of economizing in feed. Tl e
feeder must get more pounds of gain from a bushel of corn than he has
ever done in the past. In this respect there is a great need for inves-
tigations pertaining to the advisability or nonadvisability of feeding
lighter grain rations. If fifteen or eighteen pounds of corn per steer per
day will give as good results as twenty-five and thirty pounds of the
same, it certainly would be much more economical for the feeder to
adopt such methods. Feeding experiments conducted at the Minnesota
Station and at the Ontario Agricultural College with light, medium and
heavy meal rations for fattening steers have shown the medium and
light rations to be much more economical than the heavy rations. In
these experiments, however, the gains calculated were those made by
the cattle alone, as there were no hogs to utilize that part which the
steer did not assimilate. With our present methods of feeding we are

t)6 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

simply at the mercy of the hog and the ravages which afflict him. If
cholera attacks the hog and wipes him out, about twenty-five per cent,
of our high priced corn is wasted except from a fertility standpoint.
This is a question which every farmer should study carefully. How can
he make beef without the hog to consume the waste feed? Not that we
have any objections to the dog, for he certainly is the farmers' best
friend, but we must be prepared for emergencies. We must feed cattle
oftentimes when we have no hogs. We must study more carefully the
process of digestion of feed stuffs. When we see from twenty to thirty
per cent, of the corn which a steer is made to consume passing through
the digestive system it is a sure indication that there is something
wrong. We are either feeding the animal more that it can assimilate
or its digestive system is out of condition. In most instances the trou-
ble is due to a deranged digestive system caused by over feeding. This
leads up to another point which is the mixing of grain and roughage
together which is, in our estimation, the ideal way of feeding cattle.

When the grain is fed separately from the roughage it is greedily
swallowed and passes into the third and fourth stomachs of the animal,
thus escaping mastication and the action of the saliva of the mouth,
which has the power of converting starch into sugar which is digestible.
By mixing the grain with the roughage it will be remasticated, thus
much more thoroughly digested than when each is fed separately. This
method of feeding involves the cutting of roughage, a step which most
farmers are not prepared to take as yet, but one which they can well
afford to be thinking about as in the near future it will be practiced by
the rpost successful cattle feeders.

Another question which is worthy of our attention is the silo. The
silo, while a new thing in Iowa, is by no means an experiment. It has
been thoroughly tested in the eastern states and Canada and when once
tried it speaks for itself. It is now considered to be indispensable on
the dairy farm, and while it has not been, as yet, very generally used
in the production of beef, the results as reported to date are most en-
couraging. The silo is by all odds the cheapest medium through which
we can obtain succulent feed for our stock during the winter months.

In recapitulation I may say that the successful farmer of the future
will be the man who combines the production of first-class live stock
with his farming operations, who keeps beef cows for the double pur-
pose of producing butter and calves intended for the block, who gets
nearly as many pounds of gain from sixteen pounds of corn as the aver-
age feeder of today gets from twenty-five pounds when fed to cattle.
Who combines his grain with the roughage fed to his animals thereby
securing more complete digestion of the same, and who stores his corn
stalks in the silo that they may be converted into beef and dairy prod-
ucts instead of being burned in the fields.

Chairman: We have a few minutes before noon and would
like to hear from any gentleman present.

50 5

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THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 67

Mit. Trigg: Do I understand von to say, Mr. Kennedy, in your
paper, that the feeding of silage to beef animals was. a success?

Professor Kennedy: So far very few results have been re-
ported but the reports show results to have been successful. It is
a new thing' and has not been reported on extensively.

Member: Is the ration limited \ Supposing the average ration
of a dairy animal is thirty pounds, how much would you feed this
beef animal \

Professor Kennedy: Feed aboul twenty-five or thirty pounds.
The best way would be to feed a ration of silage and hay and grain.
The silage furnishing the succulent part of the ration. I have seen
a great many farmers feeding silage to fat cattle. They were not
conducting feed experiments, but won- pleased with results. It i-
a new thing, yet all the light we have on the subject shows it is a
good thing.

Mr. Barney: Mr. Chairman, with regard to the res nits of feed-
ing cattle silage, I want to say that Professor Kennedy is abso-
lutely right in that respect. I have in the last five years used a
hand separator and nothing else. I bought the separator five
years ago and I think I have raised better calves in the last five
years than I did when I fed them a good portion of new milk and
the balance of the milk as it came from! the creamery. The milk
fed warm on the farm, I think, with oil meal or with a little corn
meal is fully equal to letting the calf run with the cow. In fact
I have just as good results as I ever had letting the calf run with
the cow.

Mr. Trigg: Probably there are a good many young fellows here
in the audience who were raised on the bottle, yet, there is no doubt
but they have got as good a start as the fellows raised the other
way.

Mr. Fox : There is one question I would like to ask, whether
an animal in a cold climate should have silage ? Has it a tendency
to make the animal more tender ?

Proffessor Kennedy : ISTot necessarily so. I have heard a
great many people ask about the balanced ration. N~ow, I will say
in the cattle feeding business as in any other line of business,

68 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

common sens© is the best guide. In feeding we should try to imi-
tate manure and feed a ration of a succulent nature ; by so doing
we will keep the animal's digestive system in a good condition.
Now, some folks have trouble feeding cotton seed meal. We had
trouble last winter in our cattle feeding experiment at Odobolt,
in feeding cotton seed meal to cattle. Cotton seed is different
from oil meal. Oil meal aids digestion and when fed to dairy
cows makes butter fat soft. Cotton seed, on the contrary, has a
tendency to constipate the animal and when fed to the dairy
animal makes butter hard in texture. I think the real trouble does
not come from poison of the cotton seed but it is a miatter of indi-
gestion. I know men who have fed cotton seed meal with silage
and got the best of results from the combined ration. Silage is
easily digested and keeps the system in good shape ; not that silage-
is a feed in itself. Tt is not. You have to feed something ' else
with it. It is one of the things which we should have.

Me. Fox: Tt is not out of prejudice that T ask the question.
A friend of mine years ago, living on a farm adjoining my own,
fed his cattle somewhat as I have indicated and I frequently
observed tin- difference between his cattle and mine. I think his
cattle were better than mine which were fed on dry feed. They
were more tender when they were turned out in the weather from
the bam ; did not seem so* vigorous ; and I came to the conclusion,
that for cattle that were fed and turned out doors, silage was not
just the thing. However, I think inside of the barn where proper
ventilation is had. perhaps it is a cheaper feed, and I am not pre-
pared to say it is not better than any other way.

Professor Kennedy: You will find if you keep cattle in a
warm barn and turn them out they will hump their backs; but
you can feed cattle silage out in open lots and you will not notice
any very marked difference. It is not due to the difference in
feeding.

Professor IIoldex : Mr. Chairman, this feeding experiment
<>f which Professor Kennedy has spoken, I happen to know con-
siderable about. They were fed on a farm, twenty-five in each
bunch, and 3.73 fed corn and silo, made good gains and as much
increase in beef as 5.20 of their corn fed stock. And in rocrard to-

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 69

the question ju>\ asked, it was very noticeable to all of us that the

twenty-five animals fed at the same ranch and under the same
conditions, were somewhat more tender than those fed corn fodder.
The animals fed silage were tender but the gains were much
greater in the silage Ud animals than those led fodder.

Professob Kennedy: I have seen them fed in the open lots
and there was no appreciable difference.

Mjember: \Y< 11, don'l we all want tinder beef, anyhow?

Chairman: We have a few minutes before adjournment and
while we have heard a greal deal about the prize steer, Shamrock,
I would like to have Professor Kennedy tell us how he was fed.

Professor Kennedy: In regard to the steer Shamrock, I might
say that steer was purchased two years ago by the college. There
was an impression throughout the country and a few years ago a
great many people here in Iowa had the idea that anything kept
at the Agricultural College was something to laugh at; that men
at the Agricultural College could not do anything along feeding
lines. Now, when the Agricultural College gets out and feeds in
competition with the practical feeders and wins over them, all
things present a much different aspeel and the criticism is the
other way. Shamrock was purchased two years ago by Professor
Ourtiss at Tipton, Iowa, at five cents a pound. lie was taken in
with a bunch of steers: he had a good frame, which was about the
only commendable thing about him. Took him to the college and
developed him, and showed him last year in ( 'hicago, where
he won second prize. lie was taken home and carried on till this
year, when he was first in class and grand champion over all
breeds of all ages.

Now, in regard to feeding. We fed him a balanced ration, as
nearly as we could. He was fed nothing but what any farmer
could feed. Last .summer fed him corn, oats, barley, bran and oil
meal.

Now, I want to say — sometimes in feeding an animal for a
show ring after he is ripe and you carry him along a little farther,
he is liable to get somewhat soft. This calls for a change of feed,
something to firm him up. Shamrock had to be fed so as to firm
him up.

70 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Iowa had the grand champion carload lot of steers at Chicago,,
owned by Chas. Escher. The grand champion herd of fat cattle
over all breeds came from Iowa. They were fed at the college,
and the grand champion steer over all came from Iowa, and
all of these are from the Iowa State College. His mother was
seven-eighths Angus and his sire was a pure bred Angus bull.
He was very nearly a full-blood.

Me. Trigg: The reason I asked the question is because it wa.s
reported he was a pure bred steer.

Professor Kennedy: His mother was seven-eighths and sire
pure bred Angus. When we speak of beef cattle we speak of tho
beef type ; and I think in that respect it is not necessary to have
pure bred, but that the pure bred must be back of it all. I do not
believe in every man handling pure bred cattle, but I believe
every man should use a pure bred sire. The trouble is, most peo-
ple want females ! and I have noticed that at these stock shows —
they will give a big prize for females; whereas, on every farmi in
Iowa we should have pure-bred bulls.

Mr. Trigg : Will you be kind enough to emphasize the fact of
pure-bred sires, because we have a great many big men who think
that $35.00 is too much to pay for a bull.

Professor Kennedy : Three hundred dollars is not too much
to pay for a good bull to be used on a herd of good grade cows.
Every man should use a pure bred bull. I do not believe every
man should go into the pure-bred breeding business.

Mr. Trigg : How much did Shamrock weigh ?

Professor Kennedy: He weighed 1,805 pounds.

AFTERNOON SESSION.
Meeting called to order by Vice-President Morrow.
The first on the program is a paper entitled "Forage Crops in
Iowa," by James Atkinson of Des Moines.

FORAGE CROPS IN IOWA.

James Atkinson, Des Moines.
There are many indications which lead us to believe that farmers
of Iowa employ wasteful methods in their feeding operations. For the

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 71

practice of feeding half a bushel of corn per day to a steer there is no
reasonable justification. Experiments in England, Canada and the
United States, together with the experiences of a few feeders that may
be found in every state, demonstrate that results equally as good may
be obtained by feeding half this quantity of grain, combined with good
roughage. As the land increases in value more animals must be kept
on a given area if the holding of land is to continue to be a good invest-
ment. The cost of fitting an animal for the block must be lowered, and
if this is done advantage must be taken of the fact that the steer is a
ruminating animal, and because of this is able to convert a large amount
of rough feed, as well as grain, into meat. Therefore, what I have to
say about forage crops is based on the assumption that these are grown
for feeding purposes and not to be marketed directly.

Our greatest forage crop is corn. What we need most of all is to
be taught how to handle the forage part of this crop economically. In
spite of the fact that 40 per cent of the nutrients of the corn plant is
contained in the leaves and stems, we find that millions of acres of corn
stover are annually wasted in this state. There is little need for the in-
troduction of new crops until this standard fodder of the state is util-
ized to its fullest extent. Just how this is to be done depends upon
circumstances, and although it is somewhat outside the province of this
paper, I will say that the shredder is one step in advance of the old-
time methods of handling the corn crop. However, there are instances
where it would not be advisable to shred. It will seldom pay, for ex-
ample, to shred part of the crop and allow part to stand in the field
until it is worthless, for the reason that shredding is only done when
it is necessary to increase the feeding value of the fodder grown on
the farm. The same argument may be advanced in behalf of the silo.
There is no question but what the food from a given acreage will go
farther if converted into ensilage than if fed in any other form, and
yet so long as part of the fodder is wasted there is little need for in-
curring the expense of building a silo and storing the corn.

The costly experience of the past season, due to the injury to the
corn fodder by frost., suggests the wisdom of making some advances in
our present methods of handling the corn crop. Where the crop is
converted into ensilage it is possible to cut and store it even before
the grain has reached the glazed condition, the same being to some ex-
tent true where the shredder is used extensively. In fact where large
areas of corn are handled in this way it is absolutely necessary to be-
gin harvesting early in the season. If there is a little shrinkage of the
grain after cutting the feeding value of the fodder will be all the greater,
providing, of course, that the grain has passed the milk condition. By
shredding the fodder or storing it in the silo one is relieved of a large
amount of disagreeable labor during the feeding period. Not only is the
labor disagreeable, but it involves no little expense to employ sufficient
help when fodder is drawn from the field daily. With silos located in
the immediate vicinity of feed yards or stacks of shredded fodder located
similarly, one man can accomplish much more than if the fodder is.
drawn from the field daily.

72 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Sorghum is a comparatively new crop in the state, and yet it is
meeting with favor in many quarters. Even where corn fodder is well
cared for there are those who grow sorghum for the purpose of adding
variety to their roughage. There are few crops that will give a greater
yield of fodder per acre than sorghum, while there is no crop that is
more palatable. Sorghum is a gross feeder and for the best results
should be grown on land that is fairly rich. A clover meadow plowed
in the fall or spring will make a splendid seed bed for this crop. It is
a southern plant and should never be seeded until the soil has become
warm. It should not be sown before the twentieth of May, and even
this date is early when the season is cold and backward. If sown when
the soil is cold the seed may germinate but the plants take on a yellow
-appearance and growth becomes stunted. Few crops require more care-
ful preparation of the seed bed. If, for example, a clover sod is plowed
in the spring it should afterwards be well worked down with disc and
harrow, and so much the better if the roller can be pressed into ser-
vice. This makes a firm, fine seed bed and consequently presents ideal
conditions for covering the seed uniformly.

There are a number of methods of planting the seed. Where a
grain drill is not available at least two bushels of seed should be used
per acre. Unless the soil is more than ordinarily wet the seed should
be covered with a disk, when it is sown broadcast, the harrow not being
sufficient to insure a perfect covering. Where a drill is available one
of two methods may be employed in the manner of sowing the seed.
Some prefer to sow from eighty to 120 pounds per acre. In other in-
stances a number of spouts in the drill are stopped up leaving the rows
thirty to forty inches apart. In this case the feed is thrown wide open
so that the seed is sown very thickly in the row. Even when this is
done, however, only a small quantity of seed is required, six or eight
quarts being enough for one acre. When sorghum is sown in this man-
ner it is usually cut with the binder, so that the expense of harvesting
is much less than where it is sown thickly, necessitating harvesting with
the mower. On poor land, even where the crop is sown thickly, it is
sometimes possible to harvest with the ordinary binder, but as a rule
on our richer soils the fodder grows so rank as to render this method
impracticable.

As to the manner of curing sorghum, there is considerable differ-
ence in the methods employed by those who grow this crop. When it
can be handled with a corn binder or even an ordinary binder it may
be shocked up immediately and left to cure out in the shock. Where
the crop is so heavy that it must be cut with the mower it is generally
advisable to allow the fodder to dry out for a few days previous to shock-
ing. I am well aware of the fact that a great many persons shock it up
at once in the green condition, but the objection to this practice is that
it makes the handling of the sorghum somewhat expensive owing to the
great weight, of the green sorghum. A twenty-five ton crop of green fodder
will be reduced in weight to seven or eight tons in the course of ten
days, providing the weather is favorable. Drying may be hastened by

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR ROOK — PART II. 73

stirring the sorghum with a hay tedder. By curing in this way one gets
rid of handling a large quantity of water. After drying, the fodder can
be placed in shocks of 500 or 600 pounds weight and allowed to remain
there until it is thoroughly cured. During the winter it may be drawn
to the mow or stack or may be left in the field and hauled directly tc
the feed yards when required.

Sorghum fodder is well adapted for all kinds of stock. Cattle pre-
fer it to corn fodder, and indeed if it is properly cured they will leave
good hay for the sorghum. I have known horses to do exceedingly well
during the winter, while sheep eat it with great relish and put it to
good use. It makes excellent food for brood sows, more especially if the
seed is not sown thickly so that the stems are somewhat large.

Before leaving the subject of sorghum I should like to say that it
is practicable to sow it after a cereal crop is removed. I have in mind
one instance where a barley crop was removed and sorghum sown about
the middle of July. This was cut the last day of September and gave a
yield of seven tons of cured fodder per acre. As to the value of sorghum
as a pasture crop there is considerable difference of opinion. It is true
that there are instances where animals seem to have been suddenly pois-
oned when turned onto green sorghum. More especially has this been the
case where attempts were made to pasture the second growth. Just
what the cause is in such cases is not definitely known, but it is gen-
erally believed that if greater caution were used in turning animals onto
pasture of this character that there would be little or no trouble. Thous-
ands and tens of thousands of animals are pastured on first, second and
third growth sorghum in surrounding states, and for one person who
has experienced a loss it is possible to find hundreds who have nothing
but praise to offer for this crop when it is used for pasture. Animals
should never be turned onto green sorghum when they are hungry, nor
should they at any time be changed from dry feed to green sorghum. If
they are allowed to fill themselves with clover or some succulent grass
before being turned on the sorghum the danger is practically eliminated.

Kaffir corn in some respects is quite similar to sorghum, but so far
as my experience goes it is scarcely so well adapted to Iowa conditions
as the sorghum. It does not give such large yields, while it is not so
palatable to stock. There are those, of course, who are growing it with
profit. It is usually sown thickly at the rate of from eighty to one hun-
dred pounds of seed per acre, and is harvested in the same way as sor-
ghum. There is usually more waste in feeding out this crop on account
of the fact that the stems are not palatable and are left uneaten. The
crop is drouth-resisting in character, and on this account it is sure to
produce a liberal amount of forage no matter how dry the season may be.

The characteristics of millet are so well known that it is scarcely
necessary to dwell on them here. There is a place for millet on the
farm, providing one knows how to handle it. As it is ordinarily handled
it is not a very satisfactory crop, the mistake being in not cutting it in
time. If the seed is allowed to harden the leaves and stems become fibrous
and when this takes place there is always a disappointment in feeding
6

74 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTDEE.

it. "When cutting is not done at the proper time there is also a shelling
out of the seed on the ground, and this insures a crop of annual weeds
next year. Millet should be cut while the seed is in the milk condition,
and it should be cured with as little exposure as possible. So much the
better if it can be put in shocks soon after cutting, as this helps to keep
the leaves and stems soft and also retains the aroma. When cured in
this way millet hay may be fed to all kinds of stock with impunity, pro-
viding a little judgment is used in the feeding. It is never advisable to
feed millet hay exclusively to farm animals. An experiment is reported
by the North Dakota Station in which horses were fed millet hay alone
for roughage. The effect was to produce an increased action of the kid-
neys, causing lameness and swelling of the joints, as well as producing
general unthriftiness. Because of this injurious effect upon animals it
does not follow that the crop should be discarded altogether, but rather
that more judgment is necessary in feeding it to animals. One feed of
millet hay per day is sufficient for work horses, while all farm animals
will thrive much better if other forms of roughage are fed in conjunction
with millet.

While alfalfa is usually classed more as a hay crop than
forage, yet the enormous yield of this crop when it is grown
under favorable conditions, leads me to put it in this category at this time.
The area seeded to alfalfa in Iowa is exceedingly small, although hun-
dreds of attempts are annually made to get the crop established. Under
our conditions the crop should be seeded early in the spring on a well
prepared seed bed, without a nurse crop. A drill should be used in sow-
ing the seed, ten pounds being sown in one direction and a similar quan-
tity in the opposite direction. This insures a uniform covering of the
seed and a good stand. As a rule it is necessary to cut back the weed
growth once or twice during the first season. It does not seem to injure
the alfalfa even if the leaves and stems are also cut back somewhat
closely. If conditions are at all favorable the crop should produce two
or three cuttings the second year, but ordinarily one cannot expect a
crop the first year. My experience has been that alfalfa takes on a sickly
appearance in the spring of the second year and it is then soon affected
with leaf spot disease, to which it succumbs. The inspection of a num-
ber of alfalfa fields recently, however, in the state, convinced me that our
soil is lacking the organism that lives on the alfalfa roots. To the fields
referred to, these organisms had been introduced by making an application
of soil from the alfalfa fields of Nebraska. Shortly after the organisms
are introduced in this. way the alfalfa takes on a healthy appearance,
and it is not unusual when these are present to obtain four cuttings a year.
The fields referred to produced twelve tons of cured hay per acre. My
idea in speaking of alfalfa is not based on the belief that our farmers
are suddenly going into alfalfa growing, but I simply want to call atten-
tion to the fact that our failures in the past undoubtedly have been due
to the fact that our soils have not been properly inoculated. This may
be done chiefly by the introduction of small quantities of soil, and if we
do reach that point where alfalfa can be grown successfully it will

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 75

solve one of the most difficult problems that is now presented to the
Iowa farmer, namely, that of getting a stand of clover. There is need
for some plant of this character in our rotations in order to make addi-
tions to the nitrogen supply in the soil. Red clover frequently fails
because the nurse crop smothers it out, while it is not sufficiently strong
to resist weed growth when it is sown without a nurse crop. Even
when it comes through the first summer there is considerable danger
that it will be winter killed. Alfalfa, on the other hand, is a much
deeper rooting plant and when once established sends its roots beyond
the region where frost can do harm. The ordinary drouth such as we are
apt to have in Iowa has little or no injurious effect on the alfalfa plant,
owing to the fact that it obtains its moisture supply from the lower soil
and subsoil.

The last plant about which I wish to speak is very different in its
characteristics from any of those that have been mentioned, it being im-
possible to cure it in any way so as to make hay. I refer to rape. An
exceedingly small area of the state is devoted to this crop at the present
time, but where it is grown there are few crops that are more highly
spoken of. Rape must be used primarily for pasture. It may be sown
almost any time after spring opens until the middle of August. Bare
feed lots may be made to produce enormous crops of rape, it being only
necessary to scatter over the surface four or five pounds of rape seed
per acre early in the spring and run a disc over the surface. Where
whole fields are devoted to this crop the soil is generally well worked
down and the rape sown either in rows or broadcast. If sown in rows
these should be placed from twenty-six to thirty inches apart, and two
or three pounds of seed should be sown per acre. When the crop is put
in in this manner it affords an opportunity for cleaning the land by the
use of the one-horse cultivator. It is also practicable to sow one or two
pounds of rape seed per acre along with cereals. In this case the crop
comes on and furnishes fall pasture after the cereal crop is removed. In
South Dakota and Minnesota thousands of sheep are annually fed off of
rape when put in after this manner. Rape makes almost a perfect food
for sheep, lambs or hogs, and hogs indeed may be used to advantage as a
fall pasture for steers. There is just a little danger that bloating will be
induced when animals are first turned on, but if a little care is exercised
this may be prevented. It has been ascertained that animals pasturing
on rape will make better gains if they have access to a pasture. It cannot
be fed with impunity to milk cows, owing to the fact that it is apt to
taint the dairy products. Rape may be pastured at almost any period
of its growth, although it is generally advisable to allow it to make con-
siderable top before pasturing it extensively. We have many times seen
instances where this crop proved very disappointing, owing to the fact
that it was too heavily pastured during the early part of its growth. If
it is left alone for six or seven weeks after germination there will in all
probability be considerable top, and this means that there will be a strong
root growth. After this period the crop will generally grow fast enough
to keep pace with the pasturing, providing of course that the number

76 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

of animals are not too great for the area, as the leaves and stems grow
very rapidly after the root has become thoroughly established. It might
also be said that when one leaf is eaten off two appear in its place.

Chairman: We would be glad to hear from any one on this
question. If there is no one who desires to discuss the paper, we
will proceed to the next, which is a paper entitled "The Louisiana
Exposition, 1904," by J. H. Trewin, mjember of the Iowa Cora-
mission, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (The author not being present, the
paper was read by Mr. F. R. Conaway.)

Me. Conaway: Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Conven-
tion : I am very sorry that Senator Trewin cannot be present this
afternoon. I have just received a letter from him, stating that
owing to some very important cases in court, he could not be here,
and asking me to read his paper, which I will proceed to do.

LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION, 1904.

J. E. Trewin, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The hardy, adventuresome and determined American pioneers, who
at the close of the Revolution invaded and commenced to subdue the wil-
derness to the east of the Mississippi, brought about an event in the history
of our country second only in importance to the gaining of independence.
By the treaty of 1773 the American and British had stipulated that "the
navigation of the River Mississippi from its source to the ocean shall
forever remain free and open to the subjects of Great Britain and the citi-
zens of the United States." But Spain controlling both sides of the lower
Mississippi denied free navigation of that river to tne western Americans,
while the latter considered it their "God given highway to the sea and
to civilization." Trade restrictions were imposed by Spain, vessels and
cargoes were confiscated and crews imprisoned. The inhabitants became
enraged and threatened invasion and the forcible establishment of their
right of free navigation of the river.

In June, 1775, Washington wrote of the situation: "The emigration
to the waters of the Mississippi is astonishingly great and chiefly of a
description of people who are not very subordinate to the law and con-
stitution of the state they go from. "Whether the prohibition of the
Spaniards is just or unjust, politic or impolitic it will be with difficulty
that the people of this class can be restrained in the enjoyment of natural
advantages."

Washington, Livingston, Hamilton, Jefferson and other early states-
men and patriots recognized the necessity of an open river, but the na-
tion was too weak to do more than anxiously wait the rapidly changing
conditions in European affairs. Hamilton said in 1799, "I have long been
in the habit of considering the acquisition of the Floridas and Louisiana

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 77

as essential to the permanency of the Union." His far seeing eye dis-
cerned the probabilities in all the country west of the Mississippi to the
Pacific, but Jefferson and Madison urged on by the persistent demands of
the people for free navigation were willing to accept the river as the
western boundary of the republic. April 20, 1803, a week after the great
treaty had been agreed upon and ten days before it was signed, Secre-
tary of State Madison wrote to Monroe, then in Paris, "certain it is
that the hearts and hopes of the western people are strongly fixed on
the Mississippi for the future boundary." Meanwhile the people directly
interested continued to demand their rights as defined by the treaty 1783,
and Robert R. Livingston of undying fame as a diplomatist, patriot and
statesman, never ceased in his untiring efforts in their behalf at the court
of France, and though only authorized to negotiate for the portion east
of the river when the capricious first consul offered it to him, he pur-
chased the entire territory. It was the wisest and most audacious act
ever done by an American ambassador, and its vast consequences can
never be measured. Without it, the British would probably have acquired
the territory as a lesult of the Napoleonic wars and the United States
would now, if in existence as a nation, be bounded on the west by the
Mississippi with a British colony on the other side.

The differences as to the admission of new states might not have
arisen; we might never have known of the Missouri Compromise and
poor bleeding Kansas; we might even have escaped the horrors of civil
war, but we should not have achieved greatness as a nation.

The consequences of the acquisition of Louisiana are so stupendous
and have exerted such an enormous influence over our destiny as a na-
tion that it is most fitting a great commemorative world's fair should be
held in the largest city of the region and upon the banks of the mighty
river whose free navigation gave rise to the controversy so happily ended
by Livingston's unauthorized treaty. Difficulties arose after the treaty
was signed. Jefferson always a strict constructionist of the constitution
doubted the right to acquire territory without an amendment, and even
proposed one, but the demands and necessities of the people swept away
all his doubts and objections and the treaty was ratified — our national
domain was doubled, a precedent set for future acquisitions of territory,
and permanent foundation for our greatness laid. This territory, compris-
ing practically thirteen magnificent states and two territories, has three
times the population and many times the wealth of the entire United
States at the time of the acquisition. It now teems with a population
of over seventeen millions of intelligent, prosperous people, and with its
vast areas and resources yet undeveloped is capable of supporting in com-
fort many millions more. Besides this, its possession made possible
the acquisition of the great northwest and Texas and California.

The centennial of this great event will be celebrated in a world's fair
twice the size of any other ever attempted in any country. Its success is
assured by ample funds. The entire cost will be about forty millions of
dollars. It will in every respect be an international exposition and under
its agressive and able management be worthy of the event commemorated.

78 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

The grounds and buildings are laid out in a larger scale than ever before
attempted, covering more than 1,200 acres, and will be surpassingly-
beautiful.

The exhibits, display and attractions like the event commemorated will
be a departure from all precedent. Here will be gathered the most mar-
velous productions of the mighty brain and brawn of this wonderful age.
A distinctive feature is the prizes offered for a great air ship competi-
tion.

The national government and all the states of the Union and all the
territories and dependencies will be represented — all the nations of earth
will take part in friendly interchange of ideas and in the competitions.
It will probably be the last opportunity for adults to see a world's fair
in this country. St. Louis furnishes great advantages as a place to hold
such a fair; she has the largest railroad station in the world; twenty-
four railroads will carry millions of visitors to the fair and lines of pala-
tial steamboats on the Father of Waters will take many more who desire
to travel more leisurely, and a view of the beautiful scenery on the upper
river which rivals that of the Hudson.

What part shall Iowa take in this great enterprise? Within her
boundaries are fifty-five thousand square miles of the choicest land of the
entire purchase, and two and a quarter millions of as intelligent and
progressive people as can be found anywhere. They possess ample means
and abundant resources with and from which to make exhibits. A just
state pride should induce every citizen to encourage a proper showing
for Iowa. We are first in education, agriculture, stock raising, butter pro-
ducing and in many other things we are too modest to mention. Let us
maintain supremacy in these and win it in others. Let no line be neg-
lected — there is room and opportunity for all. Our manufacturing In-
terests should be exploited, and the advantages afforded in Iowa cities
and towns for the increase and enlargement of these industries made ap-
parent. We should show the world the excellence of our public and pri-
vate schools, colleges, universities, churches and other institutions and
that as an abiding place, Iowa has no superior on earth, and thus invite
good people to come and help us develop our almost limitless resources
and share our prosperity and our many other blessings.

Chairman : Are there any remarks on this paper ? If not we
will listen to the paper entitled "The silo for the Iowa farmer,"
by W. B. Barney of Hampton, Iowa.

THE SILO FOR THE IOWA FARMER.

~W. B. Barney\ Hampton, Iowa.

Centuries ago, on the British Isle, our forefathers learned that a
greater number of their herds and flocks would withstand the rigor of the
winter season by the cutting and making of their grasses into hay for
winter feed than could be maintained by letting their kine run at large
over the fields as had been their custom.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 79

We all know that twenty years ago a very small per cent of our corn
was cut up and that about one-half of this, the most valuable crop we
have in Iowa, was wasted.

With land at $60 to $100 per acre, the question now arises as to
what is the best means of saving, storing and utilizing this crop.

I built my first silo in 1895. It was oblong and not deep enough.
In the use of this I found there was no feed as cheap as ensilage, if the
loss was not too great by spoiling. I concluded to try again, and visited
the dairy districts of Wisconsin, where silos are about as numerous as
corncribs in Iowa. I found these were nearly all round; and, after get-
ting all the pointers possible, I made my old one over into a barn below,
bran and feed room above, and built a new one circular in form. The
dimensions are as follows: Diameter, 25 feet; depth, 35 feet. I am win-
tering 125 head of Holstein Friesians. The matter of size and capacity of
silo must be regulated by the amount of feed required, and size of herd.
As the feeding is done from the top, arrange the size of your silo to take
off from one to two inches per day.

The location of my silo is at the side of barn — about six feet from
same — with a building connecting it with barn. The foundation is of
good stone, 6 feet high, 18 inches thick. Two feet of this wall is above
ground; four feet in the ground; the excavation being twenty-eight feet
in diameter. The stone is laid in Louisville cement. The bottom is in
clay, well tamped, and covered with two inches of grout, and a good coat
of Portland cement put on bottom and sides up to woodwork. The wall at
top in inside is flat for the width of six inches, the building being put on
flush with inside of wall. The foot width of wall to outside slopes about
two inches, and is covered with Portland cement. The sill is formed by
cutting 2x6 in three feet lengths, hewing or sawing to radius of the build-
ing, laying on two layers of these, break joints, spike together. For stud-
ding I used 2x4, fourteen feet, lapped eighteen inches, and spiked together
to get proper height. Set on sill one foot apart from center to center, toe
nailed at bottom. In ordering studding get them sized. The plate at top
is same as sill at the bottom. The studding where doors come should be
double. Four doors are used for taking out silage. They are two and
one-half feet wide by three and one-half feet high. I used 2x4s cut to
circle on inside, laid on top of each other to fill the space in place of
doors and in filling lay tarred paper against these on the inside. The
silage will hold it there, if you will put in a few carpet tacks to hold in
place while filling. Inside lining use No. 1 dressed fencing resawed or
split and sized. By ordering the fencing resawed quite a saving will be
made, as this charge is about $1.00 or $1.50 per thousand. In putting
this on, rip first board to get a three-inch piece so as to break joints,
spring to circle of studding, nail on with 8d nails. Carry up for a ways,
then put on a layer of three-ply Giant P. & B. acid and water proof paper.
This is much better than common tarred paper. After this, put on an-
other layer of lumber, then paint the inside with coal tar. I know some
do not advise this, but my experience shows me that it is a preservative.

80 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

For outside, use one layer of some sheeting as used inside, one coat of
building paper cover with white pine. C siding rabbeted. In putting on
both in and outer lining and siding, break joints as often as possible by
starting on alternate studs. All these boards act as hoops and this is
where the round silo gets its strength and why it is better than any
»»ther kind. If silo is less than twenty feet in diameter the layer of half-
inch stuff under siding may be dispensed with. Use conical shingle roof,
with good ventilator, the diameter of which schould be at least one-fifth
that of the silo. A dormer window should be put in roof above plate for
filling. Do not cut away the top plate to get this window in, as the plate
helps brace the top. I use window sash for the upper half of this to let
in light. The lower part is a door hinged at the top. The opening, in-
cluding door and window, is about two feet, eight inches, by five feet.

Rats are very fond of silage, and this is the reason the bottom should
be cemented and the foundation come above the ground afoot or more.

I am aware that some stave silos have been found fairly satisfactory;
but on account of the shrinkage in drying out in the spring the hoops get
loose and the wind is apt to rack or blow them down.

One of the important things is to get the silo as deep as possible in
proportion to the diameter. The deeper the silo the greater the pressure
and the smaller the feeding surface exposed. A silo twenty feet in diam-
eter and twenty-two feet deep will hold about one hundred and seven tons.
If you will add ten feet to the depth you about double its capacity, or
have two hundred and four tons. My silo will hold three hundred and
fifty tons and cost to build in 1901, $550.

The silage keeps perfectly. There is practically no loss. What shall
we put in our silo? Where corn can be grown as abundantly as in Iowa,
we believe it the best crop for ensilage, though clover, sorghum, millet
and other plants have been tried with good success.

TIME OF FILING.

I have found best results from taking corn when ears are as nearly
matured as possible and yet have at least half of the leaves green. I use
corn harvester and haul direct from field to cutter. My cutter is 16-inch
with 45-foot elevator. For power we use a six horse power gasoline en-
gine. The distance to field, and the conditions are so varied about differ-
ent places as to make it impossible to tell just how many hands can be
profitably employed.

If your silo is twenty feet or more in diameter, put two of your trust-
iest men in the silo, to see that the corn is evenly and well spread, and
tamped. General tamping of the whole surface is important; but much
the larger amount of labor should be expended around the sides, as the
friction against the walls prevents its settling.

If corn gets a little dry or has been frosted, as was the case this year,
use water. In filling, I used twenty-five pails of water at noon and twen-
ty-five at night. When I had finished, I put on six or eight barrels. Three
or four inches on top is all the ensilage that spoiled.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 81

One of the greatest objections offered to the silo is the work of filling.
This is often more imaginary than real, and may be done largely by help
about the farm.

I think slow filling preferable to too much haste, but the silo, as a
rule, should not stand longer than two days between successive fillings.

Hauling shocked corn from the field in winter is not a very desirable
job, and the unavoidable waste is too great. If it is to be shredded and
fed in that form, it might as well be cut a little earlier and put in the silo,
where it is practically all saved. We like the common variety of corn,
though B. & W. ensilage has proven quite satisfactory. Whether planted
in the regular way or to be cultivated only one way it is best to plant
somewhat thicker than for ear corn.

As to the value of ensilage as a feed for dairy cows, or young stock,
it is, in my opinion, hard to overestimate it. For the economical produc-
tion of milk, there is nothing its equal. The silo is, we believe, the best
safeguard against summer drouth. It is very difficult to have a soiling
crop ready to feed when pasture fails, as this varies from year to year.
H. B. Gurler, who milks 250 cows, always saves one of his silos and has it
ready to open up at any time. Last year we put a good deal of corn in
our silo that would have been of little value for other purposes on account
of dry weather. This year a silo was a good thing on account of early
frost. I have tried beets and mangels, but much prefer ensilage.

I am often asked how many acres of corn is required to fill my silo of
350 tons. An average year thirty acres will do this. I consider this equal
to 175 tone of mixed clover and timothy hay. I would like to ask how
many acres of land are required to produce this amount of hay an average
year.

I have never used ensilage for beef making other than to feed it to
old or barren cows. It has, with me, proven an excellent feed for this pur-
pose.

The Illinois Experimental Station is now conducting an experiment
with two lots of steers that will be of great value. The following data is
taken from their bulletin:

Fifty steers were taken in 1901 at eight months old, and divided into
two lots. The corn from 5.33 acres of land was put into a silo, while the
corn from a like acreage was cut and shocked. One lot was fed ensilage
with two pounds of oats and four pounds mixed clover and timothy hay;
the other lot shock corn with a like amount of hay and oats. Pigs were
put with each lot. The result shows May 5, 1902 — the number of pounds
of meat (beef and pork) per acre — are as follows:

Where ensilage and oats and hay were fed, 385.35 pounds of meat
were produced per acre.

Where shock corn, oats and hay were fed, 337.91 pounds of meat
were produced per acre.

As the amount of hay and oats fed to the two lots were practically
the same, it is reasonable to suppose that this difference of 47.45 pounds

o4 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

of meat produced per acre was due to the different form in which the corn
plant was fed. This showing would indicate that it is possible to make
47.45 pounds more of meat from an acre of corn put in a silo than fed
out of the shock. In case of the silage fed steers 97.69 per cent of the
meat produced was beef, and 2.31 per cent pork. The shock corn fed
steers 84.22 per cent of the meat produced was beef and 15.78 per cent
pork. This would show that in case of hog cholera on the farm, beef
may be produced by the use of silage with but a small loss. That in the
use of shock corn the hog is a. most important factor, and that a loss of
nearly 16 per cent of the meat produced would accrue from its elimina-
tion.

We understand that the experiment with these steers will be con-
tinued until both lots are finished for market. The result will be awaited
with a good deal of interest and should be of great value.

In conclusion, I will say that I have found my silo one of the very
best investments on my farm, and I think the silo for the Iowa dairy
farmer — like the hand or farm separator — almost a necessity. For the
economical production of beef on the ordinary farm, where the steer is
grown from the calf, I believe it is to come into general use.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF SEED CORN.

P. G. Holden, Ames, Iowa.

The season of 1902 was characterized by two factors which made the
maturing of seed corn a very difficult problem. A wet season followed
by an early frost, rendered much of the corn soft and unfit for planting.
Probably never before in the great Central West has the farmer so often
asked himself "what shall I do to obtain good seed corn?"

IMPORTANCE OF USING HOME-GBOWN SEED.

No doubt it will be necessary for many to secure corn for planting
other than that which was grown on their own farms. And in this con-
nection great care should be exercised.

Remembering that plants are very susceptible to their environments
we cannot fail to recognize the damage of importing seed for the entire
crop. If corn is imported from the southern part of the corn belt whero
a long season is shorter there is a tendency for the corn to produce a large
growth of stalks and to partially or wholly fail to mature. The same
danger exists in changing seed corn from east to west although not to
so great a degree.

With land at present prices the corn grower throughout the central
west cannot afford to incur such risk. The farmers should plant the
major portion of their corn land with seed grown on their own farms or
at least in their own locality, so that reliable returns will be insured.

It is well known that most of the seed corn put on the market by
seedsmen was bought of farmers in crib lots, shelled, screened and sacked
for sale, little or no attention being paid to the selection, in fact it is gen-

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 83

erally handled with the scoop shovel and is known as the "scoop shovel
method of selection."

The chances are that the farmer has in his own crib better corn than
that which he purchases from seedsmen at four or five times the market
price. And then he runs the additional risk that it will not mature in
his locality.

TRY WELL-BRED VARIETIES ON A SMALL SCALE.

The result of much careful work shows us that the corn plant can be
bred up and the desirable qualities fixed, so that they will be reproduced
in the succeeding crops. Some careful breeders have spent many years
giving attention to this point and the result of their work is shown in the
good qualities possessed by many of the standard varieties. Corn growers
ought to take advantage of this valuable work and secure seed to plant
an acre or so. In many cases there may be considerable immaturity in
the first year's crop, yet only those ears which mature 'most perfectly
should be selected for the following crop. If this plan of selection is re-
peated, year after year, corn is grown which is well adapted to the lati-
tude and conditions in which it is raised. In this way the farmer will
be able to get the improved variety which has become acclimated and
the danger of loss from immaturity will be overcome to a very large
degree, while the desirable qualities, the result of years of breeding, will
t»e retained.

PURCHASE SEED CORN ONLY IN THE EAR.

In securing seed the factor of the greatest importance is the pur-
chase of that corn which will give the largest yield per acre and of the
best quality. The acre is the unit in corn production and therefore that
seed is best which gives the largest yield per acre. Hence the important
question for the farmer who must purchase seed corn this year, is not
one of cost but of quality. It will prove far more profitable to pay three
or four dollars for a bushel of seed corn which will germinate well, and
insure an even stand and a large yield than to accept an inferior grade,
although the first cost be exceedingly low.

These two rows of kernels were taken from two different ears. Judging from
outward appearances of the ears, little or no difference in their values could be discovered.
The ears from which these two rows of kernels were taken were almost exactly the same
size, yet ear No. 2 weighed 16 per cent more than ear No. 1, and shelled out SJOJjj per cent
more corn than ear No. 1. Ear No. 1 is not only very much poorer in feeding value than
No. 2, but has a much lower vitality and gives a weaker plant.

It is very important that the tips of the kernels— the portion next to the cob— should be
full and plump so that there is no space between the kernels down near the cob. In
selecting our seed corn, it is important that we should do more than look at the ears; we
must study the kernels.

84

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Purchasing seed corn in the ear offers the farmer the surest and
safest way to secure seed which will prove satisfactory. When the corn
is in the ear the farmer can see just what he has. If, after a critical
examination, he is confident that the corn is unsatisfactory he can reject
it and return it at once. This plan will enable him to secure corn from
another source or use his own seed which in fact may be superior to that
which has been shipped to him. He will not lose a year in discovering
that he has an undesirable type of corn as the kind of ears from which
the seed is taken will determine the kind of ears that will be reproduced.

Corn in the ear also is the surest protection of the farmer against
the unscrupulous practices of some of our seedsmen. The seedsman can-
not improve the corn by shelling it so there is no good excuse for him
to refuse to ship in the ear.

IMPORTANCE OF UNIFORMITY IN SIZE AND SHAPE OF KERNELS.

Of far-reaching importance is the value of a uniform stand of corn
as without a good stand we cannot hope for the best results. During the
past season the Agronomy Department of the Iowa Agricultural College
gathered considerable data concerning the number of missing and barren
stalks with the idea of finding, if possible, the cause of the low yield of
about thirty-two bushels per acre for a period of years.

Upwards of 1,000 requests were sent out to farmers in different parts
of the state asking them to count one hundred hills several places in their
cornfields and determine accurately the per cent of missing hills and
barren stalks.

The results of these counts show an average of 5.6 per cent of miss-
ing hills, which means over 1-20 producing absolutely nothing. Of the
278.59 stalks in the one hundred hills, 7 per cent were barren, yielding
fodder, but no grain. These counts do not take into account the still
greater number of hills which contain but one stalk, and as a consequence
are producing less than one-half of what they should produce.

When we remember that nine and one-half millions of acres are
devoted to the raising of corn in Iowa we can appreciate the serious loss
that such irregularity causes.

, Illustration No. 1.

Regular kernels. Irregular kernels. Regular. Irregular.

I. II. I. II.

Ears. C Kernels.

ffffftftM .

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II.

85

C. —Shows good and bad forms of kernels. The pairs of kernels 1, 2, 11 and 12 show the
best forms in the order named, while Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the poorest forms in the
order named. Pair No. 1 are the best, since they are full and plump at the tips next to
the cob and have large germs. Both of these points are important as they indicate strong
vitality and feeding value. On the other hand, pairs Nos. 5, 6 and 7 are especially weak,
with low feeding value and small per cent of corn to cob.

It will also be observed that these kernels are far from uniform in size and shape (com-
pare with No. 4, and Nos. 2 and 6) and hence no planter will drop an even number per
hill. (See table of tests. ) When we renlize that all of these kernels were taken from ears
that appeared to be good ears, when examined from the standpoint of the ear alone, we
can readily appreciate the importance of paying more attention to the study of the kernels
of corn in our seed ears.

4 3 2 1

P. —In selecting seed corn ears 2 and 3 should be discarded as no planter will drop a

uniform number of these kernels per hill.

Ears 1 and 4 have kernels of uniform size and shape, and when the butts and tips were

shelled off the planter dropped three kernels to a hill 93 to 95 times out of every hundred

tests while ear No. 3 tested 74-3's. 19-2's. 6-1's and 1-4's.

In the above illustrations C and P we see a condition which often exists
in corn that has been selected for planting. Ear Number One shows rows
that are straight with kernels that are uniform in size, and if we set our
planter to drop any definite number of these kernels we can be sure the
rate of dropping will be regular. Ear Number Two, though it is well
filled with kernels and so far as feeding purposes are concerned would
be very satisfactory, yet when we consider the size and shape of the ker-
nels in relation to our planter we see the utter impossibility of getting
the corn at all regularly.

86

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

The corn grower can do much to hetter this condition of affairs by
carefully picking over his corn until all the ears show kernels of uniform
size and shape. A careful study of the conditions which tends to an
uneven stand reveals that the cause is due largely to the lack of uni-
formity in the size and shape of the seed planted.

Large.
I.

Illustration No. II.

Ears with kernels that are
Small. Deep.

II. III.

Shallow.
IV.

3 2 1

B. — The kernels on earn No. 1 are nearly the same depth from tip to butt, while the
kernels on ear No. 2 grow rapidly shorter towards the tip. The kernels on ear No. 3 are
small, shallow and flinty, little larger than grains of pop corn and will run through the
planter about like wheat. When these three ears were shelled together and tested in the
planter there was a range of all the way from two to seven kernels per hill.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 87

Q

5 4 3 2 1

Q. —Ears Nos. 5 and 2 illustrate ears of corn with good stron g kernels of medium depth.

Bars Nos. 1 and 3 illustrate very shallow kernels, and if the kernels from these four ears

are mixed, it is impossible to get them planted evenly.

Ear No. 4 shows space at the cob which indicates weak vitality, low percentage of corn

to cob and low feeding value, the valuable portion of the kernel not being filled out.

When examined externally these ears all appeared equally good, and chis shows the

importance of removing several kernels when selecting seed corn.

Illustration No. 2, B and Q, shows another feature which tends very-
much to an uneven stand. In each ear the rows are straight and the kernels
of uniform size. However, when the grains from these two ears are placed
in the planter box together, the possibility of getting a uniform drop is all
removed. The same difficulty will be experienced when we attempt to
plant ears of shallow grains with those having deep grains. To secure the
best results ears should be selected that have kernels of uniform size and
shape. By discarding the butt and tip kernels much of the trouble caused
by lack of uniform size will be removed, the kernels on these parts being
of various shapes and sizes.

SEED CORN SHOULD BE TESTED.

In order to secure a good stand and vigorous growth it is essential
that the seed should be of strong vitality. Therefore all seed corn should
be thoroughly tested.

Cigar Box and folder.
One of the simplest methods of testing seed corn and one which
requires very little attention is shown in illustration No. HI. Moisten

88

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

some ordinary newspaper or cloth and fold it as shown in the folder
above. Use several thicknesses, so that considerable moisture will be
held; care being taken to soak the paper thoroughly. Then place the ker-
nels to be tested on the folder and fold the sides down. It is advisable
that duplicate tests be made by using several folders. Place some mois-
tened paper in the bottom of the box, also a few thicknesses on top, so
that sufficient moisture will be insured. Then tie the lid down, so as to
prevent evaporation. Set the box in an ordinary living room and the heat
will be sufficient for germination. If 94 per cent of the kernels send out
strong sprouts within four or five days the corn will be safe for planting.
Increasing the number of kernels to the hill does not compensate for low
vitality. There may be a good many kernels germinate which when
planted with those of strong vitality will send up a stalk which acts as a
weed in occupying room and using plant food and moisture. Therefore in
making a germination test we should note the evenness with which all
kernels germinate.

Illustration No. III.

1 2

Illustrates one of the most convenient methods of testing the vitality of seed corn.

Figure No. 1 shows the box in which are placed three folders containing samples ot
corn to be tested. , , , , . . , , ,

Figure No. 2 shows a folder ready to put in box after the edges have been folded down
over the corn. Any box will answer the purpose, although the cigar box represented in
the cut, or a wooden one like it, is preferable.

The folders should be thoroughly moistened before placing the corn in them. Fut tour
or five thicknesses of moistened paper in the bottom of the box and as many more over trie
samples to prevent drying out. Then shut the cover and wrap string around the box to
hold the cover down to prevent the corn from drying out, and set away in the sitting room
or some place where the temperature does not fall below 55 degrees. The best tolders are
made by taking Ave or six thicknesses of newspaper and cutting in strips about hve or ten
inches and folding as shown in the cut. The only precaution necessary is to be sure
that the folders are thoroughly moistened before the corn is placed in them tor testing.
In two or three days it will be well to examine the corn and if the folders are getting dry,
they should be moistened by sprinkling water over them in the box. At the end ot rive
days, the samples should be taken out and examined carefully. Everv kernel that has
not at this time sent out vigorous root and stem sprouts should be counted unfit tor seed.
The corn ought to test not less than 94 per cent to 95 per cent. This method has the
advantage of requiring very little attention and makes it possible to see whether tne
kernels are making a uniform and vigorous germination, which is very important.
Kernels which make a slow, feeble germination are not fit to plant.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 0»

SORTING SEED CORN.

Seed being an important factor in determining the yield of the crop,
care ought to be exercised in its selection and preparation. The method
of selecting and preparing corn for planting may be outlined as follows:

Make a preliminary test of the vitality of the corn from which the
seed is to be selected. This can best be done by selecting from the pile
say fifty to one hundred ears and removing two or three kernels from
each ear and testing them. If the germination test shows 94 per cent or
above the seed will be in good condition. This point determined, the corn
should be selected with regard to getting a uniform stand. Place the
ears in a row where the light is good and. carrying in the hand two ears
which represent most nearly the desired type and possess the desirable
qualities, remove all those ears which show objectionable features in the
general appearance. They may be too short or too long, the butts and tips
may not be covered, kernels may be too wide or too narrow, to thick or
loo thin, blocky, irregular in size or mixed.

From the remaining twenty-five or thirty ears remove two kernels
from each and place them germ side up in front of the ear, so that they

4 3 2 1

Showing different types of corn. In selecting seed corn, it is important that all
the ears be as nearly as possible of the same type. Ears Nos. 3 and 4 are very good ones,
but they should not'be planted with No-<. 1 and 2 as they are fifteen days 'ater in maturing
than the latter. In order o secure the best pollenization ic is import nit that all the stalks
should shoot and silk at about the same time. The very early and very late stalks are
usually barren or partly so, owing to lack of pollen at these times. It is also difficult to
secu e an even stand with corn of different ty e», as thekerneis are almost certain to be
of different types and shapes, making it impossible for a planter to drop them evenly.
7

90

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

can be easily seen. We are now in a position to examine the ears more
critically. All ears with very large or small kernels should be thrown
out, no matter how perfect they are in other respects. The same is true
of all ears with very short or long narrow grains and the irregular butt
and tip kernels should be shelled off. It is also essential that we look
for kernels of a good shape and with large germs which are neither col-
ored, stained or wrinkled, kernels that are free from chaff and of good
color.

Pairs of kernels numbers 1, 2, 5 and 6 show good, deep, well-filled germs, thu«
indicating strong vitality and good feeding value. Numbers 3, 4 and 7 show short germs
and this indicates weak vitality and low feeding value. No. 8 shows wrinkled germs
indicating immaturity and weakened vitality. No. 13 shows chaff adhering indicating lack
of maturity. No. 12 shows broken outer covering and undesirable state of the cuticle.
No. 10 shows darkened end and is generally unhealthy, and of low vitality. No. 9 shows
good backs of kernels.

The color and size of the cob should be noted: A white cob in white
corn and a red cob in yellow corn. A small cob is desirable, as it is usual-
ly associated with a deep kernel and it also contains less moisture, and
so long as moisture is in the cob it will be impossible to dry the kernel
sufficiently to prevent harm from frost.

The ears finally chosen should have kernels of uniform size and
shape; the kernels to taper slightly, but be well filled down at the tip.

Then each ear should be shelled by itself, so that it can be exam-
ined more closely before it goes in with the rest of the corn. Place the
kernels on a screen or seive and by hand picking sort out all irregular,
broken or injured kernels and those with stained, discolored or wrin-
kled kernels. After this process the corn is ready to be introduced to the
planter. Set the planter up on blocks in some conveient place and with
the corn in the planter box turn the wheel at about the rate it would

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II.

91

move when planting. About a peck of the corn should be taken at a time
and the test should be to get a regular number of kernels for each drop

MW!!!»fimS

*Sfc ** *4 &

ao i* »« »■

i*. ** *+ m & * 4» m * : m

17 t5

Cross-sections of kernels showing depth of germ and the white floury or starchy-
portion lying just below the germ. The kernels in the lower row have better germs than
those in the upper row. Nos. 17. 15. 13 and 11 are among the best, while Nos. 2, 14 and 18
are among the poorest because they have very shallow germs and are low in feeding value.
The white, starchy appearing material lying just below the germ has the very lowest
feeding value of any part of the kernel. Nos. 17, 15 and 11 show a very small amount of
this material, while Nos. 1, 2, 12 and 19 show a great deal and should be discarded for
seedpurposes.

The upper row (Nos 21-37) show the depth of the germ when the kernels are split
into lengthwise through the middle of the germ. Nos. 21, 24, 27, 28, 29, 33 and 35 show
very deep germs and are from ears rich in protein and oil. No. 35 being from the ear
richest in protein of 2,000 tests, while Nos. 22, 23, 36 and 37 are from ears very poor in
feeding value it will also be noticed that the germs are very small.

Note. — Chemical analysis shows that the per cent of ail and protein is
higher in the germ than in any other part of the kernel. Thus we can
see the importance of a deep kernel and a broad, deep, well filled germ.

of the planter. If the corn is uniform the planter should give the desired
number of kernels at each drop. If the number of kernels dropped is ir-
regular this corn should be resorted to remove irregular or discarded
kernels.

There is no one thing that would do more to increase the yield of
corn on every farm, in Iowa than the careful selecting and sorting of the
seed both in the ear and after it is shelled, and then stay with it until
the planter will drop the desired number of kernels at least ninety times
out of 100 tests. It may be necessary to have the plates of the planter
drilled or get new ones or take more care in sorting out the large, small
and irregular kernels. The main thing is to stay with it until the work Is
satisfactory.

The preparation of the seed corn and testing of the planter should be
done during the latter part of February and the forepart of March. If
this important work is put off until April or May it is very likely
neglected, as is too often the case. This is simply a matter of good busi-
ness management and no one can afford to neglect it.

After the corn has been sorted, shelled and thoroughly tested in the
planter it should be put in sacks (about a bushel in each sack) and hung

92

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

up in a dry place in the loft or where there is a thorough circulation of
air and where it will be free from mice.

4 3 2 1

The kernels on ear No. 1 are too thin and those on ear No. 4 are too narrow, while

those on ears Nos. 2 and 3 are too broad and thick. Ears of this kind should be discarded

for seed purposes, as no planter can be set to drop the kernels evenly. The planter tests

with this corn showed a variation in the dropping all the way from 1 to 6 kernels per hill.

About the twentieth of April a thorough germination test should be
made. There are many methods of doing this and any of them will be
satisfactory. The important thing is not to fail to make the test. About
100 kernels should be taken from each sack by running the hand down
into the corn so as to get a fair average sample.

May we all exercise the utmost care in selecting the seed for this
year's crop, give it the best cultivation we can and hopefully look for-
ward to an increased yield and a corresponding improvement in the qual-
ity of the corn harvested.

Chairman : We have with us Professor Macbride of the State
University, President of the Iowa Park and Forestry Association.

Professor Macbride : Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen : I am
very glad to appear before you, if just for a moment. I became so
much interested in what you were discussing that I almost forgot

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II.

93

Kernels showing large and small germs, taken from different ears of corn. The
left hand kernels in all pairs come from ears with low feeding value and should be dis-
carded for seed pur noses, while the right hand kernels with large germs come from ears
with higher per cent of oil and protein.

what I came in here to say. I do not see that you could do any-
thing better than to keep up this discussion. However, I came in
here delegated to bring you greeting from the latest ally you have
in the culture of this magnificent state. The latest organization
which comes to your assistance to do, as I trust, the same sort of
work that you are trying to do, is the Iowa Park and Forestry
Association. There would not seem to be much need to say any-
thing to the farmers of Iowa in regard to either parks or forestry,
especially as these farmers are represented here this afternoon;
and for this reason ; the men who have made Iowa one magnificent
park from one side of it to the other, and from river to river, are
men who are naturally interested in all that I and my colleagues
have sought to promote ; and I believe, and I have found it true,
that the men who are furthering the ordinary processes of agri-
culture (who are striving for improved culture of the field), in the
state of Iowa are by no means backward in finding out the wav
to make their homes more beautiful and their lawns more beauti-
ful, and how to find the best trees for planting about their grounds
and premises. Indeed, I have found in every community that the
man giving the most attention to the field and what he raises there
is the man who is most interested in those things that make for

94

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

beauty and the permanent happiness of our people. We consider
that forestry and park improvement go hand in hand with scien-
tific farming ; that forestry is in its way the highest and best kind
and type of agriculture, and we believe that in this agitation we
are helping you ; and we believe that you will help us a great deal,
and I am here to say that you are cordially invited to come out,
each and every one of you, and become each a member of the
Iowa Park and Forestry Association, and so help more and more
to make this one of the finest lands not only on this old planet,
but in all the fields of time.

Gentlemen, I thank you.

(Meeting here adjourned.)

Jersy Bull Silverine Coomassie, owned by J. E. Bobbins, Grcenburg, Indiana, and
shown at the Iowa Stat.' Fair, 1902.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 95

STATE AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION AT DES
MOINES, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1902.

The convention convened in the rooms of the Department of
Agriculture in the capitol, at H> o'clock on this day, with Presi-
dent Frasier in the chair.

The first order of business was the appointment of a committee
on credentials. The president appointed the following committee
on credentials: John Ledgerwood of Decatur county, J. I. Nichols
of Muscatine county and B. L. Alanwell of Black Hawk county.

Vice-President Morrow was called to the chair and President
Frasier delivered the following address:

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

J. C. Frasier, Bloomfield, Ioiva.

We have assembled here today to report what we have done since our
last annual meeting, and to elect officers for the ensuing year. I am glad
to be able to report that the financial condition of the Iowa department
of agriculture is good. The expenditures on the State Fair Grounds for
the year 1902 were large, in round numbers about $27,000 in addition to
the $37,000 appropriated by the legislature for the building of the live
stock pavilion. Forty-five thousand dollars was the total cost of this build-
ing, and while it is a large amount of money, I think it is worth many
times its cost to the live stock interests of the state. And it is a build-
ing that every citizen of our state may justly be proud of. I think this
convention should extend a vote of thanks to the Twenty-eighth General
Assembly for its liberality in voting an appropriation of $37,000 for the
erection of this building.

Two new cattle barns were built, one with stalls for 108 head of
cattle, costing $3,281.76, and the other was built the first three days of
the fair costing $G31.17. A new dry air closet costing $3,775 was erected
and brick sidewalks, crossings and curbings at a cost of $2,171.82 were
also built. The secretary in his report will give you a full and complete
statement of the cost of all improvements and repairs for the year.

The fair of 1902 was a success in every respect. The exhibits in all
departments were good. The cattle show was the best ever seen at any
state fair and for the first time in the history of the society the people
could see the exhibit with comfort.

96 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

While it rained Monday, and looked gloomy enough Tuesday fore-
noon to give us all the blues, the gate receipts for those two days were
good; but Wednesday was a record breaker and more money was taken
in on that day than on any other day in the previous history of the society.

The attractions were furnished by Paine of New York and Chicago,
both for afternoon and evening, and were a success, proving that nlight
attractions will pay if you get the proper kind. No doubt the attendance
at night would have been much larger had our transportation facilities
been greater. However, the street car company did the best they could
to handle the immense crowd, but it was a physical impossibility to get
the people home before twelve o'clock on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Some improvements will no doubt be made during the year 1903 and
perhaps it is not necessary for me to suggest what should be done as
the board of directors know as well as I do what is needed. But if I
may be allowed to make some suggestions, I would say continue the
walks begun this year and build a brick b aiding for the electric light
plant. North of the street, running norUi of the live stock pavilion,
where the electric light plant now stands the plant is surrounded by
wooden buildings and in case of fire in that part of the grounds, this
valuable plant would very likely be destroyed and no means left for light-
ing the grounds. I think the time has arrived when the Iowa State Fair
should exclude all side shows from the grounds. The only excuse that
ever could have been made for them was the need of the revenue received,
but that is no longer an excuse.

In severing my connection with the department, I wish to thank you
for the honors conferred upon me, and to the members of the board I
owe a debt of gratitude for the many courtesies and favors shown me.
I shall always look back with pleasure to the many hours that I have
labored with you.

Wishing each one a happy and prosperous life, and to the depart-
ment success, I again thank you.

Secretary Simpson read his report as follows:
SECRETARY'S REPORT.

J. C. Simpson, Des Moines, Iowa.
Following the last annual convention and meeting of the State Board
of; Agriculture, at which meeting I had the honor of being elected sec-
retary, the first work to be given our .attention was the collecting and
editing of material for the second annual "Year Book." Desiring to have
the copy in the hands of the state printer before the usual legislative
rush, this was found to be no small task. The first copy was delivered
to the printer January first. Very little typesetting had been done by
the time the legislature convened and work on the "Year Book" was
suspended, the printing to be done for the general assembly being given
preference over it. This is usually the case during the winter when the

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 97

legislature is in session. As this is an off year it is to be hoped that
the printing can be done and the book placed in your hands before corn
planting time. Although the copy was furnished promptly it was the
first day of May when we received the first books for distribution. They
should be out by the first of March, and this we hope to accomplish this
year.

In preparing the "Year Book" of 1901, a radical change was made
in the usual style, by dividing the copy into parts, placing each article
as nearly as possible under its proper head, and by thus grouping the
different subjects, hoping thereby to popularize it. From press and other
comments received we believe our efforts along this line met with some
favor. More than five hundred requests for the "Year Book'' after the
supply was exhausted, have been received.

The work of preparing the copy for the third annual "Year Book"'
is now under way, and it is our earnest desire to improve this over the
one of last year. It is the intention to use in this book several cuts
made from photographs of Iowa farm scenes, and animals shown at the
last state fair. Members of the state board and this convention are
requested to aid in this work by suggesting where pictures of model farm
scenes, improvements and live stock may be obtained. While I do not
intend offereing a premium for these pictures, I trust you will assist in
making the "Year Book" as attractive as possible by making suggestions
and assisting in collecting the views. A few good cuts will in no way
detract from its usefulness and my experience has been that a book is
read and studied much more if it is well illustrated.

fabmeb's institutes.

We expect to devote a number of pages in the forthcoming "Year
Book," to a report of the Farmers' Institutes. At the last session of
the legislature an amendment was passed to Section 3, Chapter
58, Acts of the Twenty-eighth General Assembly, giving to each
farmers' institute in the state a vote at the annual State Agricultural
Convention, provided such farmers' institute has been organized at least
one year, and has reported to the Secretary of Agriculture not later than
November first, through its president and secretary of executive commit-
tee, that an institute was held according to law, the date thereof, the
names and postoffice addresses of its officers. They are also to furnish
tue state secretary of agriculture with a copy of the program of each in-
stitute hereafter held and where addresses are read before such institute
one or more of these in written or printed form. No proxy given by any
delegate elected by a farmers' institute shall be recognized by said con-
vention. This we hope will bring the agricultural interests of the state
more closely together, and to insure a larger gathering at the annual
State Farmers' Institute and Agricultural Convention.

We have prepared a blank which we ask the secretary of each farmers'
institute to fill out, giving the county in which an institute is held; topics
discussed; place of holding last meeting; place and date of holding next
meeting; names of officers, etc. This is the only way a complete record

98 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

of every institute in Iowa can be secured. This information is to enable
us to answer innumerable questions relative to the date, location and pro-
gram which are almost daily called for. The co-operation of the officers
of each institute will greatly facilitate this work, and will be appreciated
by this office.

CROP SEASON.

The past season has been quite a contrast to that of 1901; however,
we believe the object lessons taught our agricultural people by these ex-
tremes, will fully compensate them for any decreased yield of farm prod-
ucts. It is our intention to ask some of the leading farmers over the
state to contribute a paper for the "Year Book" on "A dry vs. a wet season
from the standpoint of the farmer." This will bring out some very inter-
seting discussions that should be of much value, in the future, under
similar conditions. The crop report for 1902, compiled by the Iowa
Weather and Crop Service will be published in the "Year Book" in full.

THE SILO.

Considerable space has been given to the discussion of the silo by
the agricultural press of the past few months, which would indicate that
farmers are seeking information on this subject. Several farmers of the
state who have used the silo, have been asked to contribute papers on the
silo for the "Year Book." There are men in Iowa who have been using
the silo for the past ten or fifteen years, who now say they hardly see how
they could get along without it. In the "Year Book" we will publish
an experiment conducted at the Illinois Station by Prof. Mumford, on
silage for the beef steer, in which he states that there are nine distinct
advantages in a system of silage feeding over that of shock corn in win-
tering calves intended for beef production, as against three disadvantages.

ALFALFA FOB IOWA.

Alfalfa has never been raised in Iowa except in small tracts, and it
is a question whether the acreage can be materially increased. I notice
by the last report on crops from Nebraska, the tonnage of alfalfa in that
state this year is but little less than that of hay. If the acre age in Iowa
can be increased there is no question but what those who have soil on
which it can be grown will be greatly benefited. It is well known that
the soil of this state, as a whole, is not adapted to the growing of alfalfa,
but there may be hundreds of acres in Iowa that will produce as good a
crop as that of Nebraska. It has been grown successfully for a number
of years along the Missouri river bottoms in the western part of the
state. Several people from that part of the state have been asked to con-
tribute a paper for the "Year Book," and give the public the benefit of
their experience. The question of "Successful growing of alfalfa in
Iowa," is one that every farmer will have to solve for himself. It would
be well worth his time to experiment on a few acres, for there are few
crops that will bring the same returns acre for acre.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK PART II. 99

LIVE STOCK AND CORN JUDGING.

The short course of stock judging conducted by the college at Ames
the past two years, has proven so successful, that it is not now a ques-
tion of whether enough students can be enrolled from among the farmers
of the state to make it pay, but what to do with all those who wish to
attend. It would not be surprising if the enrollment for the course the
first two weeks in January would be from 600 to 700. Farmers who have
fed cattle all their lives have said, that they never really knew how to
judge them until after they had attended one of these short courses.

There will be a school of corn judging, and all those who contemplate
attending should select a dozen ears of their best corn and take with
them when they go in order to have the corn passed on by competent
judges. This will enable them to compare the corn grown at home with
that of others, and will in many cases show where improvement can be
made. Iowa grows 9.000,000 acres each year, and we are satisfied that
those who attend this school for two weeks will know more about corn. A
difference of five bushels per acre over the whole of Iowa would amount
to $20,000,000 a year, and this can be accomplished by being better able to
select the right kind of seed corn. Professor Holden who will have
charge of this work is without doubt the most eminent corn specialist
in the world.

The amount of money expended in attending these courses will prove
one of the best investments of a life time. The actual expense including
railroad fare, board and everything else will be less than $25.00.

IMPROVEMENTS FOR 1902.

After the last annual meeting several members of the board were dis-
cussing the improvements to be made on the fair grounds. Each had his
idea of the improvements that were the most necessary, but were all of
one opinion in stating that the time had arrived when the state should
make appropriations for permanent improvements on the fair grounds.
The management had long felt the need of a stock pavilion. This was
brought before the board at their January meeting, and by a unanimous
vote it was decided to ask the legislature for an appropriation of
$37,000,000 to erect a suitable building. The bill met with a cold recep-
tion at the hands of some of the members at first, but after investigation
they were convinced that the state was badly in need of such a building
on the fair grounds. We are pleased to state that it passed the house by
a unanimous vote. It met with some opposition in the senate, but when
put upon its final passage there were but two votes against it.

It was the fifth day of May when the board met to open the bids and
award the contracts for the erection of this building. When the bids
were opened it was found that the cost would be from seven to eight
thousand, dollars more than the appropriation. Regardless of this, by a
unanimous vote of the board it was decided to award contracts, and
draw on the funds of the department to meet the deficit. The building
was erected in less than four months, and was ready long before the

100 IOWA DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE.

opening day of the fair. Many favorable comments on the building were
made by the exhibitors and visitors at the fair, as well as by the ex-
hibitors at the horse show which was held in the building two weeks
after the fair.

The judging of cattle and horses was carried on in this building, be-
ginning at nine o'clock Tuesday morning, and ending with the last class
on Friday afternoon. The contrast was most marked by the old-timer,
who weary of pushing, struggling and standing around the ring, witnessing
the contests of a few years ago, now settled himself comfortably under
the roof of the grand new stock pavilion, free from the scorching sun
and inclement weather. Not by word or thought did he censure the mem-
bers of the legislature for their action in providing a building for the
greatest industry in Iowa.

The program should be so arranged at the next fair, that the horses
and cattle will not be shown in the arena at the same time. It is dan-
gerous and accidents should be provided against before they occur. In
this respect we were very fortunate this year, much more so than at the
Illinois fair where a very serious accident might have occurred.

Prom eleven to one o'clock on Tuesday, August 26th, the building was
given over to the old soldiers who had prepared an excellent program.
Hon. A. B. Cummins and United States Senator J. P. Dolliver appeared
on the program at this gathering and entertained those present by short
addresses. The veterans should be given the standing invitation to con-
tinue this as a feature of the fair for Old Soldiers' Day.

The board had arranged to dedicate the building on Monday after-
noon at one o'clock, but owing to the disagreeable weather the cere-
monies were postponed until the same hour Wednesday. Governor Cum-
mins dedicated the building on behalf of the state and spoke at length
on the greatness of the state and its resources. He quoted some) inter-
esting figures showing that in the United States there is employed as
fixed capital in manufactures a little more than $5,000,000,000. while in
agriculture there is invested more than $20,000,000. This address as
well as that of Hon. W. F. Harriman, who accepted the building on behalf
of the State Board of Agriculture will be found printed in full in the
annual "Year Book."

DRY AIR CLOSETS.

The two dry air closets built on the grounds had proven to be satis-
factory in every respect, so the board deemed it advisable to erect a
third this year. The building cost $3,775, a slight increase over the cost
of the former. These dry air closets have solved the sewerage problem
for the grounds and is a great improvement over the old system.

STREETS.

Much work was done on the streets this year in the way of grading
and putting on cinders and gravel. Much difficulty was experienced in
doing this work properly, on account of the heavy rains which at times
washed away the gravel before it had time to settle. However, we were

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 101

able to materially improve them, and with a little work of this charac-
ter each year they can be put in excellent condition. There was an effort
made at one time, advocating the paving of the streets with brick, but
this after deliberation did not seem advisable. It would cost thousands
of dollars. This money could be better expended in permanent buildings,
which would be of much more benefit to the fair.

BABNS.

During the fair of 1901 a large tent had to be erected to make room
tor all the cattle we had on exhibition, so at the board meeting last
winter it was decided to put up a new barn. This action of the board
was carried out by the executive committee and a barn 120 by 160 feet
was erected. In this we put fifty-four large double stalls, which made
room for 108 head of cattle. The barn complete cost in round num-
bers. $3,200. With this additional space it was hoped to stable all the
cattle that would be on exhibition. In this we were agreeably disap-
pointed, and at the last minute another barn had to be erected to make
room for all that were coming. This barn was very hastily put up in one
day, but since the fair it has been rebuilt and is first class in every re-
spect. This gives us thirteen barns for use in the cattle department, but
if the entries keep on increasing, it will not be long before the board
will be forced to build new ones.

The department purchased the Iowa Producers' Building in the fall
of 1901. This building was repaired and turned over to the superinten-
dent of the machinery department. He now informs me that it is hard to
rent space in the building on account of its location and recommends that
it be moved to a location more accessible to the public.

About the time of the purchase of the above mentioned building, a
deal was made whereby the department came into possession of the build-
ing formerly owned by the Burlington Railway Company. This was
fitted up as an office for the secretary and treasurer. The old secretary's
and treasurer's office was remodeled to be used for police headquarters.
Comfortable bunks were put in, and while it does not have the appear-
ance of a Pullman sleeper in the interior it answers the purpose quite
as well.

The dwelling on the grounds occupied by the superintendent was in
a very bad state of repairs and was rebuilt this season.

The poles supporting the wires of the electric light plant were many
of them rotten and it was practically necessary to rebuild the line. Some
of the wires and lamps had to be replaced. In addition to this we pur-
chased a dozen arc lamps for use in lighting the stock pavilion.

About three-quarters of a mile of brick sidewalk was laid. I think
the public fully appreciated this on the first day of the fair, when we
had one of the hardest rains of the season. This walk we slushed with
cement filling up the cracks which makes it as solid as a pavement.

102 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

FAIB OF 1902.

The Iowa State Fair for 1902 was the greatest the state has ever
seen. It was not only the best fair ever held in Iowa, but the greatest
ever held in the West. The receipts were larger than ever before received
at an Iowa fair. The total aggregate amounts to nearly $63,000. On
Wednesday during the fair of 1896, the day's receipts amounted to a
little over $19,000, which was the largest ever received in one day up to
the present year. On Wednesday of the fair this year the receipts were
over $21,000, As stated before the total receipts for the fair, in round
numbers, were $63,000, and the total premiums and expenses were $43,000.
This you will see leaves us a balance of $20,000 from the fair of 1902.

On Monday the prospects for a good attendance looked gloomy. The
rain began early in the morning and continued all day long until late in
the evening. One would have thought by studying the faces of the mem-
bers of the board on this day, that they were all preparing to attend the
funeral of very dear friends. In estimating the success or failure of the
state fair, no matter what the number of entries or quality of exhibits
may be, it is judged by the cash to be found in the treasurer's office. Tf
one had examined the books in his office after the first day, it would not
have taken long to have seen, that another day or two of the rain, would
have made a dismal failure of the Iowa State Fair for 1902 from a finan
cial standpoint, and this in the eyes of the public in general would have
been sufficient.

On Tuesday morning, however, the skies cleared and the remainder
of the week was ideal weather. The race track had been left in a fright-
ful condition and it was late on Tuesday afternoon before we were able
to start any races, and even on Wednesday the track was so soft that a
great many horsemen refused to start their horses. We had received a
very large list of entries, more than ever before, and the condition of the
track interfered with what would have otherwise been the best race pro-
gram ever seen on the Iowa State Fair grounds.

The horse exhibit at the fair showed improvement over last year,
but was not up to what it should have been, especially in the draft classes.
The superintendent informs me that he conversed with many of the large
horse breeders during the fair, and they assured him they would make
an exhibit another year, since we have the stock pavilion in which to
show their horses. The large increase in the number of entries at the
Illinois state fair this year was largely due to the stock pavilion, so I
was informed by their superintendent of horses. We hope as much for
our horse department another year.

Never before in the history of the Iowa State Fair has so great a
lot of cattle been gathered together as at the 1902 exhibition. It was the
strongest in numbers and best in quality ever witnessed in the show
ring. Over 800 head of cattle were on the grounds, and this certainly
demonstrates Iowa's rank as the first cattle state of the union. The
exhibitors were generally satisfied with the awards.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 103

Iowa leads the world in its swine exhibit. This year the number of
entries were over 900, and the number of hogs on the grounds being
something over 1,700. I believe I am safe in saying that at least 70
per cent of the hogs shown at our fair, change hands before being taken
from the grounds. One exhibitor this year informed me that he received
over $800 for the thirty-two he brought to the fair.

The sheep exhibit was rather light but of good quality. The number
of entries were as large as could be expected from a state that raises as
few sheep as Iowa. However, I should state that the exhibit consisted
of some of the best flocks in America, from the states of New York, Mich-
igan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa.

The machinery display excelled all past exhibitions of this kind,
and if there was one feature of the fair that more than another indicated
the great prosperity that the state is enjoying, it was this department.
It is one of the great educational features of the fair. Implement dealers,
farmers and live stock men spent many hours in this department and
the exhibitors all seemed pleased with the interest shown in their exhibits.
The space set aside for the department presented a far different appear-
ance from that of a few years ago, when many of the large manufactur-
ing concerns signed an agreement not to exhibit at state fairs.

The exhibits in the agriculural, horticultural, dairy and art depart-
ments were up to the usual standards. While the showing of corn was
not as good as it would have been had the season been less backward, it
was much better than was looked for a few weeks before the fair. The
county exhibits were especially good this year, and the display of fruits
in the horticultural building has seldom been excelled.

The poultry exhibit of the fair this year was the largest ever shown
and attracted more attention than in previous years.

CHANGES IN PREMIUM LIST FOR 1903.

I wish to call the attention of the members of the state board to a
few changes in the premium list which I would recommend for another
year. Several years ago a 10 per cent entry fee was enacted for all en-
tries made. This worked a hardship on many exhibitors, some of them
paying as much as fifty or sixty dollars in entry fees and receiving no
premiums. This rule was changed later on and instead of charging the
fee on each entry made, the ten per cent was deducted from all premiums
awarded, thus eliminating the entrance fee from those not receiving
premiums. Having conversed with many of the exhibitors this year, be-
fore and since holding our fair, at the Illinois State Fair and the Inter-
national Live Stock Show, I find them almost a unit in condemning our
rule which takes from them 10 per cent of their premiums. So far as
I have been able to learn, from an examination of the premium lists of
other state fairs, the Iowa fair is the only one that now exacts this ten
per cent, and I now believe that for the best interests of our fair in the
future this rule should be abolished.

Another matter that should be given careful consideration by cur
state board, is the advisability of issuing a catalogue of the cattle and

104 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

horse exhibit. The only criticism that was made on our stock exhibit
this year was the absence of a catalogue that would enable the people
occupying seats in the pavilion to identify the animals shown. The press
has been unanimous in expressing their opinion that a catalogue should
be issued for our next fair. I am well aware that the efforts along thi?
line in previous years were not successful, for the reason that it was rery
difficult to get the exhibitors to send in their pedigrees. I believe they
now realize that the best results cannot be obtained without a catalogue.
It is true we would be compelled to close the entries in these departments
at least two weeks before the opening day of the fair, and this would
probably shut out some exhibitors the first year, but the benefit the public
would derive from the use of the catalogue would more than make up
for the loss thus sustained. If a catalogue is to be issued a pair of scales
are needed to weigh the stock and have their weight marked on the cards
tacked on the stalls and used by the attendants in the show ring.

IMPROVEMENTS FOR 1902.

There are a number of improvements that should be made on the
fair grounds; far more than the finances of the department will permit.
The new board will have a surplus of $30,000 at their disposal. It would
be unwise to reduce the surplus below $12,000, which amount should be
set aside so as to be able to meet any emergency which may arise. A
large sum of money is necessary each year in 'keeping the old frame
buildings in repair. Most of these buildings have been on the grounds for
more than sixteen years, and many are now in a very bad state of repairs.
After this it can be readily seen that the board will not have a very large
sum to be expended in the erection of permanent buildings. Cold water
paint used judiciously on some of the buildings would add greatly to their
appearance especially on the sheep and swine barns and the fence around
the race track. Then put a few ornamental bridges across the creek in
place of the old ones.

The sidewalk should be extended and more crossings put in, so that
in case of rain such as was experienced this year, it would be possible
for the people to visit the grounds without wading in mud to their shoe-
tops. A few hundred feet of sidewalk laid each year would soon put the
grounds in such a condition that it would be a pleasure to visit the
grounds on a rainy day.

Trees would add greatly to the comfort of the exhibitors, and visitors
on the main part of the ground, and a number should be planted each
year.

The hog and sheep men have long wished for suitable buildings in
which to judge their animals, and I believe this should be among the
first of the improvements to have consideration from the board. The
exhibit that the hog men have made the past few years certainly entitles
them to a better place to show their hogs than we now have. The same
can be said of the sheep exhibit. While not so large in numbers as the
hogs, nevertheless the quality has been good, and we should encourage
a larger exhibit by giving them a building in which to show their sheep

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 105

and a place where the public can be comfortable while watching the judge
tying the ribbons. A smaller building would answer the purpose in this
department.

COUNTY AND DISTEICT FAIKS.

This has been a remarkable year for the county and district fairs
of the state. I believe that I am safe in stating that at least half of the
fairs had to postpone their opening day on account of rain, or were
brought to a sudden close for the same reason. Strange to say, notwith-
standing the wet weather, the receipts from the seventy-nine fairs report-
ing this year were larger than from the eighty-two reporting in 1901. The
total amount of the premiums paid were about $5,000 less. We attribute
this to the rainy weather which prevented people from bringing in their
exhibits. Columbus Junction district fair of Louisa county still leads
in the largest amount paid in premiums, paying this year about $2,000
aside from speed. By studying the financial statement of the county and
district fairs published in the "Year Book," you will find invariably that
the fair having a good speed program pays more premiums in the other
departments.

LOUISIANA PUBCHASE EXPOSITION.

Preparations should be commenced at once for an exhibit at the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition to be held in St. Louis in 1904. Iowa is a
part of the territory purchased just one hundred years ago from France
and will be prominently identified in every way with this greatest of all
expositions. The general assembly has wisely appropriated $125,000 that
the state may be properly represented, and a commission of thirteen
members consisting of men prominent in state affairs have been appointed
by the governor. It is the intention of this commission to erect on the
ground at St. Louis in the location set apart and said by those who have
seen it to be most desirable of any assigned to states, a building to cost
about $50,000. This is to be the home of the Iowa people, and as Gov-
ernor Larrabee, president of the commission, says: the latch string will
always be out not only for Iowa people, but for the friends of Iowa as
well. The commission intends to make an exhibit in every line of the
state's industries and asks the State Department of Agriculture to take
preliminary steps toward aiding in this work. Agriculture has always
been a prominent feature in Iowa exhibits at the various expositions held
and the state department should excel herself in this coming meeting
at St. Louis. Few Iowa people have anything of an idea of the magni-
tude of the exposition to be held in St. Louis in 1904. St. Louis's world's
fair will be approximately twice as large as any former international
exposition. The Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia covered 236 acres,
the Paris Exposition of 1899-1900 336 acres, the Columbian Exposition
at Chicago, 633 acres, the Pan-American at Buffalo 350 acres.

THE ST. LOUIS WORLD'S FAIR WILL COVER 1,200 ACRES.

The construction cost of the Paris Exposition was $9,000,000; that
of the Columbian Exposition $18,322,000 and the total cost of the Pan-
American Exposition was $10,000,000.

106 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

The estimated cost of the St. Louis World's Fair will be $30,000,000.
This you know will mean $40,000,000 by the time the work is completed.

Before the exposition gates are open May 1, 1904, the city pf St. Louis
will have expended the enormous sum of $20,000,000. Of this amount
$5,000,000 was appropriated for the fair through the municipal assembly,
her citizens raised $5,000,000 additional by private subscription, and by
popular vote at a special election October 22d, the charter amendments
were carried, which will enable the city to expend $10,000,000 for street
paving and other public improvements.

The work in progress at St. Louis at this time, eighteen months prior
to the opening of the fair, shows it to be further along than did the
world's fair at Chicago twelve months prior to the opening. The Iowa
commissioners urge that immediate steps be taken by the state depart-
ment of agriculture so that the exhibits in the way of agricultural prod-
ucts may be planned for at the time of the spring planting.

I herewith submit as a supplementary report a statement of the finan-
cial condition of the department at the close of the fiscal years, Decem-
ber 1, 1902:

Money coming into my hands as secretary and paid to G. D. Eelly-
son, ^treasurer, as shown by his receipts:

Speed entries $2,762.50

Exhibitors' tickets 1,530.00

Insurance — loss and returned premiums 101.33

Booths in stock pavilion 520.00

Advertising in premium list 245.00

State appropriation for stock pavilion 37,000.00

State appropriation for insurance and repairs 1,000.00

Speed suspensions 111.50

Protest money forfeited 20.00

Railroad coupon tickets 3,804.50

Interest on deposit 1,040.33

Short-Horn Association, special premiums 625.00

$48,760.16
Secretary's Account with G. D. Eleyson, Treasurer.
Receipts. Credit. Debit.

To cash on hand December 1, 1901 $34,244.93

From W. C. Brown, Supt. Horse Department 487.00

From C. E. Cameron, Supt. Seed Depart nient 1,328.30

From S. B. Packard, Supt. Cattle Department 743.00

From W. M. McFadden, Supt. Swine Department.. 436.50
From Jno. Ledgerwood, Supt. Sheep & Poultry Dpts. 179.80

Prom W. W. Morrow, Supt. Machinery Dept 948.75

FromR. T. St. John, Supt. Agricultural Dept 132.00

From M. McDonald, Supt. Dairy Department 427.51

From M. J. Wragg, Supt. Horticultural Dept 37.50

From J. P. Manatrey, Supt. Art Department 1,131.10

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 107

Receipts. Credit. Debit.

From T. C. Legoe, Supt. of Gates 416.75

From J. W. Wadswortn, Supt. of Privileges 5,162.00

From John Cownie, Supt. Electric Lights 125.00

From J. C. Frasier 3.00

From Donald Hill, Chief of Police 12.75

From James H. Deemer, Supt. of Fair Grounds . . 1,375.40

From J. C. Simpson, Secretary 48,760.16

From Ticket Sales 42,415.25

Disbursements.

By expense warrants paid— 1901-1902 $ 86,206.54

By premium warrants paid— 1901-1902 21,787.91

By cash on hand, Decemiberl, 1902 30,372.25

$138,366.70 $138,366.70

Cash on hand December 1, 1902 $30,372.75

By outstanding warrants, Dec. 1, 1902.. 151.35

Total credit for Dept. Agriculture $30,220.90

Secretary's Account General Expenses 1902.

1901 bills paid $ 94.25

Finance committee 89.20

Board meetings 1,115.10

Superintendent fair grounds — salary 600.00

Printing 1,520.91

Fair ground expense 1,138.13

Ex-Secretary's salary 157,29

Improvements and repairs.

Repairs on Iowa building $ 96.00

Cattle barn No. 12 3,281.76

Cattle barn No. 13 631.17

Repairs and new roof on horticultural building 485.50

Dwelling house 1,397.71

Grading streets around stock pavilion, Iowa building,

etc., and hauling gravel, cinders, roller, grader, etc. 1,958.47

Electric lights 1,225.75

Sidewalk 2,071.82

Cement floors in stock pavilion not included in contract 185.10

Secretary's and treasurer's office 344.22

Police headquarters 156.00

Cattle sheds 115.59

Dry air closet 3,775.00

Swine pens 300.00

Improvements and repairs during fair • 507.40

Miscellaneous improvements and repairs 2,116.09 18,821.78

Express and telegrams 81.37

Silver cups, medals and engraving 185.41

Office supplies 84.83

10S IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Dues American Association Fairs and Expositions 25.00

Insurance 1,092.50

Postage 450.00

Special committee work 541.85

Stock pavilion ($7,635.34) 44.635.34

Advertising 1,662.53

Telephones 75.85

Executive committee 134.40

Paid out on collection from suspensions 228.80

Clerical work 407.75

American Trotting Association dues 75.00

Attractions 5,673.74

Admissions returned 58.00

Music 563.75

Decorations, etc . . 221.50

Auditing committee 52.20

Scavenger work 162.00

Police 1,102.25

Marshals 110.00

Horse department 252.35

Speed department 323.25

Cattle department 395.16

Swine department 199.85

Sheep and poultry departments 211.20

Machinery department 181.76

Agricultural department 339.45

Dairy department 361.14

Horticultural department 206.35

Gate department 629.50

Ticket department 177.76

Privilege department 201.70

Treasurer's department 534.80

Electric light department 274.80

President's department 75.30

Premiums 1902 '. . . 4.50

Agricultural meeting 1902 — Joint agent 11.00

$86,139.15
Report of Treasurer G. D. Ellyson :

Des Moines,, Iowa, December 8, 1902.
Report of receipts and disbursements of G. D. Ellyson, treas-
urer of the Iowa State Board of Agriculture, for the year 1902.

RECEIPTS.

Cash on hand December 1, 1901 $34,244.93

Gate receipts 30,942.75

Amphitheater receipts 3,789.75

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 109

Quarter-stretch receipts 3.25

Evening admission receipts 1,496.00

Evening amphitheater receipts 5,851.50

Railroad tickets receipts 3,804.50

Special tickets 332.00

Round up tickets 416.75

Superintendents privileges 5,162.00

Superintendents horticulture 37.50

Superintendents agriculture 132.00

Superintendents swine 436.50,

Superintendents sheep and poultry 179.80

Superintendents horses 487.00

Superintendents machinery 9,948.75

Superintendents electric light 125.00

Superintendents speed 1,328.30

Superintendents dairy 427.51

Superintendents fine arts 1,131.10

Superintendents grounds 750.40

Superintendents cattle 743.00

Secretary 7,540.33

State appropriation 37,000.00

President 3.00

Chief of police 12.75

Interest 1,040.33

$138,366.70

DISBURSEMENTS.

Expense warrants $86,206.54

Premium warrants 21,787.91

Balance 30,372.25

$138,366.70
Respectfully submitted,

G. D. Eixyson, Treasurer.

Des Moines, Iowa, December' 8, 1902.

To Whom it May Concern:

This is to certify that G. D. Ellyson, treasurer of the Iowa
State Board of Agriculture, had on deposit in this bank subject
to check at the close of business January 5, 1902, $30,372.25.

D. F. Wittek,

Vice-President.

Mr. A. H. Grissell of Guthrie county moved that the president
appoint a committee on address of the president and reports of
secretary and treasurer, which motion prevailed.

110 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

The president appointed on such committee, A. ED. Grissell of
Guthrie county, S. B. Packard of Marshall county and Jamies
jNTowak of Poweshiek county.

Mr. Grissell moved that the date for the Iowa State Fair of
1903 be August 21st to August 29th inclusive, which motion pre-
vailed.

Mr. St. John moved that the convention be now adjourned until
2 o'clock p. m., which motion prevailed.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Pursuant to adjournment the convention met at 2 o'clock p.
m., with President Frasier in the chair.

Meeting called to order and convention listened to the reading

of the report of the committee on credentials as follows :

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS.

Adair Agricultural Society — Walter Scholes.

Black Hawk County, La Porte District — B. L. Manwell.

Bremer County — E. M. Reeves.

Buena Vista County Agricultural Society — C. E. Cameron.

Cass County Agricultural Society — S. W. W. Straight.

Clark County— W. W. Williams.

Crawford County — J. I. Gibson.

Dallas County Agricultural Society — H. H. Crenshaw.

Davis County Agricultural Society — T. D. Doke.

Decatur County — C. W. Hoffman.

Delaware County Agricultural Society — L. G. Clute.

Floyd County— John R. Waller.

Franklin County Agricultural Society — T. W. Purcell.

Fremont County — I. W. Omer

Greene County — Mahlon Head.

Grundy County Agricultural Society' — E. A. Crary.

Guthrie County Agricultural Society — A. H. Grissell.

Hardin County Agricultural Society — Robert Smith.

Ida County— W. J. Scott.

Jackson County Agricultural Society — C. W. Phillips.

Jasper County Agricultural Society — C. W. Campbell.

Jefferson County Agricultural Society — E. R. Smith.

Keokuk County — What Cheer district — T. C. Legoe.

Kossuth County Agricultural Society — J. W. Wadsworth.

Lyon County — James Walpole.

Madison County Agricultural Society — T. J. Hudson.

Marion County — Lake Prairie district — Chas. Porter.

Monona County — H. L. Pike.

Monroe County — G. P. Cramer.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. Ill

Montgomery County Fair Association — G. M. Hull.

Muscatine County — Union district — J. I. Nichols.

Polk County— Chas. W. Britlen.

Poweshiek County — Malcom district — Jas. Nowak.

Poweshiek County — Grinnell district — J. E. Van Evera.

Scott County — George Metzgar.

Sioux County — Sioux Valley district — Emmet Brown.

Union County — W. W. Morrow.

Wapello County — Ben S. Benson.

Winneshiek County Agricultural Society — Thos. Graham.

Wright County Agricultural Society — W. C. Brown.

Improved Stock Breeders' Association — W. M. McFadden.

FARMERS' INSTITUTES.
Ida County — J. C. Preston.
Scott County — M. H Calderwood.
Audubon County — A. H. Edwards.
Calhoun County — Henry Parsons.
Jones County — W. C. Monroe.

John

Ledgerwood,

B.

L.

Manwell,

J.

I.

Nichols,

Committee.

J. I. Gibson moved the adoption of the report as read. Seconded
by Wadsworth and motion prevailed.

The report of the committee on the address of president ' and
reports of secretary and treasurer was read as follows:
To the President and Members of the Agricultural Convention:

We, your committee, to whom has been referred the reports of the
president and secretary of the Department of Agriculture, beg leave to
submit the following:

We heartily indorse the administration of the outgoing president,
J. C. Frasier, and congratulate the state that during his term of office
the affairs of the department have been attended to with unprecedented
success.

The thanks of the convention are due, and hereby are tendered to
him, as a faithful officer, for his zealous and efficient work. That during
the term of office held by the president, J. C. Frasier, important improve-
ments have been made at a large expenditure of money, which was under
his direct supervision, and we therefore commend him for the admirable
manner in which the plans of the department were carried into execution
and for the economical expenditure of the department's funds.

We fully indorse the idea of excluding all sideshows of an objec-
tionable nature, but there may be shows that are entirely unobjectionable,
that are not only entertaining, but instructive, and add to the attraction
the fair. We, therefore, suggest that the society use due discrimination
in the selection of these shows.

112 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

The secretary's report is a very comprehensive outline of the year's
business and contains many valuable suggestions which are highly com-
mended by your committee.

Your committee wish to commend the secretary for the admirable
executive ability he has displayed in carrying on the business of the
department the past year, and we also desire to commend him for the
promptness with which he completed the entry books of the fair, and
placed them in the hands of the judges of the different departments,
thereby hastening the business of the fair.

We also commend G. D. Ellyson, the treasurer, for the careful and
judicious handling of the funds of the society, and recommend that he be
accorded the thanks of the directors of the Iowa State Fair.

A. H. GRISELL,
S. B. PACKARD,
JAMES NOWAK.

Mr. T. C. Legoe moved that the report of the committee be
adopted, which motion prevailed.

Convention then proceeded to the election of officers.

Gov. S. B. Packard of Marshall county placed in nomination
for the office of president for the ensuing year, W. M. Morrow of
Union county, and moved that, if there were no other nominations,
the rules be suspended and the secretary instructed to cast the
unanimous vote of the convention for Mr. Morrow. This motion
prevailed and the secretary so cast the vote, and President Frasier
declared W. W. Morrow duly elected president of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture for the ensuing - year.

M. J. Wragg placed in nomination for the office of vice-presi-
dent C. E. Ckmeron of Buena Vista county, which motion was
seconded by W. J. Scott of Ida county.

Mr. Wragg moved that if there were no other nominations, the
rules be suspended and the secretary instructed to cast the full
vote of the convention for Mr. Cameron, which motion prevailed.
The secretary cast the vote and the president declared C. E. Cam-
eron duly elected vice-president of the Department of Agriculture
for the ensuing year.

George Metzgar of Scott county placed in nomination for direc-
tor from the Second district, C. W. Phillips of Jackson county,
to succeed himlself, and moved that the rules be suspended and
secretary instructed to cast the unanimous vote of the convention

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 113

for aLt. Phillips, which motion prevailed. The secretary cast
the vote and the president declared C. W. Phillips duly elected
director from the Second district for the ensuing two years.

John E. Waller of Floyd county nominated for director from
che Fourth district, R. T. St. John of Mitchell county, to succeed
himself. There being no other nominations the secretary was in-
structed to cast the unanimous vote of the convention for Mr. St.
John. The secretary so east the vote and the president declared
Mr. St. John duly elected director from the Fourth district for the
ensuing two years.

George P. Cramer of Monroe county, placed in nomination for
member of the State Board of Agriculture from the Sixth con-
gressional district, T. C. Legoe of Keokuk county to succeed him-
self. There being no other nominations, on motion of Mr. Cramer
the rules were suspended and the secretary instructed to cast the
vote of the convention for Mr. Legoe. The secretary so cast the
vote and the president declared Mr. Legoe duly elected a member
of the State Board of Agriculture from the Sixth district for the
ensuing two years.

C. W. Hoifman placed in nomination for member of the Staie
Board of Agriculture from the Eighth congressional district, John
Ledgerwood of Decatur county, to succeed himself. There being
no other candidates the rules were suspended and the secretary in-
structed to cast the full vote of the convention for Mr. Ledger-
wood. The secretary so cast the vote and the president declared
Mr. Ledgerwood duly elected a member of the State Board of
Agriculture from the Eighth congressional district for the ensu-
ing two years.

J. I. Gibson placed in nomination for a member from the Tenth
congressional district, J. W. Wadsworth to succeed himself and
moved that the rules be suspended and the secretary instructed to
cast the full vote of the convention for Mr. Wadsworth. The sec-
retary so cast the vote and the president declared Mr. Wadsworth
duly elected a member of the State Board of Agriculture from
the Tenth congressional district, for the ensuing two years.

■Mr. C. E. Cameron placed in nomination Mr. H. L. Pike of
Monona county for member of the State Board of Agriculture

114 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

from the Eleventh congressional district to fill the vacancy caused
bj the election of himself as vice-president. There being no other
nominations, on motion the rules were suspended and the secre-
tary instructed to cast the full vote of the convention for Mr.
Pike. The secretary so cast the vote and the president declared
Mr. Pike duly elected a member of the State Board of Agricul-
ture from the Eleventh congressional district for the ensuing year.
There being no further business, on motion of Mr. Ledgerwood
the convention was adjourned.

J. C. Simpson, Secretary.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II. 115

MEETING OF THE STATE BOAUD OF AGRICULTURE.

Thursday Morning, December 11, 1902.

Board met on call of president at 1) o'clock with President
Morrow in the chair.

Meeting called to order by the president and on roll call the
following members were found to be present: Dairy Commis-
sioner H. R. Wright, State Veterinarian P. O. Koto, President
W. W. Morrow, Vice-President C. E. Cameron, Secretary J. C.
Simpson, Treasurer G. D. Ellyson and the following named di-
rectors: J. P. Manatrey, C. W. Phillips, W. C. Brown, S. B.
Packard, T. C. Legoe, M. J. Wragg, John Ledgerwood, J. W.
Wadsworth and H. L. Pike. R. T. St. John came in a few
minutes later.

CI T. Jones, clerk of the supreme court, appeared before the
board and the following newly-elected members were sworn in :
W. W. Morrow, C. E. Cameron, John Ledgerwood, J. W. Wads-
worth and H. L. Pike.

R. T. St. John and C. W. Phillips appeared before the clerk
and were sworn in later.

The board then went into executive session and proceeded to
the election of a secretary.

J. W. Wadsworth moved that the secretary pro tern cast the
unanimous vote of the board for J. 0. Simpson for secretary and
that the salary be $1,500 per year, which motion prevailed. The
secretary pro tern cast the vote and the president declared J. C.
Simpson duly elected secretary for the ensuing year. [Mr. Simp-
son was called in, informed of his election and assumed the duties
of the office.

M. J. Wragg moved that C. S. Rlelyea be chosen assistant sec-
retary at a salary of $75.00 per month. Motion prevailed.

116 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Mr. C. E. Cameron placen in nomination for treasurer, G. D.
Ellyson to succeed himself and moved that the rules be suspended
and the secretary instructed to cast the unanimous vote of the
board for Mr. Ellyson. The secretary so cast the vote and the
president declared Mr. Ellyson duly elected treasurer of the State
Board of Agriculture for the ensuing year.

The minutes of the last session of the board were read and on
motion of S. B. Packard were approved. #

The board then proceeded to the election of a chief marshal.

M. J. Wragg presented the name of T. J. Hudson of Madison
county. Mr. McDonald presented the name of W. W. Williams
of Clark county and Mr. Manatrey presented the name of T.
D. Doke of Davis county.

Mr. Manatrey moved that we proceed to ballot and that the
first ballot be an informal one. This motion prevailed.

Result of informal ballot: Total number of votes cast fifteen,
of which Hudson received six, Williams two and Doke seven.

The first formal ballot was then taken with the following rei-
sult: Total number of votes cast sixteen, of which Mir. Doke
received nine, Hudson six and Williams one.

Mr. iDoke having received a majority of the votes cast was
declared elected marshal for the fair of 1903.

Mr. Ledgerwood moved that we proceed to the election of two
assistant marshals and that we vote for only one man at a time.

For the first ballot Mr. Hudson and Mr. Williams were placed
in nomination.

The result of the ballot was as follows : Total number of votes
cast sixteen, of which Mr. Hudson received fourteen and Mr.
Williams received two.

Mr. Hudson having received a majority of the votes cast was
declared elected to the position of assistant marshal for the fair
of 1903.

For the second ballot the following named gentlemen were
placed in nomination :

Mr. Ledgerwood presented the name of C. M. Akes of Decatur
county, Mr. Wadsworth presented the name of W. W. Williams

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 117

of Clark countv, Mr. Manatrey presented the name of Harry
Smith of Jefferson county.

The ballot resulted as follows: Total number of vote- east,
seventeen, of which Mr. Akes received thirteen, Mr. Williams
three and Mr. Smith one.

Mr. Akes having received a majority of the votes cast was de-
clared elected assistant marshal for the fair of 1903.

For the office of chief of police, Mr. McDonald placed in nom-
niation Donald Hill of Buena Vista county. On motion of Mr.
Brown the rules were suspended and the secretary instructed to
cast the full vote of the board for Mr. Hill. The secretary so
cast the vote and the president declared Mr. Hill elected to the
office of chief of police for the fair of 1903.

Mr. Cameron placed in nomination for superintendent of
grounds Mr. J. H. Deemer to succeed himself and on motion
of Mr. Brown the rules were suspended and the secretary in-
structed to east the full vote of the board for Mr. Deemer. The
vote was so cast and Mr. Deemer was declared elected superin-
tendent of the fair grounds for the ensuing year.

Mr. McDonald moved that the salary of the superintendent of
grounds be fixed at fifty dollars per month for six months of the
year and at seventy-five dollars per month for the remaining six
months. Mr. St. John moved to amend by fixing the salary of
superintendent at $800 per year, which amendment was seconded
by Mr. Ledgerwood. A roll call was demanded on this which wi.-
taken with the following results: Ayes, thirteen and nays two,
so the amendment was declared carried and original motion pre
vailed as amended.

Mr. Packard moved that the salary of chief marshal, assistant
marshals, chief of police, gate keepers, ticket sellers, superintend-
i-ents, assistant superintendents and all other assistants be the same
as for the year 1902. Seconded by Cameron and motion prel-
vailed.

Mr. Packard moved that the selection of superintendents for
departments for the ensuing year be referred to the executive com-
mittee, who shall report their selections at the afternoon session

118 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

for the approval of the board and that the chair appoint the stand-
ing committees. Motion prevailed.

The secretary read a letter from Mrs. E. E. Kyle of Mt. Ver-
non, Iowa, regarding the loss of lace pieces at the last state fair,
in which she asked the board to reimburse her to the amount of
fifty dollars for the above named pieces.

After a statement to the board by Manatrey who was superin-
tendent of the department, that the loss was in no way the fault
of the superintendent or his assistants, but was due to the care-
lessness of the party exhibiting the lace, the claim was disal-
lowed.

A committee from the Commercial Exchange appeared before
the board and asked that the old Iowa Producers' building be
moved to a suitable location and that it be used for exhibits from
Iowa manufactures.

Mr. F. It. Conaway, secretary of the Iowa Louisiana Purchase
Commission, appeared before the board and made a short address
setting forth the plans of the commission for an exhibit at St.
Louis.

Mr. Cameron moved that General Rule Number ISTine of the
premium list be amended by striking out the words of the first
and second lines thereof, "ten per cent deducted from all cash
premiums paid."

Mr. Manatrey moved that the board adjourn until 1:30 p. mi.,
which motion prevailed.

AFTERNOON SESSIOX.

Board met at 1 :30 pursuant to adjournment.

President called meeting to order and on roll call the following
members were found to be absent: Cummins, Koto, Ellyson and
Wragg. Koto and Wragg came in later.

Secretary read the report, of the executive committee on the
assignment of superintendents and committees appointed by the
president, as follows:

Auditing committee, J. "W. Wadsworth, C. W. Phillips and W. C.
Brown.

Superintendent of tickets, C. W. Phillips.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II. 119

Superintendent of gates, T. C. Legoe.

Superintendent of privileges, J. W. Wadsworth.

Superintendent of electric light and power plant, John Cownie.

Suprintendent department A, horses, mules and ponies, W. C. Brown.

Superintendent department B, speed, C. E. Cameron.

Superintendent department C, cattle, S. B. Packard.

Superintendent department D, swine, W. M. McFadden.

Superintendent departments E and F, sheep and poultry, H. L. Pike.

Superintendent department G, implements and machinery, John
Ledgerwood.

Superintendent departments I and J, agriculture, pantry and apiary,
R. T. St. John.

Superintendent department K, dairy, M. McDonald.

Superintendent departments L and M, fruits, plants and flowers, M. J.
Wragg.

Superintendent department N, exposition building and fine arts, J. P.
Manatrey.

STANDING COMMITTEES.

Committee on resolutions, Packard, McDonald and St. John.

Committee on powers and duties of board, Cummins, Morrow and
Cameron.

Committee on fungus diseases in grains, grasses and plants; the
adulteration of foods, seeds and other products, Stanton, Wragg and
Packard.

Committee on dairy industry and products including fraudulent imi-
tations thereof, Wright, Ledgerwood and Manatrey.

Committee on contagious diseases among domestic animals, Koto,
Legoe and Pike.

McDonald moved that the report as read be adopted. Seconded
by Ledgerwood and motion prevailed.

Mr. Ledgerwood moved that we allow nothing to be sold in the
stock pavilion except the catalogue containing a list of the stock
entries, and that nothing be allowed sold, peddled or distributed
in the amphitheater except the score card of the races. Motion
prevailed.

Mr. Legoe moved that the president appoint a committee on
the revision of the premium list, and that said committee report
to the board tomorrow. Motion prevailed.

The president appointed the following committees:

On Rules — Legoe, Ledgerwood and Morrow.
Horses and Speed— Cameron, Brown and Simpson.
Cattle — Packard and Wadsworth.
Sheep and Poultry — Pike and Ledgerwood.

120 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Agricultural Department — St. John and McDonald.
Dairy Department — McDonald and Wright.
Art Department — Manatrey and Legoe.

Mr. Cameron moved that our reserve fund be placed at $12,000.
Seconded by Ledgerwood.

Mr. Wadsworth moved to amend by placing the reserve fund
at $15,000 and that the same be placed on deposit with interest
bearing certificates with the proviso that the same may be drawn
at any time after the fair without releasing the interest.

The roll call on the amendment offered by Mr. Wadsworth re-
sulted in the amendment being lost and the original motion by
Mr. Cameron then prevailed.

Mr. Wadsworth moved that Tuesday, August 25th, be Old
Soldiers' and Children's Day, which motion prevailed.

Mr. McDonald moved that the executive committee be in-
structed to secure a plan for a swine pavilion and that the sarnie
be submitted to the board at their next meeting for approval. Mo-
tion prevailed.

MV. McDonald moved thai the executive committee»e in-
structed to dispose of the old boiler, dynamo and piping in the
dairy building, and that the dairy building be sealed up to the
square. Seconded by Wright and motion prevailed.

Mr. Mills and Mr. Redhead appeared before the board and had
a hearing regarding the use of the stock pavilion for the holding
of sales.

Phillips moved that the executive committee be authorized to
enter into a contract with responsible parties, for one hundred or
more trees to be set out on the fair grounds. Seconded by Wragg
and motion prevailed.

Mr. Packard offered the following resolution and moved its

adoption :

Resolved that the executive committee be and are hereby authorized
to ask for bids for the printing of 20,000 premium lists and that they
enter into a contract with the lowest responsible bidder for the number
required.

Mi'. Packard moved that the mlatter of renting the stock pavilion
for the purpose of holding sales, etc., be referred to the executive
committee with power to act, which motion prevailed.

THIRD ANN AL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 121

Packard moved that we now adjourn until nine o'clock tomor-
row morning. Motion prevailed.

FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 12, 1902.

Board met at nine o'clock a. m., pursuant to adjournment with
President Morrow in the chair.

On roll call the following menibers were found to be present:
Wright, Cameron, Morrow, Simpson, Phillips, Brown, Packard,
Legoe, Wragg, Ledgerwood, McDonald, Wadsworth and Pike.
St. John and Manatrey came in later.

The secretary read the minutes of yesterday's board meeting
which were approved.

The president presented the bond of G. D. Ellyson, treasurer,
in the sum of $50,000, signed by G. W. Marquardt who had
qualified in the sum of $100,000.

Mr. Packard moved that the bond of Mr. Ellyson be approved,
which motion prevailed.

The committee on rules made a report recommending the

following changes:

1st. GENERAL RULE NUMBER TEN: All entries close Saturday,
August 22d, at ten o'clock p. m., except in the speed, horse and cattle
departments; provided, that all entries sent by letter and mailed prior
to ten o'clock p. m., Saturday, August 22d, shall be entered if received
by the secretary before Monday, August 24, 1903, at nine o'clock a. m.

2nd. GENERAL RULE NUMBER ELEVEN: All entries in depart-
ments A and C, horses and cattle, shall close on Wednesday, August 5,
1903, at ten o'clock p. m., and all entries in these departments A and C
must be mailed before ten o'clock p. m., Wednesday, August 5th, and re-
ceived by the secretary on or before ten o'clock p. m., August 8, 1903.

3rd. GENERAL RULE NUMBER SIXTEEN: Hay, straw and grain.
A depot for hay, straw and grain will be established on the grounds. Hay
and straw delivered in the bale and sold at retailers' city prices by the
State Board of Agriculture.

4th. GENERAL RULE NUMBER TWENTY-SIX: The chief of police
shall have police supervision of the grounds, under control of the presi-
dent and state board, etc.

122 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

General rule thirty-seven stricken out.

Paragraph eight, of general rule number forty-one, stricken ont.

The president presented the bond of Mr. Simpson, in the sum of
$10,000, signed by Fletcher Howard and G. S. Gilbertson who
has qualified in the sum of $20,000. On motion of Mr. Wadsworth, the
bond was approved and placed in the hands of Mr. Morrow for safe keep-
ing.

Paragraph number eight under general rule number forty-six stricken
out.

On motion of Mr. Packard, judging- in departments A and C
is to begin at nine o'clock a. mi., on Monday, August 24th.

Mr. Brown reported from tlie committee on A and C as follows :

Recommends that the last sentence in the rule in class sixteen
Shetland Ponies, be stricken out, and on vote of the board it was
so ordered.

That the words "or more'' in the "Get of Stallion" or "Prod-
uce of Mare" in all classes be stricken out. On vote of the board
it was so ordered.

That the premiums in the "Get of Stallion" and "Produce of
Mare" in classes One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight,
Nine and Ten be changed to $20.00 in place of $10.00 and Silver
Medal. On vote of the board the change was so ordered.

On motion of Mr. Wadsworth that class seventeen, Jacks and
Jennets, be stricken from the premium list, the motion prevailed.

The committee recommended the adoption of the following
saddle class in lieu of class fifteen :

Gelding four years old or over $20 $10

Gelding three years old and under 20 10

Stallion four years old or over 20 10

Stallion three years old and under four 20 10

Mare four years old or over 20 10

Mare three years old and under four 20 10

Champion Stallion, mare or gelding 50

HIGH SCHOOL HORSES.

Stallion, mare or gelding any age 50 25

Mr. Wadsworth moved that eight thousand dollars be appro-
priated for the speed department, which motion prevailed.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 123

Mr. Packard moved the adoption of the recommendations as
reported by Mr. Brown, which motion prevailed.

Report of S. B. Packard on the cattle department as follow- :

That class number forty-three be stricken out.

That class number forty-one, old list, fat stock, read as follows:

GRADES AND CROSS BRED.

Class number — : Steer or spayed heifer, two years old and under
three, $15, $10, $5.

Class number — : Steer or spayed heifer one year old and under two,
$15, $10 and $5.

Class number — : Steer or spayed heifer under one year old, $15, $10
and $5.

HERDS.

Class number — : Group of three steers or spayed heifers, consisting
of one steer or spayed heifer two years old and under three; one steer
or spayed heifer one year old and under two; one steer or spayed heifer
under one year old, owned by one exhibitor, $25, $15 and $10.

Class number — : Champion steer or spayed heifer, competition lim-
ited to first prize winners in classes number — ; — •; — , $20.

FAT STOCK PURE BREDS.

Must show certificate of register.

Class number — ■: HEREFORDS. Steer or spayed heifer two years
old and under three, $15, $10 and $5.

Class number — : Steer or spayed heifer tone year old and under two,
$15, $10 and $5.

Class number — : Steer or spayed heifer under one year old, $15, $10
and $5.

HERDS.

Class number — : Group of three head of steers or spayed heifers, con-
sisting of one steer or spayed heifer two years old and under three, one
steer or spayed heifer one year old and under two; one steer or spayed hei-
fer under one year old, owned by one exhibitor, $25, $15 and $10.

Class number — : Champion steer or spayed heifer, competition lim-
ited to prize winners in classes — : — ; — , $20.

Note. — Same classes for Short-Horns, Aberdeen Angus and Galloways.

GRAND CHAMPION.

Class number — : Best steer or spayed heifer, competition limited to
animals winning championship honors in the above classes, $50.

Mr, Packard moved that the recommendations as offered by the
cattle department be adopted, which motion prevailed.

Mr. Manatrey moved that department N be left to himself for
revision, with the proviso that not more than one hundred dollars
be added. Seconded by Cameron and motion prevailed.

124 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Mr. Ledgerwood moved that class fifty-nine be stricken out.
Seconded by Brown and motion prevailed.

Recomjmendations of R. T. St. John on the agricultural de-
partment :

That class number eighty-seven, premium be changed to twenty
dollars.

That class number ninety, premium be changed to twenty-five, fifteen
and ten dollars.

That class number ninety-one be reduced to pecks.

That class number ninety-three, premium number 926 be changed to
read "One mammoth squash."

That class number ninety-four, premiums number 951, 952, and 953
should be $6, $4 and $2.

That class ninetyMiine, premiums to be $40, $20 and $10.

Mr. Manatrey moved that the recommendations as presented
by Mr. St. John be adopted. Seconded by McDonald.

Mr. Wadsworth moved to amend that they should be adopted
with the exception of class ninety-nine, which shall be left as it is.
Amendment was seconded by Mr. Ledgerwood and was declared
to have carried after which the original motion by Mr. Manatrey
prevailed.

iMr. McDonald moved that premium number 1163 of the
premium list be made to read as follows: "$25, $20, $15, $10
and $5, respectively, to the five tubs scoring highest." Motion
seconded by St. John and prevailed.

M. J. Wragg presented the recommendations for changes in
departments L and M as follows:

In rule three, department L, after district add the following: — As
follows: — Counties of the northern district — Allamakee, Winneshiek,
Howard, Mitchell, Worth, Winnebago, Kossuth, Emmet, Dickinson, Linn,
Osceola, Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Palo Alto), Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Floyd,
Chickasaw, Fayette, Clayton, Dubuque, Delaware, Buchanan, Breemer,
Black Hawk, Butler, Grundy, Franklin, Hardin, Wright, Hamilton, Hum-
boldt, Pocahontas, Calhoun, Buena Vista, Sac, Cherokee, Ida, Plymouth,
Woodbury and Webster.

Counties of the Central district: — Jackson, Clinton, Jones, Cedar,
Linn, Johnson, Benton, Iowa, Tama, Poweshiek, Marshall, Jasper, Story,
Polk, Boone, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, Carroll, Audubon, Crawford, Shelby,

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II. 125

Monona, Harrison, Pottawatamie Cass, Adair, Madison, Warren, Marion,
Mahaska, Keokuk, Washington, Muscatine, and Scott.

Counties of the southern district: —Louisa, Des Moines, Henry, Lee,
Jefferson, Van Buren, Wapello, Davis, Monroe, Appanoose, Lucas, Wayne,
Clarke, Decatur, Union, Ringgold, Adams, Taylor, Montgomery, Page,
Mills and Fremont.

In premium number 188 the words "or numbered" be stricken out.

In premium number 1190 strike out the words "not less than."

In class number 126, premium number 1202, substitute the following,
"for bunches of grapes of varieties not named above, premium limited to
twelve varieties, first $1, second fifty cents.

Premium number 1203 after the word "grapes" add "if deemed wor-
thy." First $1.00, second fifty cents.

Premium number 1213 strike out the word "Comfort" and add the word
"Hunt."

Premium number 1214 strike out the word "Deaton" and insert the
word "Surprise."

Premium number 1215 strike out the word "Hammer" and insert the
word "Terry."

Premium number 1218 substitute as follows, "Best plate not named on
list, not exceeding seen varieties, each plate first one d/ollar, second fifty
cents."

Premium number 1219 strike out the word "eight" and insert the
word "six."

Premium number 1221 after the word "Japan" insert the words "and
hybrids."

Department M. Add the following rule "Members of the same firm or
family will not be allowed to take both the first and second premiums."

Class number 130 as follows:

Premium number 1224 — $30, $15, $10.

Premium number 1225 — $12, $6, $3.

Premium number 1226 — $15, $8, $4.

Premium number 1227 — $4, $2.

Premium number 1229 — $4, $2.

Premium number 1230 — $5, $3.

Premium number 1232 — $5, $3.

Premium number 1236 — $8, $4.

Premium number 1237 — $4, $2.

Premium number 1239i£ "Best specimen of any rare, novel or new
plant, $6, $3.

Premium number 1240 — $4, $2.

Premium number 1241 — $4, $2.

Premium number 1243 — $4, $2.

Premium number 1245 — "Best new and original floral design" $30, $15,
$8.

Premium number 1246 — "Best display of cut flowers requiring green
house culture — $20, $12, $6.

126 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Premium number 1246y 2 — "Best display of cut flowers from open
ground — $15, $10, $5.

Premium number 1247 — $8, $4.

Premium number 1248 — $5, $3.

Premium number 1249 — $5, $3.

Premium number 1249 y 2 — "Best aisplay of cactus, dahlias, $5, $3."

Premium number 1250 — Best display of gladiolus, not less than thirty
named varieties, first $15, second $10."

Premium number 1250y 2 — "Best display of gladiolus, without being
named, first $6, second $3."

Premium number 1250 3-4 — "Best display of flower spike of gladiola,
first, $2, second $1.

Premium number 1251 — $5, $3.

Premium number 1253— $6, $4.

Premium number 1254 — $4, $3.

Premium number 1275 1-2 — "Best specimen of any new, rare or novel
plant, first $5, second $3, third $2.

In class 132 add the following "Most beautiful bouquet, first $3, second
$2,

Wadswbrth moved that the recommendations as read by Mr.
Wragg be adopted, the premiums not to be raised to exceed fifty
dollars, which motion prevailed.

Mr. Packard offered the following resolution and moved its
adoption, which motion prevailed.

Resolved, that Albert Head be permitted to remove the cottage, known
as the 10th Iowa Cottage, from the fair grounds at any time between now
and July 4, 1903.

Mr. Legoe moved, that we adjourn until 1 :30 p. m.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Board met pursuant to adjournment at 1 :30 p. m., with Pres-
ident Morrow in the chair.

On roll call the following members were found to be absent:
Wright, Cummins, Koto, Ellyson, Manatrey, St. John and
Wragg. St. John and Wragg eame in later.

McDonald moved that the executive committee and the super-
intendent of swine be authorized to revise the swine department
as thought >best.

Wadsworth offered the following resolution, and moved its
adoption :

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II.

127

Resolved, that the executive committee be instructed to get estimates
on what repairs are needed on the buildings now on the fair grounds; also
to obtain plans and estimates of cost of a swine judging pavilion, a green
house and a building for the electric light and power plant and submit the
same at the next meeting of the board.

Courtesy of Wallaces' Farmer.

Sunshine, first prize junior yearling grade Angus steer at the recent International live
stock show ; owned and raised by Silas Igo, Palmyra, Iowa.

Phillips moved that the executive committee be authorized to
confer with parties desiring to erect machinery buildings on the
fair grounds, and if satisfactory arrangements can be made regard-
ing the location, style of building, lease of ground, etc., that the
committee report the same to the next board meeting for action.
Motion prevailed.

Cameron moved that each elective officer of the board appoint
four policemen, except Wragg and Ellyson, who shall appoint
four mounted police each.

Wadsworth moved that the chair appoint a committee on per
diem and mileage. Chair appointed as such committee, Wads-
worth, Ledgerwood and Pike.

128

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

McDonald moved that the executive committee represent the
state board before the Louisiana Purchase Commission of Iowa,
and motion prevailed.

Phillips moved that the elective officers of the state board con-
stitute the board of management for the state fair of 1903. Mo-
tion prevailed.

Legoe moved that when this board adjourned that it be to meet
on the third day of March, 1903.

Report of committee on per diem and mileage as follows:

Days. Amt. Miles. Amt. Total.

W.W.Morrow 6 $24 82 $8.20 $32.20

C. E. Cameron 6 24 140 14.00 38.00

J. P. Manatrey 5 20 118 11.80 31.80

C.W.Phillips 4 16 16.00

W. C. Brown 6 24 102 10.20 34.20

R. T. St. John 6 24 195 19.50 43.50

S. B. Packard 6 24 58 5.80 29.80

T. C. Legoe 6 24 100 10.00 34.00

M. J. Wragg 5 20 16 1.60 21.60

John Ledgerwood 6 24 89 8.90 32.90

M. McDonald 6 24 65 6.50 30.50

J. W. Wadsworth 5 20 123 12.30 32.20

H. L. Pike 3 12 12.00

J. C. Frasier 3 12 113 11.30 23.30

$412.10
On motion meeting adjourned.

J. C. Simpson,

Secretary.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 129

MEETING OF THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1902.

Board met pursuant to adjournment, with President Frasier
in the chair. The roll being called the following members were
found to be present: Ex-Officio members, Gov. A. B. Cummins;
President of Agricultural College, W. M. Beardshear; President
J. O. Frasier, Secretary J. C. Simpson and directors as follows:
J. P. Manatrey, C. W. Phillips, W. G. Brown, R. T. St. John,
S. B. Packard, T. C. Legoe, M. J. Wragg, John Ledgerwood.
M. McDonald, J. W. Wadsworth and C. E. Cameron.

Minutes of board meeting in December read and approved.

Mr. Wragg moved that we take up the matter of electing an
assistant secretary. Motion prevailed.

Mr. Brown moved that C. S. Relyea of Storm Lake, Iowa, be
elected assistant secretary, at a salary of seventy-five dollars per
month ($75). Motion prevailed.

Committee appointed at last meeting to investigate the matter
of redeeming coupon tickets from old soldiers reported as follows :
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the State Board of Agriculture: We,
your committee, to whom you referred the matter of redeeming railroad
coupon tickets from old soldiers, beg leave to report that we have had the
same under consideration, and deem it advisable and for the best interests
of the department, that we will redeem railroad coupon tickets, good for
one admission at our gates, from all old soldiers presenting same at the
Treasurer's office on the fair grounds, on Tuesday, August 26th, (tHis
being Old Soldiers' Day), but will not redeem old soldiers' tickets given

out by this office free.

C. W. PHILLIPS,

M. J. WRAGG,

J. C. SIMPSON, Committee.

Mr. Wragg moved the adoption of the report as rtead, which
motion prevailed.

Mr. Legoe made the following report from the committee ap-
pointed to investigate the matter of selling the coal underlying
the state fair grounds :

130 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Your committee appointed to look up and report on the advisability
of asking the legislature to enable the State Board of Agriculture to sell
the coal beneath the surface of the state fair grounds report as follows:

Firet — That we find the coal vein where mining has been done, near
the fair grounds; is from three and one-half to four feet thick; that the
roof is reasonably good for this district.

Second — That from the best information we can get, we find that the
coal vein is from one hundred to two hundred feet below the surface of
the ground, and that the condition of the roof is such in this district
that it would not be advisable to take out any coal from under the build-
ings now on the ground, nor from beneath the surface of any ground
where buildings are liable to be erected in the future, and further, that all
any event no coal should be mined from under any of the low land in
said fair grounds.

Third — "We find that the usual price paid for coal fields where the
coal is from three to four feet in thickness, to be from twenty-five to one
hundred dollars per acre, and this price usually includes surface rights
for railroad switches, and sufficient rights to locate shafts and top works
on.

Fourth — We find that before any offer could be had for the coal un-
derlying the state fair grounds it would have to be prospected by boring
holes, to find out the quantity and the quality and the nature of the roof
overlying said coal vein.

Fifth — That in all probability the number of acres of coal that could
be mined and not interfere with the buildings on the fair grounds would
not in any event exceed one hundred and fifty acres, and that it would
not bring a sufficient price at this time to justify the sale of the same;
that there is no question but what coal will sell for a much higher figure
in the near future than it will now. Therefore your committee recom-
mends that we take no steps to secure legislation to enable the board to
sell the coal underlaying the state fair grounds.

J. C. FRASIBR,
W. W. MORROW,
J. C. SIMPSON.
T. C. LEGOE.

Committee.

Mr. Simpson moved the adoption of the report as read. Motion
prevailed.

Mr. Wragg made an oral report in regard to switching facili-
ties on the fair grounds and the progress he had made with the
Chicago Great Western people.

Mr. Packard made the following report from the committee on
rules :

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 131

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Following is the bill that passed the Twenty-eighth General
Assembly, establishing the department of agriculture:

A bill for an act to create a department of agriculture, and repeal sec-
tions sixteen hundred and fifty-three (1653), sixteen hundred and fifty-four
(1654), sixteen hundred and fifty-five (1655), sixteen hundred and fifty-six
(1656), sixteen hundred and fifty-seven (1657), sixteen hundred and seven-
ty-four (1674), sixteen hundred and eighty-two (1682), sixteen hundred
and eighty-three (1683), of the code, and chapter forty-two (42) of the acts
of the -Twenty-seventh (27th) General Assembly, and amena sections six-
teen hundred and seventy-nine (1679), and sixteen hundred and eighty-one
(1681) of the code, and making an appropriation therefor.

Be it enacted by the general assembly of the state of Iowa:

Section 1. For the promotion of agriculture, horticulture, forestry,
animal industry, manufactures and domestic arts, there is
hereby established a department to be known as the "department of agri-
culture," which shall embrace the district and county agricultural societies
organized or to be organized under existing statutes, and entitled to re-
ceive aid from the state, the state crop and weather service, and the offices
of the dairy commissioner and state veterinarian.

Section 2. The department shall be managed by a board, to be styled
"the state board of agriculture," of which the governor of the state, the
president of the State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, the state
dairy commissioner, and the state veterinarian shall be members ex officio
The other members of the board shall consist of a president, vice-president,
secretary, treasurer and one director from each congressional district,
to be chosen as hereinafter provided.

Section 3. There shall be held at the capitol on the second Wednes-
day of December, 1900, and annually thereafter, a state agricultural conven-
tion composed of the state board of agriculture, together with the presi-
dent or secretary of each county or district society entitled to deceive aid
from the state, or a regularly elected delegate therefrom accredited in writ-
ing, who shall be a resident of the county; and in counties where there
are no agricultural societies the board of supervisors may appoint a dele-
gate who shall be a resident of the county. The president or an accredited
representative of the following named associations shall be entitled to
membership in the said convention, to wit: the State Horticultural Society,
the State Dairy Association, the Improved Stock Breeders' Association
and the Swine Breders' Association.

Section 4. At the convention held on the second Wednesday in Decem-
ber, 1900, there shall be elected a president and vice-president for the term
of one year; also one director of the board of agriculture from each con-
gressional district; those from even numbered districts to serve two years
and those from odd numbered districts to serve one year. At subsequent
annual conventions, vacancies occurring from death or other causes shall

132 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

be filled for the unexpired term; and the board may fill any vacancy in
office until the next annual convention.

Section 5. In connection with the annual convention, either preceding
or following the day on which the officers are elected, the board may hold a
State Farmers' Institute, for the discussion of practical and scientific topics
relating to the various branches of agriculture, the substance of which
<'hall be published in the annual report ofi the board.

Section 6. The board shall have general supervision of the several
branches, bureaus and offices embraced in the department of agriculture:
and it shall be the duty of the board to look after and promote the inter-
ests of agricultural education and animal and other industries throughout
the state; to investigate all subjects relating to the improvement of method,
appliances and machinery, and the diversification of the crops and prod-
ucts; also to investigate the reports of the prevalence of contagious dis-
eases among domestic animals, or destructive insects and fungus diseases
in grains and grasses, and the pl'ants, the adulteration of foods, seeds and
other products, and to report the result of investigation, together with
recommendations of remedial measures for prevention of damage resulting
therefrom. It shall be the duty of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Sta-
tion to co-operate with the department of agriculture in carrying on these
investigations.

Section 7. The president, vice-president and secretary shall constitute
an executive committee, which shall transact such business as may be
delegated to it by the board of agriculture. The president may call meet-
ings of the board when the interests of the department require it.

Section 8. The board shall have full control of the state fair grounds
and improvements thereon belonging to the state, with requisite powers
to hold annual fairs and exhibits of the productive resources and indus-
tries of the state. They may prescribe all necessary rules and regulations
ihereon. The board may delegate the management of the state fair to the
executive committee and two or more additional members of the board;
and for the special work pertaining to the fair they may employ an assist-
ant secretary and such clerical assistance as may be deemed necessary.
All expenditures connected with the fair, including the per diem and ex-
penses of the managers thereof, shall be recorded separately and paid
from the state fair receipts.

Section 9. The department of agriculture is hereby rauthorized to
take and hold property, real and personal, derived by gifts and bequests
and the president, secretary and treasurer shall have charge and control
of the same, subject to the action of the board, and shall give bonds as re-
quired in case of executors, to be approved by the board of agriculture and
filed with the secretary of state.

Section 10. The board shall elect a secretary for the term of one year
whose duties shall be such as usually pertain to the office of a secretary,
under the direction of the board. He shall keep a complete record of the
proceedings of the annual agricultural convention and all the meetings of
the board; he shall draw all warrants on the treasurer and keep a correct

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II. 133

account thereof; he shall compile and superintend the printing of the an-
nual report of the state department of agriculture, which shall be entitled
"Iowa Year Book of Agriculture," and shall include the annual report of the
dairy commissioner, the State Dairy association, and the Iowa Experiment
Station, the annual report of the state veterinarian, the Iowa weather and
crop service, and the Iowa Improved Stock Breeders' association, or such
part thereof as the executive committee may approve, and such other
reports and statistics as the board may direct, which shall be published by
the state; he shall perform such other duties as the board may direct.

Section 11. The Iowa Year Book of Agriculture shall be printed and
bound in cloth and in such number as the executive council may direct,
to be distributed as follows: One copy to each state officer and member
of the general assembly; ten copies to the state library and ten popies
to the libraries of the State University and the State College of Agricul-
ture and Mechanic Arts, one copy to each library in the state open to the
general public, one copy to the president and secretary of each county and
district society, and one copy to the board of supervisors of each county
in which there is no agricultural society, and the balance as may be direct-
ed by the board of agriculture. The executive council shall receive com-
petitive bids for he printing and binding of the Year Book and let the con-
tract to the lowest responsible bidder; such bidding, however, shall be
confined to concerns in Iowa, and to firms and corporations paying the
union scale of wages.

Section 12. The present officers and directors of the State Agricul-
tural society, upon taking effect of this act, shall be, and they 'are hereby
made and constituted officers and directors of the department of agricul-
ture, who with the ex officio members named in section two (2) hereof,
shall have full control and management of the department of agriculture
until the members of the state board of agriculture are elected, as provided
in section three (3) of this act.

Section 13. The office of the department of agriculture shall be in
rooms eleven (11) and twelve (12), in the capitol building; the said office
shall be entitled to such supplies, stationary, postage and express as may
be required, which shall be furnished by the executive council in the
same manner as other offices are supplied. The salary of the secretary
shall not exceed fifteen hundred dollars ($1500) per annum; and when
the board deem it necessary it may employ an assistant at an expense of
not more than seventy-five dollars ($75) per month.

Section 14. The board shall elect a treasurer for the term of one
year, whose duties it shall be to keep a correct account of the receipts and
disbursements of all moneys belonging to the department of agriculture,
and shall make payments only on warrnts signed by the president and
secretary thereof, except in payment of premiums. He shall execute a
bond for the faithful performance of his duty, to be approved by the board
and filed with the secretary, and shall receive such compensation for his
services as shall be fixed by the board, not exceeding one hundred ($100)
per annum.

134 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Section 15. The elective members of the state board of agriculture,
for attending the meetings of the board and for the special work pertaining
to the holding of the state fair, shall be allowed four dollars ($4) per day
and five cents per mile in going and returning from the place where the
businss is transacted, the claim for which in all cases shall be verified and
paid as provided in section eight (8).

Section 16. A finance committee consisting of three members shall
be appointed by the executive council, whose duty it shall be to examine
and report on all financial business of the department of agriculture prior
to the annual convention thereof, and make their report to the governor.
No member of such committee shall be a member of the board. A reason-
able compensation, not exceeding four dollars (4), to each member for each
day actually and necessarily engaged in te performance of their duties, and
neccessary expenses incurred, shall be allowed such finance committee, to
be audited by the executive council and paid out of any funds in the state
treasury not otherwise appropriated. Such report shall be edited under
the direction of the executive council and published in accordance with
the provisions of one hundred 'and sixty three (163) of the code, and acts
amendatory thereof.

Section 17. The premium list and rules of exhibition shall be deter-
mined and published by the board prior to the first day of April in each
year.

Section 18. That section sixteen hundred and fifty-three (1653), six-
teen hundred and fifty-four (1654), sixteen hundred and fifty-five (1655),
sixteen hundred and fifty-six (1656), sixteen hundred and fifty-seven
(1657), sixteen hundred and seventy-four (1674), sixteen hundred and
eighty-two (1682), and sixteen hundred and eighty-three (1683) of the
code, and chapter forty-two (42) of the acts of the Twenty-seventh General
Assembly, be and the same are hereby repealed.

Section 19. That section sixteen hundred and seventy-nine (1679) of
the code, be and the same is hereby amended by striking out the eleventh
line thereof the words "said society," and inserting in lieu thereof the
words "department of agriculture;" that section sixteen hundred and
eighty-one (1681), of the code, be and the same is hereby amended by
striking out of the fourth line thereof the words "agricultural society,"
and inserting in lieu thereof the words "department of agriculture."

Section 20. That where the words "board of directors of the state
agricultural society, occur in the code, or the ■acts amendatory thereto, the
same shall be construed to mean and refer to the state board of agri-
culture; 'and the words "state society" and "state agricultural society,"'
shall be construed to mean and refer to the department of agriculture.

Section 21. There is hereby appropriated annually, from and after the
first day of January, nineteen hundred and one (1901), for the support of
the office of the department of agriculture, twenty-four hundred dollars
($2400), and for insurance and improvements of buildings on the state
fair grounds the sum of one thousand dollars, or so much thereof as shall
be necessary, and the auditor of state shall 'draw a warrant therefor

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 135

upon the order of the department of agriculture, signed by the president
and secretary thereof, in such sums and at such times as the board shall
deem necessary. The state shall not be liable for the payment of pre-
miums offered by the state board of agriculture, nor for any expenses or
liabilities incurred by said board except as expressly provided in this act.

RULES.
Duties of the President. The president shall take the chair at the
hour to which the board shall have adjourned, call the members to order,
order the roll of members called by the secretary. Six members shall con-
stitute a quorum fcr the transaction of business, but a less number may
adjourn in the absence of a quorum.

2. He shall preserve order; may speak to points of order in prefer-
ence to other members, rising from his seat for that purpose; and shall
decide questions of order, subject to appeal to the board by any two mem-
bers, and upon such an appeal no member shall speak more than once,
unless by leave of the bo?ard.

3. He may state or put a question either sitting or rising.

4. In the absence of the vice-president he shall have the right to
name any member to perform the duties of the chair; but such substitu-
tion shall not extend beyond the day.

5. All committees shall be appointed by the chair, unless otherwise
directed by the board.

G. The president shall vote in all cases, and if after he has voted,
the board shall stand equally divided, the question shall be decided in the
negative.

7. All questions relative to the priority of business to be acted upon
shall be decided by the president without debate.

8. Every member who shall be in the room of meeting shall vote
unless excused by the board, whenever a question is put.

9. The yeas and nays shall be called upon any question upon the de-
mand of two members.

10. After a motion or resolution offered is stated by the president
or read by the secretary, it shall be considered the property of the board,
but may be withdrawn at any time before decision or amendment, by
leave of the board.

11. Every resolution or motion shall be reduced to writing, if the
president or any member desires it, and may be read by the mover or
secretary.

12. Any member may call for a division of the question, when divi-
sible, but a motion to strike out or insert shall be indivisible.

13. When a question has once been decided, it shall be in order for
any member of the majority to move a reconsideration thereof on the
same day, or any day of that session of the board.

14. When two members arise at the same lime, the president shall
name the member who is first to speak.

136 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

15. No member shall speak longer that ten minutes at any time nor
more than once on the same question, except by leave of the board.

16. Nine o'clock in the morning shall be the hour of the meeting of
the board, unless otherwise ordered.

17. No rule shall be dispensed with or euspended without the con-
surrence of two thirds of the members present; nor shall a rule be re-
scinded without one days' notice being given on the motion therefor; but
a new rule not in conflict with the existing rules, may be added by a
majority vote.

18. On question of parliamentary law governing the board, where the
rules are silent, or do not cover any point, Cushing's Manual of Parliamen-
tary Law shall govern.

STANDING COMMITTEES.

1. Executive Committee.

2. Auditing Committee.

3. Committee of Resolutions.

4. A committee on the powers and duties of the board, of which the
Governor of the state shall be chairman.

5. A committee on fungus diseases in grain, grasses and plants;
adulteration of foods, seeds and other products; the president of the State
College of Agriculture shall be chairman.

6. A committee on the Dairy Industry and Products, including fraud-
ulent imitations thereof; the State Dairy Commissioner to be chairman.

7. A Committee on Contagious Diseases among domestic animals,
the State Veterinarian to be chairman.

8. All committees when not otherwise stated, sh-all consist of three
members.

Okdeb of Business.

1. Call of the Roll.

2. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting. The reading of
the minutes may be dispensed with by a vote of the board except once
each day.

3. Communication or petitions.

4. Reports of Standing Committees.

5. Reports of special committees.

6. Unfinished business or business on the secretary's desk.

7. Introduction of resolutions.

8. Reports of the officers of the State Board of Agriculture.

9. Reports of the superintendents of the departments of the state
fair.

10. New business.

11. Adjournment.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 137

Other Officers.
The duties of the vice-president, secretary and treasurer, shall be
such as are prescribed by law and required by the board.

State Fair.

1. There shall be an assistant secretary and such clerical assistance
as the board shall direct.

2. A chief marshal and two assistant marshals.

3. A chief of police and such number of policemen as the board shall
direct.

4. The superintendents of the departments shall be selected by the
executive committee subject to the approval by the board.

5. The assistant superintendents shall be nominated by their respec-
tive superintendents, and be approved by the board.

6. The state fair shall continue to comprise the following departments:
1. Tickets. 2. Gates. 3. Concessions and Privileges. 4. Electric Light and
Power. 5. Superintendent of Fair grounds. A. Horses, Ponies and Mules.
B. Speed. C. Cattle. D. Swine. E. Sheep. F. Poultry and Pet Stock. G.
Machinery, Implements, etc. I. Grains, Seeds rand Vegetables. J. Pantry,
Kitchen, etc. K. Dairy Products. L. and M. Fruits, Plants and Flowers.
N. Mechanical, Textile Fabrics, Fine Arts, Boys' and Girls' Departments.

The general rules and regulations to govern the fair shall be promul-
gated in the premium list each year with necessary revision. When revi-
ing, the board sh'all require the report of the last superintendent of the
department under consideration read first.

Mr. Bearshear moved the adoption of the report as read by
Governor Packard, seconded by Simpson and motion prevailed.

Mr. St. John moved that the secretary be authorized to have
the rules published in pamphlet form, five hundred in number,
seconded by Mr. Wragg.

Mr. Legoe moved to amend St. John's motion, by printing the
rules in the premium list. Seconded by Cameron. Roll call re-
sulted in a negative vote, so amendment was declared lost.

The roll call on the original motion resulted as follows : Affirm-
ative, Frasier, Simpson, Phillips, St. John, Packard, Wragg and
Ledgerwood; negative votes as follows: Cummins, Manatrey,
Brown, Legoe, McDonald, Wadsworth and Cameron. The vote
being a tie the president declared the motion lost.

Mr. Packard moved that we proceed to the revision of the
premium list.

Note by Secretary — The fuU proceedings of the State Board as
regards to the revision of list was eliminated from the Year Book, but can
be found in the records in the secretary's office.
10

188 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Mr. Manatrey mloved that the matter of the Des Moines Tent
and Awning Company, who asked for additional space, be turned
over to the superintendent of the privilege department.

Mr. Brown moved that Mr. A. L. Lynnes from Plainfield,
Iowa, be allowed four dollars ($4.00) for third premium awarded
at the last state fair and never paid. Seconded by Cameron and
motion prevailed.

Mr. Manatrey moved that the secretary be authorized to col-
lect the premium paid to Mr. J. P. Allison of this city, which
was not due him and which he has never been unwilling to give
up. Motion prevailed.

The secretary presented petition from the swine breeders ask-
ing that a dormitory be built for them on the fair grounds. Board
took no action in the matter.

Motion to adjourn was declared in order, and board stood ad-
journed until 2 o'clock p. m.

J. C. Simpson,

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Board met pursuant to adjournment.

Roll call and all present except G. D. Ellyson, treasurer.

Mr. Plumtmer appeared before the board and asked for an in-
dorsement as superintendent of the agricultural department at
the St. Louis exposition.

Mr. Wragg moved that it is the sense of this board that we
take no action at this time in the matter of recoinmending any
one for the appointment as superintendent of the agricultural de-
partment at the St. Louis exposition. Motion prevailed.

Report from the committee appointed to draft rules and regula-
tions governing the police at the state fair as follows: See rules
in premium list 1902.

Mr. Packard made a report of recommendations for the cattle
department for the fair of 1902, as follows:

Gentlemen: — I beg herewith to submit a detailed report of the receipts
from the rent of stall in the cattle barns at the last state fair. IAs y*ou »are
aware the exhibits of cattle exceeded the space available in the eleven

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 189

cattle barns equal to the stall room in thee such barns. I have therefore
to recommend in view of a still larger exhibit of cattle at the next state
fair that four additional barns of similar capacity be erected for use. For
convenience in identification of the stock housed in the open sheds I

recommend that the stalls be numbered as they are in the cattle barns.
The need of a pavement about the hydrants near the cattle barns with the
necessary drains to carry off the water used in washing stock is most ur-
gent. The cattle exhibitors complain vigorously against existing condi-
tions so I recommend that the needed improvements be made. Acknowl'
edging with thanksi the uniform courtesy officially and person-ally accorded
me by you and the other officers as well as by the members of the depart-
ment of agriculture. S. B. Packard,

Superintendent of Cattle.

By unanimous consent Rule 10 was made to read as follow-:
''The base for computing; age and ownership of all entries will be
September 1, 1902."

Mr. Packard moved that we offer a sixth premium of $2.00 in
the beef classes and Red Polled class. Seconded by St. John and
motion prevailed.

Mr. Happee appeared before the board and made a statement
in regard to the Street Railway Oompany coming into the
grounds.

Mr. Cameron moved to adjourn and motion prevailed.

J. C. SlMPSOX,

Secretary.

WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 29, 1902.

Board met pursuant to adjournment, with Vice-President Mor-
row in the chair.

Roll (jail found all members present except President Frasier
and Treasurer Ellyson. President Frasier came in while the min-
utes were being read.

Minutes of Tuesday's meeting were read and approved.

Mr. Ledgerwood presented recommendations from the former
superintendent of the sheep department.

Mr. Wadsworth moved that a suitable show ring be fenced for
judging sheep. Seconded by Ledgerwood and motion prevailed.

140

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Mtr. Wadsworth moved that Mrs. Ada Newquist be paid the
money on premium ~No. 2143. Seconded by Manatrey and car-
ried.

Mr. Packard moved that the money be refunded to Mr. J. A.
Stamen, on exhibitor's ticket, Ticket purchased at the last fair
and on account of his not getting his butter at the fair, he has re-
turned the ticket and asks that the money be refunded. Motion
lost.

Mr. St. John moved that the secretary be authorized to draw
warrant to Mr. Van Houten, in acordance with resolution at last
meeting. Motion prevailed.

Courtesy of Wallace's Farmer.

One of the prize Aberdeen Angus bulls shown at Iowa State Fair, 1902.

Mr. Newman, Grand Master of the Iowa I. 0. O. F., appeared
before the board and asked that the board grant the use of the fair
grounds for the Canton encampment in September.

Mr. Morrow moved that the president, secretary, superintendent
of privileges and superintendent of machinery be appointed a com-
mittee to divide the grounds between the machinery department
and the privilege department. Seconded by Brown and motion
prevailed.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 141

Mr. Manatrey moved that the proceedings of the Iowa Park
and Forestry Association be published in the year book, to be
edited by the secretary. Seconded by Wragg and motion prevailed.

Mr. Cameron moved that the request of Mr. Newman for the
iise of the fair grounds for the canton be referred to the presi-
dent and if it is found that we have the right to grant such privi-
lege the same be granted. Seconded by Wragg and motion pre-
vailed.

Mr. Wadsworth moved that we adjourn until 1 :30.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Board met pursuant to adjournment. Roll call and all members
found present.

The board consumed considerable time in discussing the im-
provements to be made on the fair grounds the coming year, and
at 3 o'clock Mr. McDonald moved an adjournment until 3 :30.
Motion prevailed.

Mr. Hollenbeck appeared before the board and made a state-
ment in regard to bill for moving hay barn. Packard came in
later.

Motion to adjourn until 9 o'clock tomorrow morning prevailed.

J. C. Simpson,

Secretary.

THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 30, 1902.

Board met pursuant to adjournment, with President Frasier in
the chair.

Roll call and all members present except Gibson, Ellyson, Phil-
lips, St. John and Packard.

Minutes read and approved.

Mr. McDonald moved that the bill of Mr. H'ollenbeck be
allowed for $130, amount O. K. by Deemer, which was the con-
tract price for moving the hay barn. Motion prevailed.

St. John came in at this time. Packard came in later.

Mr. Wadsworth moved that the printing of the premium list
for 1902 be awarded to the Iowa State Register, they being the
lowest responsible bidders. Motion prevailed.

142 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Mr. Wadsworth moved that the executive committee be au-
thorized to make a contract with our treasurer for loaning our
money. Seconded by Brown and motion prevailed.

Mr. Cameron moved that the secretary be instructed to ask the
executive council for a new carpet for the rooms. Seconded by
Brown and motion prevailed.

Mr. Packard moved that the matter of the street car contract be
referred to the executive committee, and that they be empowered
to draw a bill to secure necessary legislation to allow the street
car company to extend their line into the fair ground. Seconded
by McDonald and motion prevailed.

Governor Packard presented communication to be sent to the
Hereford cattle breeders in regard to holding sale on fair grounds
as follows:

Having considered the application made by Mr. C. A. Stannard in
behalf of himself and other breeders of Hereford cattle for permission to
hold a sale of cattle 'at the fair grounds during the next state fair, the
State Board of Agriculture will allow the sale to be made as requested
subject to the rules of the board. Inasmuch as the department will have
stabling room only for the cattle on the grounds for exhibition, jand being
without sale pavilion the breeders interested will be required to supply
tents for stabling and selling such cattle at their own expense. Suitable
ground space will be given for the necessary tents without charge, and
the fees provided under rule 15, stock sales, will not be exacted.

Manfagers of other breeds of cattle dsiring like selling privilege will
be allowed to make sales during the next state fair, provided timely notice
is given to the superintendent of cattle.

Mr. St. John moved that the communication presented by Mr.
Packard be adopted. Motion prevailed.

Governor Packard offered a resolution in regard to improve-
ments for the next year as follows :

Resolved, That the executive committee take up the matter of im-
provements needed at the State Fair Grounds and rare hereby authorized
to have constructed certain buildings and to have work performed as
follows, to-wit:

1. A dry air closet the size of the one recently erected.

2. An addition to the Horticultural building upon the plan as pre-
sented by Superintendent Wragg.

3. Four cattle barns the size of the other cattle barns.

4. To pave with cement sidewalks to the extent of 5,000 lineal feet
of suitable width.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 143

5. To erect suitable buildings to be used as dining halls at a cost
not exceeding $1,500.

6. To make all needful repairs to the buildings and improve the
roads and grounds as may be needful for the use of the next state fair.

'Mr. Wragg moved that the superintendent of the grounds pre-
pare fifty signs calling attention to the fact that there was a fine
for hitching to trees. Motion prevailed.

Mr. Manatrey moved that we adjourn until 1 :30. Motion pre-
vailed.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Board met pursuant to adjournment, with President Frasier in
the chair.

Roll call and the following members were found to be absent,
Phillips, Wragg aud Legoe.

Mr. Cameron moved that the executive committee be author-
ized to build a closet, not larger than the one last year, on the
street running to the south gate. Seconded by Morrow and mo-
tion prevailed.

Mr. St. John moved that the plan presented by Mr. Wragg for
an addition to the horticultural hall be built at a cost not to ex-
ceed $1,500. Seconded by Manatrey aud motion prevailed.

Mr. Manatrey moved that two cattle barns be built, the same
size as those on the grounds. Seconded by McDonald.

Dr. Gibson moved a substitute, that the executive committee
be authorized to build four cattle barns if found necessary. Sec-
onded by Phillips, and upon roll call there was six affirmative
votes and eight negative, so substitute was declared lost.

Roll call on original motion resulted in an affirmative vote.

Mr. Ledgerwood moved a reconsideration of the resolution
passed on building an addition to horticultural hall. Seconded
by Morrow and motion prevailed.

Mr. Wadsworth moved that the executive committee be au-
thorized to expend not to exceed $3,000 in building cement walks
on the fair grounds. Seconded by Ledgerwood.

Mr. Manatrey moved to amend the foregoing resolution, by
stating that the executive committee be authorized to build brick

144 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

walks if they see fit. Seconded by Morrow. Roll call had, there
was found to be four affirmative votes and eight negative, so
amendment was declared lost, and the original motion carried on
roll call.

Mr. Packard moved that the sixth proposition as read in the reso-
lution be approved, and that the executive committee be author-
ized to purchase a roller if they think necessary. Seconded by Gib-
son and motion prevailed.

Mr. Gibson moved that we have night attractions. Seconded by
Morrow and motion prevailed.

Mr. Gibson moved that the matter of night attractions be left
with the executive committee. Seconded by Brown.

Oameron moved to amend by allowing the Executive Commit-
tee, to* expend $2,500, if found necessary for night attractions.
Seconded by Brown. Dr. Gibson accepted the amendment and
the motion prevailed.

Dr. Gibson moved that the executive committee be authorized
to secure good day attractions. Seconded by St. John and motion
prevailed.

Mr. Manatrey moved to adjourn which motion prevailed.

J. C. Simpson,

Secretary.

FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 31, 1902.

Board met pursuant to adjournment with President Frasier in
the chair. Roll call and all members found to be present.

Minutes of yesterday's session read and approved

Mr. Manatrey moved that the executive committee be empow-
ered to purchase such amount of advertising matter as they think
necessary. Motion prevailed.

Mr. Manatrey moved that wo now take up the motion made by
St. John on yesterday in regard to building an addition to horti-
cultural hall, which motion was deferred from yesterday until Mr.
Wragg could be present. Seconded by Brown.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II. 145

■Mr. Cameron mjoved to amend by inserting that the matter be
left to the executive committee and the superintendent of the hor-
ticultural department. Seconded by McDonald and amendment
prevailed.

Mr. McDonald moved the the executive committee be em-
powered to build additional cattle barns if found necessary, in ad-
dition to the two Voted. Seconded by Gibson and motion pre-
vailed.

Mr. Wadsworth moved that the chair appoint a committee on
per diem and mileage. Motion prevailed.

Chair appointed Wadsworth, Ledgerwood and Cameron.

Mr. Packard moved that we adjourn until 2 o'clock p. m. Mo-
tion prevailed.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Board met pursuant to adjournment with Vice-President Mor-
row in the chair.

Poll was called and all members were found present or came in
soon afterward except Manatrey.

Mr. Wadsworth made the report from the committee on per
diem and mileage as follows.

Days. Amt. Miles. Mileage. Total.

J. C. Frasier 7 $28.00 113 $11.30 $39.30 272

W. W. Morrow 6 24.00 82 8.20 32.20 273

J. P. Manatrey 6 24.00 118 11.80 35.80 274

C.W.Phillips 5 20.00 20.00 275

W. C. Brown 6 24.00 102 10.20 34.20 276

R. T. St. John 6 24.00 195 19.50 43.50 277

S.B.Packard 6 24.00 58 5.80 29.80 278

T. C. Legoe 7 28.00 100 10.00 38.00 279

M. J. Wragg 5 20.00 16 1.60 21.60 280

John Ledgerwood 6 24.00 89 8.90 32.90 281

M. McDonald 6 24.00 65 6.50 30.50 282

J. W. Wadsworth 6 24.00 123 12.30 36.30

C.E.Cameron 6 24.00 140 14.00 38.00 284

$432.10

; Mr. St. John moved that the report as read be adopted. Motion
prevailed.

146 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Mr. Packard made the report of the committee on resolutions
as follows :

The committee on resolutions desires to bring to the notice of the
State Board of Agriculture the painful news of the death of the wife of
our valued colleague, the director of the Tenth congressional district,
Joseph W. Wadsworth of Algona, which occurred at the family home on
the fifth day of this month.

The members of this Board sympathize deeply with our colleague in
this great loss and terrible sorrow which has come to him, to his daugh-
ter and son; to a vast circle of sorrowing relatives and friends in the
death of Emeline A. Wadsworth, the wife, the mother, whose Christian
life and example has so much endeared her and which will be ever
present in their memory.

Resolved', That the officers and other members of the Board tender
our most sincere condolence and heartfelt sympathy to Joseph, our
brother member, and to his children so severely stricken in sorrow and
offer our prayers that the Divine and All Merciful One may vouchsafe
consolation and comfort to sustain -and reconcile them, to their lossl.

Resolved, That this tribute be recorded in our minutes and a copy
sent to the family at Algona.

On the twenty-fourth day of December, Frank N. Chase died at his
home at Cedar Falls, after a somewhat prolonged and painful illness.
Several of our membership have served with our brother in the later
years of his life. He was elected as a director in 1882, serving as such
until elected vice-president in 1894, and brought to the society his very
valuable judgment and painstaking efforts, which contributed greatly to
its success since its permanent establishment at Des Moines. In the
preparation of the Iowa exhibit at the exposition at Chicago in 1893 and
Omaha in 1898 his was the master hand and to him a most generous
meed of prise has been accorded. To those who best knew Frank and
by whom he was best loved, outside of those having kindred ties, his
sunny and genial temperament endeared him! to his friends like a
brother. To enumerate the virtues of one who as husband and father
has been in his home circle all and everything that a wife could wish,
and that a son and daughter could deslire, being upright in citizenship,
devoted to his church, and reverently worshipful to God; to the mourn-
ing family the members of the State Board of Agriculture tender their
sympathy.

Resolved, That a copy be sent to the widow of our departed friend
and be recorded in the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

Your committee on resolutions beg leave to submit the following
resolution respecting the death of the Hon. Peter Melendy, who was an
honored member of this society of agriculture, being its vice-president from
the year 1863 to 1865 and its president from 1865 to 1869 and its treas-
urer for the year 1871. He was one of three who held the office of presi-

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART- II. 147

dent for four consecutive years, the others being the Hon. Thomas W. C.
Claggett and the Hon. George G. Wright. Mr. Melendy had the welfare
of this society always in view until death removed him from his labors
here to life eternal on October 18, 1901, at Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Resolved, That in his death his family is bereft of a kind and lov-
ing husb'and and father, the state and city where he resided, a progres-
sive citizen, and our society one who gave to the cause of agriculture six
years of unremitting labor to advance the interests of this society, and
we share and sympathize with the family in this their great bereavement
and loss.

Resolved, That these resolutions become a part of our records and
that the secretary be instructed to forward a copy of the same to the
grief-stricken family of the deceased.

The president announced committees as follows as per rules
and regulations adopted.

No. 2 — Auditing committee, Cameron, Wadsworth and Brown.

No. 3 — Resolutions, Packard, McDonald and St. John.

No. 4 — Governor, Frasier and Morrow.

No. 5 — Beardshear, Wragg and Manatrey.

No. 6 — Norton, Ledgerwood and Packard.

No. 7 — Gibson, Phillips and Legoe.

Mr. Cameron moved that the executive be empowered to act
on all business that may come before them in the absence of the
board.

Board adjourned to meet at call of president.

J. C. Simpson,

Secretary.

148 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

March 21, 1902.
Present, Frasier, Morrow and Simpson.

Committee went to the fair grounds and looked over the matter
of proposed improvements.

Ordered Mr. Deemer to fix up the old secretary's office for police
headquarters.

Ordered the C, B. & Q. building to be remodeled for the secre-
tary's and treasurer's office; also to put brick pillars under the
porch.

Ordered Mr. Deemer to extend the gravel walk running from
the street car entrance to the street in front of the C, B. & Q.
building.

Ordered Mr. Deemer to fix the poultry house in accordance
with the wishes of the poultry exhibitors.

Ordered gravel put on the streets.

Secretary was authorized to issue warrants on pay roll of Mr.
Deemer when O. K. by him.

April 10, 1902.

Committee met with Frasier and Simpson present.

The committee were busy looking after the improvements at
the fair grounds.

Proposition from Botsford & Maher in regard to advertising on
the grand stand and fences, was before the committee, and they
accepted the same, authorizing the secretary to draw up a contract
in accordance with their proposition.

April 21, 1902.

Present, Frasier, Morrow and Simpson.

Received plans and specifications from Reeves & Baillie, archi-
tects, Peoria, Illinois, for stock pavilion, and proceeded to adver-
tise for bids, to be closed May 5, 1902.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II.

149

Visited fair grounds and ordered Mr. Deemer to put new roof
on the horticultural building ; get new poles for our electric light
plant; to build bridge across ditch southeast of the producers'
building; grade a road along the north side of the building; paint
the producers' building.

April 22, 1902.

Present, Frasiei , Morrow and Simpson.

Mr. Taft, representing the American Warming and Ventilating
Company, was before the committee and submitted plans and spec-
ifications for a dry air closet to be erected on the grounds.

Mr. Morrow moved that Mr. Frasier be authorized to personally
superintend the improvements to be made on the fair grounds
this year. Motion prevailed.

Mr. Moitow moved that we accept the proposition of the Amer-
ican Warming and Ventilating Company, to erect a dry air closet
on the fair grounds, and make repairs on the one erected in 1901,
on the above said grounds, for sum of $3,775, in accordance with
plans and specifications submitted herewith. Motion prevailed.

150 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

MEETING OF THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

MAT 5, 1902.

Meeting called to order by President Frasier, and on roll call
all were found to be present, except Mr. Cameron who came in a
few minutes later.

Mr. St. John moved that the opening of the bids be postponed
for the present. Motion prevailed.

Mr. Packard offered the following resolution and moved the
adoption of the same.

Whereas: The secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, by direc-
tion of the Board, has invited bids or proposals for a stock pavilion on
the State Fair Grounds, in terms and conditions as follows:

PROPOSAL FOR STOCK PAVILION ON IOWA STATE FAIR GROUNDS.

Sealed proposals will be received at the office of the secretary of the
State Board of Agriculture, Des Moines, Iowa, until 12 o'clock m., on the
fifth day of May\ 1902, and immediately thereafter opened, for all l'abor
and materials required in the erection and completion of a stock pavilion,
to be erected on the State Fair Grounds, Des Moines, Iowa, in accord-
ance with the drawings and specifications prepared by Reeves & Baillie,
architects, Peoria, Illinois.

Proposals received after the time stated will be returned unopened
to the bidders. Copies of the plans and specifications will be on file at
the office of the secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, and also at
the architect's office on and after April 21, 1902.

The work to be commenced as soon as practicable after acceptance
of bid. All iron work to be delivered on the ground not later than July
1, 1902, and erected not later than July 15, 1902. Biids on iron work will
be received separately.

The building to be completed by August 15, 1902, under penalty of
$50 per day forfeit.

Each bid to be accompanied by a certified check for 5 per cent of
amount of bid. Satisfactory bond for 50 per cent of amount of bid will
be required.

The State Board of Agriculture reserves the right to reject the low-
est or any or all bids, and to waive any defects or informalities in any
bid when it is deemed in the interest of the Board to do so.

Each bid must be enclosed in *an envelope sealed and addressed to
Mr. John C. Simpson, secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, Des

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 151

Moines, Iowa, and indorsed on the envelope "Proposal for Stock Pavilion."
Pavilin."

By order of the State Board of Agriculture.

John C. Simpsox.
Secretary.

And Whereas: The hour named, 12 o'clock, meridian this 5th day
of May, A. D. 1902, has expired, at which time sealed proposals were
required to be in the hands of the secretary.

Therefore Be It Resolved: That John C. Simpson, secretary, in the
presence of the Board now in session, proceed to open the sealed envel-
opes which have been received indorsed "Proposals for Stock Pavilion,"
in the order of their receipt at this department.

The secretary proceeded to open the bids in the following order.
(Amount of each bid to be found on file in this office) :

Charles Weitz & Sons, Des Moines, Iowa.

American Bridge Company, Kansas City, Mo.

Des Moines Bridge and Iron Company, Des Moines, Iowa.

Capital City Brick and Pipe Company, Des Moines, Iowa.

Joliet Bridge Company, Joliet, Illinois.

Modern Steel Structural Company, Waukesha, Wis.

John W. Evans & Sons, Bloomington, Illinois.

Mr. Legoe moved that we accept the bid of the Des Moines
Bridge k Iron Company, Des Moines, Iowa, for all iron and steel
work to be in the stock pavilion, it being the lowest bid according
to plans and specifications, for $14,850.00, subject upon their exe-
cution of a satisfactory bond. Seconded by Brown and all voted
in the affirmative.

Mjl Legoe moved that the contract be awarded to Charles
Weitz & Sons, Des Moines, Iowa, for the construction of the stock
pavilion complete, except the iron and steel work, and the setting
of the same, for which a reduction in his bid is made of $14,850 ;
also the using of Legrand stone in the place of the Gray Canon
stone specified, for which a reduction in his bid is made of $200 ;
also the omitting of the finishing coat of paint on the structural
iron, for which a reduction is made in his bid of $600 ; and the
using of square edged selected local paving brick, laid in black
mortar, for all faced brick work instead of the common brick speci-
fied, for which an addition to his bid is made of $820, making the
amount of the contract as accepted $20,518.98, provided a satisfac-
torv bond is Given and contract executed according to the plans

152 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

and specifications of said building. Seconded by Brown and all

members voted in the affirmative.

Governor Packard offered the following resolution and moved

its adoption :

Resolved, That the executive committee are hereby authorized to
sign the contracts awarded this day for the erection of the stock pavilion
on the State Fair Grounds; to approve the bonds required of the con-
tractors; and full power is hereby given said committee to supervise
and approve the work when completed, to make contract with the archi-
tects for expenses for working their plans and supervision.

. Mr. Gregory, representing the Pain Manufacturing Company
of Chicago, Illinois, appeared before the board and presented a
proposition in regard to putting on attractions for our fair.

Mr. Manatrey moved that we reject the offer of the Pain Manu-
facturing Company. Seconded by McDonald, and upon motion
of Cameron further consideration of the matter was deferred until
the next morning, when the motion was called up and passed re-
jecting the offer of the above named company.

Mr. Wragg moved that the addition to the horticultural hall
be deferred for one year. Seconded by McDonald and motion
prevailed.

Mr. McDonald moved that the board adjourn until 9 o'clock
to-morrow morning.

May 6, 1902.

Board met at fair grounds and proceeded to select a location
for the stock pavilion, and decided on the location standing north
and south, east of the street running to the Rock Island gate.

Minutes of the yesterday's meeting read and approved; also of
the January board meeting.

Mr. St. John moved that the motion requiring the executive
committee to put down all cement walks be rescinded. Seconded bv
Wragg.

Mr. Legoe moved to amend as follows: That that part of the
motion requiring the executive committee to build cement walks
be rescinded and that the executive committee be authorized to
use either brick or cement for said walks as they deem best, Mr.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 153

St. John accepted the amendment and the motion prevailed as
amended.

Mr. St. John moved that the executive committee be author-
ized to expend not to exceed $1,200, in repairing and rebuilding
the dwelling house on the fair grounds, occupied by the superin-
tendent of the grounds. Seconded by Wragg and all voted in the
affirmative. Absent, Frasier, Manatrey and Brown.

.Mr. Mr Donald moved that the Executive Committee be author-
ized to procure material to build a cattle bam 60x120 feet, not
to exceed twelve feet high, to be built by day labor. Seconded by
Wragg and motion prevailed.

Mr. Wragg moved that Mr. Frasier bo superintendent of con-
struction of the improvements to be made on the fair grounds this
year. Motion prevailed.

Mr. Ellyson moved that the secretary be instructed to confer
with the secretary of the State Board of Health, and appoint a
janitor, and that the preference be given to an old soldier. Sec-
onded by McDonald and motion prevailed.

Mr. Morrow moved that the president appoint a committee on
per diem and mileage. Motion prevailed and president appointed
Wad-worth, Ledgerwood, and Legoe.

Mr. Cameron moved that Monday, August 25th, be Dedication
Day for the new stock pavilion, and that the executive commit-
tee and two other members be a committee on ceremonies, and
that a special invitation be issued to members of the lgislature,
state officers, congressmen, United States senators to be in attend-
dance on that day. Seconded by Ellyson and motion prevailed.

President appointed on above committee in addition to the exe-
cutive committee, Mr. Cameron and Mr. Packard.

Mr. Morrow moved that the members of the State Board of
Agriculture be appointed a committee on reception on the day
the stock pavilion is dedicated.

11

154 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Committee on per diem and mileage reported as follows :

NAME.

DATS.

AMOUNT.

MILES.

MILEAGE.

TOTALS.

J. C. Frasier

4
3
2

2

4

4
3
4
2
3
3
3
3

$ 16.00
12.00
8.00
8.00
16.00
16.00
12.00
16.00
8.00
12.00
12.00
12 00
12.00

113

82
llo

102
195
58
100
16
89
65
123
140

$ 11.30

8.20
11.80

' 10.20
19.50
5.80
10.00
1.60
8 90
6.50
12.30
14.00

$ 27.30

20.20
19.80

R. T. St. John

8.00
26.20
35.50

S. B. Packard

17.80
26.00

9.60
20.90

18.50
24.30
26.00

Mr. Cameron moved that we adjourn.

Motion prevailed.
J. C. Simpson,

Secretary.

Courtesy of Wallace's Farmer.

A prize Hereford bull thown at the Iowa State Fair 1902.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 155

MEETIXG OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IOWA STATE
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

Friday afternoon, August 29, 1902, at 1 o'clock p. in. in the
president's office on the fair grounds.

President Frasier was in the chair and upon roll call the follow-
ing members were found to be present: President J. C. Frasier,
Secretary J. C. Simpson, Treasurer G. D. Ellyson and Directors
S. B. Packard, John Ledgerwood and C. W. Phillips.

Pay roll of W. M. McFadden, superintendent of the swine de-
partment, was presented, allowed and placed on file, on motion of
Ellyson.

Pay roll of G. D. Ellyson, treasurer, was presented and on mo-
tion was allowed and placed on file.

Bill of W. H. Erwin, assistant superintendent of grounds, was
presented, allowed and placed on file on motion of C. W. Phillips.

Pay roll of C. W. Phillips, superintendent of tickets, was pre-
sented and on motion of Ellyson was allowed and placed on file.

Pay roll of John Ledgerwood, superintendent of sheep and
poultry departments, was presented and on motion of Ellyson was
allowed and placed on file.

Pay roll of Hon. S. B. Packard was presented, and on motion
of Ellyson was allowed and placed on file.

Pay roll of J. W. Wadsworth, superintendent of privileges,
was presented and on motion of Mr. Packard was allowed and
placed on file.

Mr. Ellyson moved that the itemized bill attached to Mr. Wads-
worth's pay roll, be allowed, which motion prevailed.

Protest from Mr. H. Lefebure, Fairfax, Iowa, against award in
Class Xo. 9, to McLaughlin Bros., was presented and found to be
in regular form, accompanied by check for $20.00.

156 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Phillips moved that the premium awarded to McLaughlin Bros,
be withheld until Mr. Lefebure had time to prove charges made
in said affidavit.

Mr. Ellyson moved that the pay roll of T. C. Legoe, superin-
tendent of the gates department, amounting to $535 be allowed,
which motion prevailed.

On motion the board adjourned to meet at G :30 p. m.

EVENING SESSION.

! Board met pursuant to adjournment with President Frasier in
the chair.

Upon roll call the following members were found to be present :
Frasier, Morrow, Simpson, Manatrey, Phillips, Brown, St. John,
Packard, Wragg, Ledgerwood, McDonald, Wadsworth, and Cam-
eron.

Mr. McLaughlin and Mr. Lefebure appeared before the Board
and made statements regarding the protests filed by Mr. Lefebure.

Mr. Phillips moved that Mi*. Lefebure be given forty days in
which to substantiate his evidence, which motion prevailed-

Mr. Wragg presented his pay roll, as superintendent of the hor-
ticultural department, and on motion of Phillips the same was al-
lowed and placed on file.

Mr. Wragg moved that the pay roll of Mr. St. John, as super-
intendent of the agricultural department be allowed, which motion
prevailed.

Mr. Manatrey moved that the bill of Mr. St. John for his assis-
tant be allowed, which motion prevailed.

Mr. Wadsworth moved that the bill of McLaughlin &, Company
of Ohicago for booth in the agricultural hall amounting to $10
be allowed which motion prevailed.

Phillips moved that the pay roll of Mr. W. C. Brown, as super-
intendent of the horse department, be allowed, which motion pre-
vailed.

Mr. Morrow moved that the pay rolls of McDonald, superinten-
dent of the dairy department, be allowed, which motion prevailed.

Mr. Ledgerwood moved that the meals for judges in the cattle
department, be allowed, which motion prevailed.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 157

Mr. Brown moved that the pay ml! of Mr. Cameron bo allowed,
which motion prevailed.

Mr. Sr. John moved that the pay roll of Secretary Simpson for
clerical work in the secretary'- office, amounting to $183 be al-
lowed, which motion prevailed.

Mr. McDonald moved that the pay roll of Mr. Cownie, super-
intendent of the electric light department, be allowed, which mo-
tion prevailed.

Mr. Manatrey moved that we adjourn to meet at 9 o'clock, a. m.

SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST 30, 1902.

Board met pursuant to adjournment, with President Frasier in
the chair.

Upon roll call the following members were found to be present :
Frasier, Morrow, Simpson, Manatrey, Phillips, Brown, Packard,
Legoe, Wragg, McDonald, Cameron, Ledgerwood and Wadsworth.
Mr. McDonald moved that the bill of Phillips for meals for his
assistants be allowed, which motion prevailed.

Mr. McDonald moved that the pay roll of Mr. Manatrey be al-
lowed, which motion prevailed.

Mr. McDonald moved that the itemized bill presented by Mr.
Wragg for advertising, amounting to $5, be allowed, which mo-
tion prevailed.

Mr. Wragg moved that the pay roll of Mr. Morrow, superin-
tendent of the machinery department, be allowed, which motion
prevailed.

Mr. McDonald moved that the police pay roll amounting to
$1,082,25, be allowed, which motion prevailed.

Mr. Legoe moved that the bill of Mr. George C. Inlowl, for
$3.50 for tent for gate department, be allowed, which motion pre-
vailed.

Mr. Cameron moved that Mr. Cownie be allowed $25 for ex-
penses during the fair, which motion prevailed.

158

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Mr. McDonald moved that the president appoint a committee
on per diem and mileage, and the chair appointed Cameron, Wads-
worth and Ledgerwood.

Mr. McDonald moved that the executive committee be author-
ized to buy a road scraper for use on the fair grounds, which mo-
tion prevailed.

Mr. McDonald moved that the bill presented by Mr. St. John
for meals for his assistant, be allowed which motion prevailed.

Mr. Morrow moved that Mr. Simpson and Mr. Ellyson be al-
lowed $24 each for office expenses during the fair, which motion
prevailed.

Mr. St. John moved that Mr. Frasier be allowed 100 days' time
for services in superintending the work of erecting the new stock
pavilion, which motion prevailed.

Mr. St. John moved that a vote of thanks be tendered to Mr.
Frasier for his work in superintending the live stock pavilion,
which was unanimously passed by the board.

Mr. Cameron presented the report of the committee on per
diem mileage, and moved its adoption, which motion prevailed.

DATS.

AMO PNT.

MILES .

MILEAGE.

10

$ 64. 00

113

$ 11.13

17

68. 00

82

8.20

19

76.00

118

11.80

18

72. 00

19

76.00

102

10.20

19

76.00

195

19 50

17

68.00

53

5.80

17

68. 00

100

10. 00

19

76.00

16

1.60

18

72.00

89

8.90

18

72. 00

65

6.50

26

104.00

12 <

12. 30

16

64.00

140

14.00

•T. C. Frasier .
W. W. Morrow . .
J. P Manatrey. ..
O. W. Phillips

W. C. Brown

R. T. St. John .

S. B. Packard

T. C. Legoe

M. J. Wragg ... .
John Ledgerwood

M. McDonald

J. W. Wadsworth .
C. E. Cameron .

$ 75. 30
76.20
87.80
72.00
86.20
95. 50
73.80
78.00
77. 60
80.90
78.50
116. 30
78.00

C. E. CAMERON,
JOHN LEDGERWOOD,
J. W. WADSWORTH,

Committee.

Mr. St. John moved that the executive committee be author-
ized to make a contract with the street car company to extend a
temporary track into the fair grounds for the week of the horse
show, which motion prevailed.

Mr. Cownie presented a clock to Mr. J. C. Frasier, president
of the State Board of Agriculture, on behalf of the members of
said board, in words as follows :

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II. 159

Mr. President: The Iowa State Fair of 1902 has closed, and pains-
taking, faithful and efficient work, supplemented by a bright sun and
clear skies, kindly vouchsafed by an allwise Providence, have made it
possible to place this year's fair at the head of all those that have pre-
ceded. The fair of 1902 will be ever memorable in the history of Iowa,
as it marks an epoch that insures still greater prosperity to the wealth
producers of the state.

By the erection of the live stock pavilion renewed energy will be
given to the improved stock breeders of our own and neighboring states,
and with the facilities and comfort now afforded for witnessing the judg-
ing of horses and cattle, we may hope that in the near future swine and
sheep, agricultural machinery, grains, fruits and flowers, will be recog-
nized in like manner by the erection of buildings planned with the same
regard to durability, elegance, convenience and comfort as the new live
stock pavilion that was dedicated last Wednesday.

To you, Mr. President, the people of Iowa owe a debt of gratitude
for the interest you have taken in the erection of the pavilion, your con-
stant, careful supervision of all material and labor has been rewarded by
a building that is a credit to our state, combining as it does architectural
beauty, ample size, strength and durability.

With the excellent record you have made while connected with the
State Board of Agriculture as director, vice-president and president, as
superintendent of privileges, of tickets and of construction, your co-work-
ers had hoped to have the benefit of your example and counsel for at
least another year. But it having become known that you have deter-
mined to positively decline what was already assured, a unanimous re-
election to the position of president for another, your associates desire to
tender you, as a slight token of their appreciation of your services to
the Iowa State Board of Agriculture, this beautiful clock, which I now
have the pleasure of presenting to you.

Place it upon your mantel, and as you look upon it from day to day
it will revive pleasant memories of the years you spent with your fellow
members laboring to build up the agricultural and manufacturing inter-
ests of our great state, that is already in the front rank with everything
that adds to the moral, intellectual and material advancement of our
people.

On behalf of your fellow members of the Iowa State Board of Agri-
culture I desire to express to you and yours our best wishes for your
future. May a long, prosperous and pleasant life await you, and rest
assured that the personal friendships you have made among the members,
of this Board will only end with life itself.

On motion Board adjourned.

J. C. Simpson,

Secretary.

160 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

PART III.

■REPORT OF THE IOWA WEATHER AND CROP

SERVICE.

John R. Sage, Director.

METEOROLOGICAL SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR 1902.

BAROMETER. The mean pressure for the year was 30.01 inches.
The highest observed pressure was 30.96 inches on January 28th at Du-
buque; lowest pressure 28.67 inches on February 28th at Davenport.
Range for the state, 2.29 inches.

TEMPERATURE. The mean temperature for the state was 47.8 de-
grees which is 0.6 degrees above normal. The highest temperature re-
ported was 98 degrees on July 30th at Charles City. The lowest tempera-
ture reported was 31 degrees below zero on January 27th at Atlantic,
Range for the year, 129 degrees.

PRECIPITATION. The average amount of rain and melted snow for
the year as shown by complete records of 99 stations was 44.31 inches,
which 14.01 inches above the normal, and 19.69 inches above the average
amount for 1901. The greatest amount recorded at any station for the year
was 58.80 inches at Columbus Junction; least amount recorded, 20.14
inches at Sioux City. The greatest monthly rainfall was 18.04 inches at
Grand Meadow, Clayton county, in May; least amount, a trace at Cresco,
Howard county, in March. The greatest amount in any consecutive 24
hours was 9.96 inches at Allerton, August 25th and 26th. The average
number of days on which .01 or more of rain fell was 100.

WIND AND WEATHER. The prevailing direction of wind was
northwest. Highest velocity reported, 74 miles an hour in Sioux City,
from the north on April 25th. Average daily wind movement 211 miles.
There were 145 clear days, 109 partly cloudy, and 111 cloudy days.

JANUARY. — The monthly mean temperature for the state, as shown
by records at 112 stations, was 22.4 degrees, which is 5.3 degrees above
the January normal. By sections the means were as follows: Northern
section, 20.4 degrees; central section, 21.9 degrees; southern section, 24.8
degrees. The highest monthly mean was 27.5 degrees at Keokuk; lowest
monthly mean, 17.4 at Cresco. The highest temperature reported was
63 degrees at Pella, St. Charles and Thurman on the 7th and 8th; lowest

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART III. 161

temperature reported, 31 degrees below zero at Atlantic on the 27th. The
average monthly maximum was 52.7 degrees; average monthly minimum,
20.9 degrees. The greatest daily range was 56 degrees at Guthrie Center,
average of the greatest daily ranges, 34.4 degrees. The average precipitation
for the state as shown by the records of 129 stations, was .88 of an inch,
which is .34 of an inch below the normal for January. By sections the
averages were as follows: Northern section, 0.84 of an inch; central sec-
tion, 0.98 of an inch; southern section, 0.88 of an inch. The largest
amount reported was 2.83 inches, at Ridgeway; least amount , 0.19 of an
inch, at Mt. Pleasant. The greatest daily precipitation reported was 1.51
inches, at Ridgeway on the 20th. The average number of days on which .01
or more precipitation fell was 4. Prevailing direction of the wind, north-
west; highest velocity, 38 miles per hour from northwest at Sioux City
on the 2d. Average number of clear days, 17; partly cloudy, 8; cloudy, 6.
FEBRUARY. — The monthly mean temperature as shown by records
of 110 stations, was 17.6 degrees; which is 4.1 degree below the February
normal for this state. The monthly means by sections were as follows:
Northern section, 16.6 degrees; central section, 16.8 degrees; southern
section, 19.3 degrees. The highest monthly mean reported was 22.2 degrees
at Thurman; lowest mean, 12.8 degrees at New Hampton. The highest
temperature reported was 62 degrees at Humboldt on the 27th; lowest re-
ported 21 degrees below zero at Galva on the 2d. The average monthly
maximum was 52.2 degrees; average monthly minimum 14.2 degrees below
zero. The greatest daily range was 46 degrees at Elkader; average of great-
est daily ranges 32.5 degrees. The average precipitation for the state, as
shown by the records of 128 stations, was 0.73 of an inch, or 0.33 below
normal. The averages by sections were as follows: Northern section,
0.69 of an inch; central section, 0.74 of an inch; southern section, 0.75 of
an inch. The largest amount reported was 2.39 inches at Belle Plaine; least
amount 0.02 of an inch at Thurman. The greatest daily precipitation re-
ported was 1.40 inches at Belle Plaine on the 27th. Average number of
days on which .01 or more precipitation fell, 4. Prevailing. direction of
wind, northwest; highest velocity reported 46 miles per hour, from north-
west at Sioux City, on the 28th. Average number of clear days 13; partly
cloudy 8; cloudy 7.

MARCH. — The monthly mean temperature for Marcn as shown by
records of 101 stations, was 39.1 degrees, which is 5.9 degrees above nor-
mal. The monthly means by sections were as follows: Northern sec-
tion, 36.9 degrees; Central section, 39.3 degrees; southern section, 41 de-
grees. The highest monthly mean was 44.5 degrees at Thurman; lowest,
34.9 degrees at Larchwood. The highest temperature reported was 79
degrees at Winterset on the 25th; lowest, 12 degrees below zero at Esther-
ville on the 17th. The average monthly maximum was 69.4 degrees; aver-
age monthly minimum, 1.5 degrees below zero. The greatest daily range
was 46 degrees at Sibley, Monticello and Thurman; average of greatest
daily ranges, 34.6 degrees. The average precipitation for the state was
1.45 inches, as shown by the records of 121 stations. This amount is .30
inch below normal. The averages by sections were as follows: Northern
section, 1.20 inches; central section, 1.73 inches; southern section, 1.42

162 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

inches. The largest amount reported was 4.33 inches at Cumberland;
least amount, 0.13 of an inch at Algona. The greatest daily amount re-
ported was 3.00 inches at Cumberland on the 10th. The average num-
ber of days on which .01 or more precipitation was recorded was 7.
Prevailing direction of wind, southeast; highest velocity, 58 miles per
hour at Sioux City on the 16th. Average number of clear days, 9; partly
cloudy, 11; cloudy, 11.

APRIL. — The mean temperature for the state as shown by the records
of 114 stations, was 48.2 degrees, which is about 1.3 degrees below the nor-
mal for April. The highest monthly mean was 53.1 degrees at Thurman.
and the lowest, 44.2 degrees at Estherville. The means by sections were
as follows: Northern section, 46.3 degrees; central section, 48.1 degrees;
southern section, 50.3 degrees. The highest temperature reported was 96
degrees at Clarinda, on the 20th; lowest, 9 degrees at Larrabee on the 7th.
The average monthly maximum was 87.5 degrees; average monthly mini-
mum 18.9 degrees. The greatest daily range was 59 degrees, at Glenwood;
average of greatest daily ranges, 39.5 degrees. The average precipitation
for the state, as shown by the records of 130 stations, was 1.71 inches, or
1.50 inches below normal. The averages by sections were as follows:
Northern section, 1.34 inches; central section, 1.60 inches; southern sec-
tion, 2.19 inches. The largest amount reported was 4.15 inches at Bona-
parte, Van Buren county; least amount reported, .40 of an inch at Glen-
wood. The greatest daily rainfall reported was 2.95 inches, at Sioux Cen-
ter on the 25th. The average number of days on which .01 inch or more of
rain fell was 5. The prevailing direction of the wind was northwest;
highest velocity reported was 74 miles per hour, from the north at Sioux
City on the 25th. The average number of clear days was 14; partly
cloudy, 11; cloudy, 5.

MAY. — The mean temperature for the state as shown by records of
107 stations, was 63.8 degrees, which is about 4.1 degrees above the
normal for May. The highest monthly mean was 67.8 degrees, at Keo-
sauqua, and the lowest 59.0 degrees at New Hampton. The means by
sections were as follows: Northern section, 61.8 degrees; central sec-
tion, 64.0 degrees; southern section, 65.6 degrees. The highest tempera-
ture reported was 97 degrees at Sigourney on the 20th; lowest 25 degrees,
at Cresco, on the 10th. The average monthly maximum was 88.7 degrees;
average monthly minimum 38.4 degrees. The greatest daily range was
50 degrees, at Pacific Junction; average of greatest daily ranges, 37.7
degrees. The average precipitation for the state, as shown by the records
of 127 stations, was 5.39 inches, or 1.42 inches above normal. The
averages by sections were as follows: Northern section, 6.69 inches; cen-
tral section 5.02 inches; southern section, 4.46 inches. The largest amount
reported was 18.04 inches, at Grand Meadow, Clayton county; least
amount reported was .87 inch at Washta. The greatest daily rainfall
reported was 5.45 inches, at Grand Meadow on the 18th. The average
number of days on which .01 inch or more of rain fell was 13. The pre-
vailing direction of the wind was southeast; highest velocity reported, 50
miles per hour, from the south, at Sioux City, on the 20th. The average
number of clear days was 10; partly cloudy, 12; cloudy, 9.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART III. 163

JUNE. — The month was unseasonably cool, especially in the last half,
The daily mean temperature as shown by the records of 113 stations was
65.2 degrees, which is 4.8 degrees below the June normal. The means by
sections were as follows: Northern section, 64 degrees; central section,
65.4 degrees; southern section, 66.3 degrees. The highest monthly mean
was 69.2 degrees at De Soto; lowest, 60.2 degrees at Cresco. The highest
temperature reported was 97 degrees at Keosauqua on the 10th; lowest,
32 degrees at Sibley on the 22d. The average monthly maximum was
89.9 degrees; average monthly minimum, 38.4 degrees. The greatest
daily range was 42 degrees at Larrabee. Average of greatest daily
ranges, 33 degrees. The average precipitation for the state as shown
by the records of 120 stations was 7.16 inches which is 2.90 inches above
normal. The averages by sections were as follows: Northern section,
5.54 inches; central section, 8.11 inches; southern section, 7.83 inches.
The largest amount reported was 16.04 inches at Grundy Center; least
amount reported, 1.46 inches at Sheldon. The greatest daily rainfall re-
ported was 6.60 inches at Buckingham on the 5th. The average num-
ber of days on which .01 inch or more of rainfall was reported, 14. Pre-
vailing direction of wind, southeast and northwest; highest velocity re-
ported, 48 miles per hour from the west at Sioux City, on the 15th. Tno
average number of clear days was 8: partly cloudy, 11; cloudy, 11.

JULY. — The monthly mean temperature for the state, as shown by
records of 108 stations, was 73.1 degrees, which is 0.6 degrees below nor-
mal. By sections the mean temperatures were as follows: Northern sec-
tion, 71.9 degrees; central section, 73.3 degrees; southern section, 74.2 de-
grees. The highest monthly mean was 76.5 degrees at Keokuk; lowest
monthly mean was 70.2 degrees, at Alta, Fayette, New Hampton and
Northwood. The highest temperature reported was 99 degrees, at St.
Charles on the 17th; lowest temperature reported, 41 degrees, at Clinton
on the 1st. The average monthly maximum was 92.9 degrees; average
monthly minimum, 50.9 degrees. Greatest daily range, 43 degrees at
Plover; average of greatest daily ranges 30.4 degrees. Average precipita-
tion for the state, as shown by records of 125 stations, was 8.67 inches,
which is 4.99 inches above normal. The averages by sections were a^
follows: Northern section, 8.35 inches; central section, 8.84 inches:
southern section, 8.82 inches. The largest amount reported was 13.57
inches, at Odeboldt; least amount reported, 4.87 inches, at Keokuk. The
greatest daily rainfall reported was 6.25 inches, at Ovid on the 17th and
18th. Average number of days on which .01 of an inch or more was
reported 13. Prevailing direction of the wind, southwest; highest veloc-
ity reported, 47 miles per hour, from the south, at Sioux City, on the 5th.
Average number of clear days, 14; partly cloudy, 10; cloudy, 7.

AUGUST. — The monthly mean temperature for the state, as shown
by records of 109 stations, was 69.1 degrees, which is 2.00 degrees below
normal. By sections the mean temperatures were as follows: Northern
section, 67.4 degrees; central section, 69.2 degrees; southern section, 70.6
degrees. The highest monthly mean was 72.8 degrees at Council Bluffs:
lowest monthly mean, 65.2 degrees, at Dows. The highest temperature re-

164 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

ported was 98 degrees at Perry, on the 19th; lowest temperature re-
ported, 37 degrees, at Sibley, on the 11th. The average monthly maximum
was 91.2 degrees; average monthly minimum, 45.0 degrees. Greatest daily
range, 46 degrees at Toledo; averages of greatest daily ranges, 29.9 de-
grees. Average precipitation for the state, as shown by the records of
123 stations, was 6.58 inches, which is 3.51 inches above normal. The
averages by sections were as follows: Northern section, 5.45 inches ;
central section, 6.76 inches; southern section, 7.52 inches. The largest
amount reported was 15.47 inches at Columbus Junction; least
amount reported, 1.57 inches, at Dubuque. The greatest daily rainfall
reported was 6.»6 inches at Allerton on the 25th and 26th. Average num-
ber of days on which .01 of an inch or more was reported, 11. Prevail-
ing direction of the wind, southeast; highest velocity reported, 44 miles
per hour, from the northwest, at Des Moines, on the 19th. Average
number of clear days, 11; partly cloudy, 11; cloudy, 9.

SEPTEMBER. — The monthly mean temperature for the state as shown
by records of 103 stations, was 59.1 degrees, which is 5.2 degrees below
normal. By sections the mean temperature was as follows: Northern
section, 57.9 degrees; central section, 59.3 degrees; southern section, 60.2
degrees. The highest monthly mean was 62.6 degrees at Burlington; low-
est monthly mean, 55 degrees at New Hampton. The highest temperature
reported was 88 degrees, at Denison, Sibley, Sigourney and Council Bluffs
on the 2d and 7th; lowest temperature reported, 23 degrees at Galva on
the 11th. The average monthly maximum was 82.5 degrees; average
monthly minimum, 31.7 degrees. Greatest daily range, 50 degrees at
Galva; average of greatest daily ranges, 37.0 degrees. Average precipita-
tion for the state, as shown by the records of 118 stations, was 4.35
inches, which is 1.36 inches above normal. The averages by sections
were as follows: Northern section, 3.63 inches; central section, 4.49
inches; southern section, 4.93 inches. The largest amount reported was
10.41 inches at Ottumwa; least amount reported, 1.65 at Clear Lake. The
greatest daily rainfall reported was 4.31 inches at Chariton on the 30th.
Average number of days on which .01 of an inch or more was reported,
9. Prevailing direction of wind, northwest; highest velocity reported,
41 miles per hour, from the northwest, at Sioux City on the 8th. Average
number of clear days, 15; partly cloudy, 6; cloudy, 9.

OCTOBER. — The monthly mean temperature for the state, as shown
by records of 112 stations, was 53.5 degrees, which is about 3.00 degrees
above normal. By sections the mean temperatures were as follows: Nor-
thern section, 51.4 degrees; central section, 53.5 degrees; southern sec-
tion 55.7 degrees. The highest monthly mean was 58.4 degrees at Win-
terset; lowest monthly mean, 47.3 at Plover. The highest temperature
reported was 83 degrees at Ida Grove and Council Bluffs on the 10th and
22d; lowest temperature reported, 20 degrees at Plover on the 14th. The
average monthly maximum was 77.6 degrees; average monthly minimum,
27.28. Greatest daily range, 46 degrees at Sibley; average of greatest
daily ranges, 35.7 degrees. Average precipitation for the state, as shown
by records of 130 stations was 2.54 inches, which is .26 of an inch above
normal. The averages by sections were as follows: Northern section,

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR ROOK — PART III. 165

1.24 inches; central section, 2.60 inches; southern section, 3.78 inches.
The largest amount reported was G.6G inches at Newton; least amount
reported, 0.28 of an inch at Sioux Center. The greatest daily rainfall
reported was 3.71 inches at Newton on the 17th. Average number of days
on which .01 of an inch or more was reported, 5. Prevailing direction of
the wind, northwest; highest velocity reported, 42 miles an hour, from
the southwest, at Des Moines on the 25th. Average number of clear days,
16; partly cioudy, 8; cloudy, 7.

NOVEMBER. — The monthly mean temperature for the state, as shown
by records of 108 stations, was 41.2 degrees, which is 8.4 degrees above
normal. By sections the mean temperatures were as follows: Northern
section, 38.1 degrees; central section, 41.8 degrees; southern section, 43.7
degrees. The highest monthly mean was 48.2 degrees at Keokuk; lowest
monthly mean, 35.4, at Sibley. The highest temperature reported was 79
degrees, at Carroll on the 1st; lowest temperature reported, 4 degrees, at
Chester, on the 30th. The average monthly maximum was 69.5 degrees;
average monthly minimum, 16.0 degrees. Greatest daily range, 46 degrees,
at Denison; average of greatest daily ranges, 31.4 degrees. Average pre-
cipitation for the state, as shown by the records of 127 stations, was 2,13
inches, which is .71 of an inch above normal. The averages by sections
were as follows: Northern section, 2.08 inches; central section, 1.04
inches; southern section, 2.37 inches. The largest amount reported was
4.19 inches, at Stockport; least amount reported, .16 of an inch at Sioux
City. The greatest daily rainfall reported was 2.20 inches, at Charles
City, on the 14th. Average number of days on which .01 of an inch or
more was reported, 7. Prevailing direction of the wind, northwest; higu-
est velocity reported, 42 miles per hour, from the south, at Sioux City, on
the 7th. Average number of clear days, 9; partly cloudy, 7; cloudy, 14.

DECEMBER. — The monthly mean temperature for the state, as shown
by records of 109 stations, was 20.1 degrees, which is 3.5 degrees below
normal. By sections the mean temperatures were as follows: Northeru
section, 17.4 degrees; central section, 20.4 degrees; southern section,
22.4 degrees. The highest monthly mean was 27.0 degrees, at Keokuk;
lowest monthly mean, 14.6 degrees at Alta and Estherville. The highest
temperature reported was 59 degrees, at Albia, on the 1st; lowest temper-
ature reported 20 degrees at Estherville on the 26th. The average
monthly maximum was 47.2 degrees; average monthly minimum, 10. 'J
degrees. Greatest daily range, 41 degrees at Charles City and Sheldon;
average of greatest daily ranges, 30.8 degrees. Average precipitation for the
state, as shown by records of 123 stations, was 2.23 inches, which is 0.85
degrees above normal. The averages by sections were as follows: North-
ern section, 2.32 inches; central section, 2.13 inches; southern section,
2.24 inches. The largest amount reported was 5.51 inches at Ridgeway;
least amount reported, .67 of an inch at Ottumwa. The greatest daily
rainfall reported was 2.15 inches at Le Mars, on the 20th. Average num-
ber of days on which .01 of an inch or more was reported, 8. Prevailing
direction of the wind, northwest; highest velocity reported, 50 miles per
hour, from the northwest, at Sioux City on the 24th. Average number
of clear days, y; partly cloudy, 6; cloudy, 16.

166

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART III. 1(57

REVIEW OF THE CROP SEASON 1902.

January, 1902, was warmer than usual, the daily mean temperature
being about five degrees above normal, and the average precipitation for
the state was below normal. February temperature averaged about four
degrees below normal and the precipitation was less than the normal
amount, the larger part coming about the close of the month. The winter
as a whole was about as moderate and favorable as the average in this
section.

March was warmer than usual, the mean temperature ranging from
four to seven degrees above the normal. Wintry weather of considerable
severity prevailed from the first to the fourth and from the fifteenth to
the nineteenth, but the balance of the month was montly springlike and
unusually favorable for early farm operations. The soil was in excellent
condition for plowing, and seeding of spring wheat and oats was well
advanced before the close of the month. The season opened from ten
days to two weeks earlier than the average in this section. The cold
wave and high wind, prevalent from the sixteenth to the eighteenth,
caused some damage to winter wheat in the southern and central coun-
ties, and delayed spring seeding in all parts of the state. The average
precipitation was below normal, but there was ample moisture to facili-
tate plowing and for germination of grain.

April was slightly cooler and drier than usual, the abnormal condi-
tions prevailing for the most part through the first and second decades.
The last decade was seasonably warm, and copious showers relieved
apprehensions of a serious drouth. The worst features of the month were
the frequent dust storms and strong gales, which caused considerable
damage to windmills, trees and light structures, and wrought some injury
to newly seeded grain crops in exposed localities, by uncovering the
grain or blowing the loose soil into drifts. The conditions, however, were
generally favorable for field work, and more than usual progress was
made in seeding and preparing the ground for planting corn. In southern
localities the planters were started about the twenty-eighth to thirtith of
April. The germination of small grain was retarded by the cold and dry
weather in the first half of the month, but there was considerable mois-
ture below the dry surface to quicken the growth when the soil became
warmer during the last decade. At the close of the month the grain crops
were making a fair stand and the outlook was generally promising. The
foliage and bloom on fruit trees appeared very near the normal period.
There was a fair prospect for apples, plums and cherries, but peach buds
were not in evidence, and the smaller fruits did not give promise of full
average crops. Pastures and meadows were late in starting, but the growth
was fairly good at close of April.

In marked contrast with the preceding month, May was warm and
showery. The daily excess in temperature was about four degrees. The
average rainfall for the state was 5.39 inches, which is 1.42 inches above
normal. There was great inequality in the distribution of rainfall, rang-

168 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

ing from .87 of an inch at Washta, Cherokee county, to 18.04 inches at
Grand Meadow, Clayton county. The area of the marked deficiency was
limited to a small portion of the northwest district. The northern sec-
tion received the heaviest rainfall, and the eastern half of that section
the bulk of that amount. But the soil was very dry, and in excellent
condition to absorb and retain a goodly portion of the copious moisture;
and despite the interruption of frequent rainy days the work of planting
corn progressed rapidly between showers, so that before the close of the
month the corn area was practically planted. The seed was generally
good, and a fair stand of corn was secured, with not more than the usual
amount of replanting. Cultivation was begun early, and in portions of
the state where the rainfall was about normal, or less than normal, the
crop was most thoroughly cleaned and made most satisfactory progress.
Generally corn was rated in high condition on June 1st. The copious
rains, though not so favorable for corn planting and cultivating, were
highly favorable to grass in pastures and meadows, and caused a heavy
growth of all small grain crops. Except in portions of the northwest dis-
trict spring wheat, oats and barley showed a tendency to rankness, caus-
ing apprehension of damage by lodging and rust. The potato crop was
generally very promising at close of the month, and garden truck was
seldom in better condition at the corresponding date.

June was an abnormal month in respect to temperature, amount of
rainfall and excess of cloudiness. The daily average temperature for the
state was about five degrees below normal, and the daily average of the
last decade was about eleven degrees colder than the first decade of the
month' — a reversal of usual conditions. At the central station the records
show only 49 per cent of sunshine for the month, and about 75 per cent
of mean relative humidity. On the mornings of the 21st and 22d frost
was observed at numerous stations, with some damaging results in the
northwest district. The average rainfall was 7.16 inches, which is 2.90
inches above normal. The heaviest amounts were recorded in the central
district, and the lowest in several counties of the northwest district. One
striking feature was the fact that showers fell in some portion of the
state every day in the month. The average number of clear days for all
stations of record was only eight, as against an average of twenty-two
cloudy or partly cloudy days. As a result of these abnormal weather
conditions farming operations were greatly retarded, and in the wettest
portions field work was wholly impracticable except at short intervals
between showers. On the river bottoms in the central counties many
thousand acres of corn, small grain and meadows were flooded and the
crops practically ruined. But despite all the drawbacks fully three-fourths
of the corn acreage had been fairly well cultivated, and the average con-
dition of early planted fields was promising at close of the month. The
oats crop grew unusually rank on rich lands in all sections where the
rainfall was at or above normal, and there was a tendency to rust. At
close of the month oats and spring wheat were filling well, and were
standing up remarkably well, though bulky in straw. Winter wheat, rye
and clover harvest was begun, but the wet weather was unfavorable for

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART III. 169

securing hay and grain. Potatoes, pastures and garden vegetables made
great advancement. The wet weather was very favorable for new seed
ing of grasses.

In respect to temperature, July was about normal, the average for
the state being seventy-three degrees; but the month broke all records as
to amount and distribution of rainfall, frequency of showers, severe wind
squalls and extent of overflow of the principal rivers of the state. The
average precipitation was 8.67 inches, or about 5 inches above normal,
and the reports of all stations of record showed an excess. As in the
preceding month of June, the records showed a measurable amount of
rainfall every day during the month, at one or more stations. These
adverse conditions greatly retarded the cultivation of late corn, and har-
vesting the matured crops of hay and small grain. The saturated grain
fields were rendered too soft for operation of harvesting machinery. The
heavy storms of rain and wind caused lodgment of oats, wheat, barley
and grass to a much greater extent than was ever known in previous
years, and this added greatly to the labor and difficulty in securing the
heavy burdens of grain and hay. There was, therefore, a much larger
percentage of loss of acreage and damage to quality of these crops than
was ever known in this state* in recent years. But despite these unusual
drawbacks, by strenuous labor between showers, the farmers secured a
considerable amount of hay in fair condition, and the small grain crops
were put in shock or stack. Corn in upland fields that had been well
tilled was in fair condition, being bulky and heavily eared. Potatoes
exceeded all recent records. All kinds of garden truck made heavy
growth. Apples suffered materially from windstorms.

The abnormal features prevalent in June and July continued
throughout the larger part of August, the cool, cloudy and showery
weather making altogether the wettest and most unfavorable season for
cultivating crops and harvesting hay and grain that has been experienced
in Iowa during the past thirty-three years. The daily mean temperature for
August was two degrees below normal, and the average rainfall, 5.58

inches, 3.51 inches above the normal amount. Cool nights, cloudy

days, frequent showers, excessive humidity of the air and saturated soil,
retarded the ripening of corn and rendered it well nigh impossible to
carry on the usual harvest operations. At the close of the month corn
was about two weeks later than usual, with rank growth of stalks and
very heavily eared. The late planted portion of the crop was green as
in June, and its immature condition indicated the need of a full month
of warm and dry weather to bring it to the stage to withstand killing
frosts. The oats crop suffered greatest damage in shock and stack, and
a very large percentage has been ruined. Spring wheat was injured, but
the total loss was not so great. Barley was discolored and much of it
rendered unmarketable. The hay crop was badly damaged, but there was
partial compensation in the growth of very heavy aftermath. Potatoes
suffered materially by rot and blight of tops.

The month of September was also cold, cloudy and wet. The daily
average temperature being five degrees below normal and the rainfall,
12

170 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

4.35 inches, was 1.36 inches above the average for that month. The gen-
erally saturated condition of the soil retarded field work, and corn and
other unripened crops made slow progress toward maturity. The period
of low temperature from the eleventh to the thirteenth, with frost and
ice in all districts, caused great injury to belated corn, especially on low
ground and in the northern half of the state, where the crop was least
advanced. All reports indicated very heavy damage from the untimely
frosts and continued prevalence of unseasonable weather.

October was nearly normal in amount of rainfall, though portions of
the central and southern sections received a considerable excess. The
temperature was about three degrees above normal and there was a fair
amount of -sunshine. In large areas the soil was too wet for plowing, and
many corn fields were not dry enough for harvesting the crop. Novem-
ber was warmer than usual, with excess of moisture, humidity and cloud-
iness. The conditions were measurably unfavorable and at the close of
the month fully 25 per cent of the corn crop was still afield and much of
it was lying on the ground and covered with snow. The wintry condi-
tions prevalent throughout December afforded but little opportunity to
secure the unharvested portion of the crop.

The season was generally very productive in respect to the bulk of
all soil products, but the quality has been much impaired, and a large
percentage of small grain and corn was practically destroyed. The final
reports show a full average yield of corn in bushels per acre, but fully 55
per cent of it was below the merchantable grade, and its value in the
markets was correspondingly low. Pasturage has been unusually heavy,
though in quality it was below the normal standard. The potato crop,
as a whole, was much better than in recent years, though there was some
loss from rotting. Apples yielded more abundantly than was anticipated
in midsummer.

CROP REPORT JUNE 1ST.

Reports of county and township correspondents show the following
results as to the number of acres and average conditions on June 1st of
staple farm crops at the outset of the crop season of 1902:

Corn. — The total number of acres planted appears to be 9,208,980 —
an increase of 521,500 acres, or about 6 per cent, as compared with the
acreage of 1901. The average condition of corn in respect to stand and
vigor of plant on June 1st was rated at 97 per cent, as against 90i per cent
on the corresponding date last year. Due consideration should be given
to the fact that since June 1st both the acreage and condition of corn have
been materially lowered by the excessive rains in extensive areas of the
state, causing damaging erosion of slopes and flooding of bolttom lands.

Wheat — 'The acreage of winter wheat is shown to be only 48,449
acres, which is very nearly the amount returned by township assessors
last year. The number of acres of spring wheat is placed at 1,152,985
acres, which is 14,695 acres above the area seeded in 1901. The condi-
tion of winter wheat is rated 96 per cent, and spring wheat 99 per cent.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART III. 171

Oats. — Acreage, 3,770,620 acres — a decrease of 28,600 acres, compared
with last year. The average condition of the crop is placed at 98 per
cent, as against 89 per cent at same date last year.

Barley. — Number of acres. 594,670; decrease, 9,490, compared with
last year. Condition, 100 per cent, as against 93 in 1901.

Rye. — Number of acres. 53,150— a slight decrease; condition, 99 per
cent.

Flax. — Number of acres seeded, 94,760; decrease, as compared with
last year, 9,380 acres. Condition of crops, 98 per cent, as against 89 per
cent at corresponding date in 1901.

Potatoes. — Acres planted, 138,484 — an increase of 2,184 acres. Con-
dition, 103 per cent, as against 95 per cent June 1, 1901.

Meadows. — Number of acres, 2,515,000; decrease since last year, 176 r
550 acres. Condition June 1st, 96 per cent, as against 90 per cent last
year.

Pastures. — Number of acres, 7,820,140 acres, a decrease of 287,300
acres, compared with last year.

Condition of Live Stock. — Cattle, 96 per cent; sheep, 97; hogs, 96;
spring pig crop, 92; horses, 97; foals, 98.

Secretary Greene, of the State Horticultural Society, issued for June
1st the following summary as to condition of fruit: Apples, 65 per cent;
American plums, 51; cherries, 40; currants, 70; grapes, 70; red rasp-
berries, 42; black raspberries, 57; blackberries, 47; strawberries, 63 per
cent.

172

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

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THIRD ANNUAL YEAR ROOK — PART III. 175

CROP REPORT JULY 1ST.

Following was the estimated condition of crops July 1, 1902:

Corn, 92 per cent, a decline of 5 points since June 1st; winter wheat,
96; spring wheat, 97; oats, 95; rye, 98; barley, 97; flax, 99; potatoes, 10S;
hay crop, 99; pastures, 107; apples, 65; plums, 50; grapes, 65.

At the corresponding date in 1901 the averages were as follows:
Corn, 90 per cent; winter wheat, 93; spring wheat, 93; oats, 85; rye, 95;
flax, 94; barley, 93; potatoes, 92; hay crop, 76; pastures, 80; apples, 51;
plums, 70; grapes, 90.

The blanks issued for the July report called for a revised estimate
of the acreage of corn, compared with the number of acres harvested last
year; and reporters were requested to make due allowance for reduction
of acreage as the result of excessive storms and floods since June 1st.
The tabulated report showed a material reduction, the revised aggregate
for the state being 8,693,900 acres, which amount is 504,780 acres less
than the estimates of the previous month.

CROP REPORT AUGUST 1ST.

Reports of crop correspondents of the Iowa Weather and Crop Service
showed the following average condition of the staple farm crops August
1st:

Corn, 93 per cent; spring wheat, 84; oats, 83; barley, 89; flax, 91;
hay, 100; potatoes, 107; apples, 66; plums, 51.

In 1901 at the corresponding date the averages were as follows:
Corn, 55 per cent; spring wheat, 84; oats, 75; barley, 83; flax, 74; hay,
70; potatoes, 34; apples, 35; plums, 40.

FINAL CROP REPORT DECEMBER 1, 1902.

Average Yield Per Acre, Totals for the State and Average Prices, Decem-
ber 1, 1902.

Following is a summary of crop reports received from the corre-
sspondents of the Iowa weather and crop service, showing the average
yield per acre and totals for the state of staple farm products for the
past season, and the average prices at the farms or nearest stations De-
cember 1, 1902. As the larger portion of the season's output will be con-
sumed on the farms, and marketed in the form ofc beef, pork, mutton,
horses, dairy and poultry products, etc., the actual value of the crops is
materially higher than is shown by the figures representing the local
prices obtainable at this time.

The Corn Crop. — In bulk, expressed in bushels, the corn crop is
reported to be a little above the ten-year average, the yield per acre

176 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

being about thirty-four bushels, and the total for the state grown on an
area of about 8,700,000 acres, is 29G,950,230 bushels.

On account of the unfavorable character of the crop season, and the
unusually variable condition of the corn crop a special report was called
for in answer to inquiries as to the average yield of hard and soft corn,
the percentage that is sound and merchantable, the local price of sound
corn and the feeding value of the softer portion of the crop. The tabu-
lated reports show the following results of this investigation: Dividing
the state into three sections, or belts three counties wide crossing east
to west, we find that in the northern section (thirty counties) the sound
corn is estimated at 29 per cent; in the central section (thirty-eight
counties) it is 48 per cent; and in the southern section (thirty-one coun-
ties) the average is 64 per cent. For the state as a whole the average
condition appears to be 47 per cent sound and merchantable, and 53 per
cent graded as soft, chaffy or unmerchantable. The total yield by sec-
tions is as follows: Northern section, in round numbers, 73,000,000
bushels; central section, 129,000,000 bushels; southern section. 94,000,000
bushels.

The average local price of the sound corn is reported to be 35 cents
per bushel, and the average feeding value of the softer portion is esti-
mated at 22 cents per bushel.

This serves as a basis for estimating the total value of the corn crop
this year in round numbers at $83,000,000. Last year the yield was 227,-
000,000 bushels and the value $113,000,000. In 1900 the total yield was
345,000,000 bushels, and the value, at the current prices, $93,000,000.

Wheat. — The acreage of winter wheat is small, and the total yield
appears to be only 825,045 bushels, an average of eighteen bushels per
acre. In spring wheat the yield is thirteen bushels per acre and a total
of 12,680,800 bushels. The total yields of both winter and spring wheat is 13,-
532,845 bushels. The quality of the wheat is generally poor, on acount of the
very wet harvest, and the price of winter wheat is reported to be 55 cents,
and spring wheat 52 cents. The total value of the crop appears to be $7,002,-
640. Last year the yield was 18,295,000 bushels and the value was $10,-
976,000.

Oats. — This crop suffered greater damage than any other cereal from
effects of excessive rains, and it has been impracticable to secure reports
as to the extent of total loss, and the quality of the grain that was
secured in condition to repay th'e cost of threshing. The returns from
correspondents indicate an average yield of thirty-four bushels per acre
from the portion of the crop that was secured and threshed. Making a liberal
deduction from the acreage planted in each county we have a total of
92,907,960 bushels, as against 114,000,000 bushels last year, and 138,000,-
000 bushels in 1900. The average local value of this year's product
appears to be 24 cents per bushel and the total $22,297,910. Last year's
oats crop was valued at $40,209,000.

Barley. — Estimated yield per acre, twenty-five bushels, and total
yield, 15,380,940, valued at 33 cents per bushel, or a total of $5,075,710.
Last year's crop was 14,654,000 bushels, worth $6,447,000.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART III.

177

Rye. — Average per acre, seventeen bushels; yield, 882,830 bushels;
worth 40 cents per bushel, and the total, $353,132. Last year's crop, 859,-
630 bushels, valued at $411,762.

Flax. — Product, 725,350 bushels; yield per acre, eight bushels. Value
about $1.00 per bushel. Last year's crop, 916,880, worth $1,182,000.

Potatoes. — Product, eighty-one bushels per acre; total yield, 12,051,-
670 bushels. Price, 34 cents; total value, $4,097,567. Last year's product,
5,098,000 bushels, valued at $4,588,000. In 1900 the crop was 10,850,000
bushels, worth $4,340,000.

Hay (tame). — Product. 4.439,040 tons — an average of 1.8 per acre.
Value, $6.80 per ton; total value, $30,171,592. Last year's output, 3,711,000
tons, valued at $30,721,000.

Hay (wild). — Average yield. 1.3 tons per acre; total yield, 1,202,860
tons, worth $5.50 per ton; total value, $6,615,730. Last year the product
was 1,268,700 tons, worth $7,992,000.

The estimated value of sweet potatoes is about $320,000. Sorghum,
$250,000; broom corn, $40,000. Timothy seed is estimated at $750,000;
clover seed unknown and not ascertainable as to value.

Corn fodder in shock and fields probably worth half as much as last
year, or about $10,000,000.

Pasturage; bulky, early and late, and worth at leasit $35,000,000.

Fruits and vegetables are estimated at $9,500,000, which is a con-
servative figure.

TABULATED CROP SUMMARY.

TOTAL
PRODUCT,
BUSHELS.

FAHM VALUE
DEC. 1, J 902.

Corn

Wheat

Oats

Barley

Rye

Flax

Potatoes

Hay 'tame)

Hay (wild)

Sweet Potatoes

Sorghum

Broom Corn

Timothy Seed

Corn Fodder

Pasturage

Fruits and vegetables

296,910,230
13,512,845
92,907,900

15.181,940
882,830
755, 150
12,051,670
*4. 439,940
*1, 202, 860

S3, 132,708
7,012,640
22,297,930

5, 075, 710

353, 132

755, 350

4,097,567

30,171,592

0,015,730

320, COO

259, 000

40,000

750, 000

10,000,000

36,000,000

9,500,000

Total soil products

$ 215,722,339

* Tons.

As to the corn crop, it is proper to add that a considerable percent-
age is still ungathered and subjected to the vicissitudes of the weather,
which at this time is unfavorable for securing the full product. The fig-
ures as to all the crops are submitted as the best that can be secured at
this time, under exceptional conditions.

The grand total for last year was $274,000,000, and in 1900 it was in
round numbers $229,000,000.

178

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

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IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

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THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART IV. 181

PART IV.

IOWA STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
AND MECHANIC ARTS.

A TEN DAYS' COURSE IN AGRICULTURE FOR THE BUSY FARMER.

By W. H. Olin.

Professor Curtiss, as the director of the work in agriculture, and
Professor Kennedy, as professor of animal husbandry in the Iowa State
College at Ames, decided in 1901 to offer to farmers of the state who
could spare the time in January to come to the college, a ten days' course
in the study of farm stock, using all the college facilities for this work.
Fully two hundred responded to this invitation the first year.

Last year Professor Curtiss added corn judging to the course. This
met with such success that this year Professor Kennedy in charge of
live stock judging and Professor Holden in charge of the corn judging
classes arranged the work in four periods of two hours each, while the
classes were divided into two sections. This gave each section four
hours each day for corn and four hours for stock judging.

This short course school was held during the midwinter vacation — ■
January 5th to 17th, just when farmers could best get away from home
and the professors could give all their time to the work.

The good work done preceding years caused an increased enrollment
of earnest, zealous farmers with their sons who came "to do business."

Nearly every county in Iowa was represented, while corn-growing and
stock-raising farmers from Canada, Mexico, Virginia, Kansas, Wisconsin,
Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, Minnesota and Illinois came to share with
them the practical instruction given at this school, taxing both the
agronomy and agricultural husbandry departments to handle the large
classes.

More than three hundred and fifty students were regularly enrolled
taking full work in both departments, while those only present for part
time made the attendance over four hundred.

WORK IN CORX JUDGING.

The corn school was held in the college dining hall, the largest room
in any building on the campus. Here forty tables- provided room for 160
students in a class, giving two samples of corn of ten ears each for every
student.

Farmers owning from one hundred to one thousand acres of land came
to this school that they might learn how to make their seed selections

1S2

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

for the coming season. Men sixty years of age entered this corn work
with all the energy of the sturdy farm youth working by their side;.

All took the work with such unbounded enthusiasm that no one was-
left simply to "browse around."

Hundreds of samples of the very best corn obtainable in the whole
corn belt, representing all the present standard varieties, were given
the classes for study.

This work consisted in the study of a unit ear, then a group of ten
ears, kernel characteristics, breed characteristics and finally sample scor-
ing and variety differences.

This diligent work at the corn tables was changed
when the students became somewhat weary, chairs
were drawn from under the tables, and the class was
seated while Professors Holden, Shamel and Steven-
son gave helpful, instructive talks on important and
essential things to know about breeding and improv-
ing corn.

Mr. James Eeid sent the school two ears of his
model type of Reid's Yellow Dent as now improved,
together with an ear of the type from which this corn
was developed, over fifty years ago.

Mr. Nims of Emerson, Iowa, originator of the
Legal Tender corn, and Mr. Thad. Chester of Cham-
paign, 111., whose father procured his Learning corn
from the originator of this variety, gave the corn
school the benefit of their experience with corn and
Professor A. D. Shamel gave the school the history of
the standard varieties here studied by the students.

Most helpful discussion on proper methods of pre-
paring, planting and cultivating corn were given in
the inspiring "experience meeting" held from time
to time in the afternoon sessions under direction of
Professors Holden and Shamel. The work in the
class room, the talks and discussions all brought out
these facts:

1. Vitality of all seed corn should be tested. This
alone enables one to secure healthy, vigorous plants.
Unless 97 per cent of seeds germinate, best not to use
this corn.

2. Shape and size of kernel planted all important
in getting a good stand. A good planter illustrated
this by using uniform and irregular kernels and
noting uniformity in number of kernels dropped in
the first instance, and the irregularity in the number
dropped in the second instance, when irregular ker-
nels were used or those of different shapes and sizes.

TIIIKD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART IV.

183

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184 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

3. Character of ear, condition of corn and percentage of corn to cob,
all important in working up good, marketable corn and good yields.

4. The acre' the unit for all tests, be it quantity, quality, or special
characteristics.

The value of this work in corn is clearly shown by the experience
given by a farmer who attended the corn school last year. He says:

"I came here last winter, went home and picked out a bushel and a
half of seed corn from seventeen bushels I had reserved for seed. This
bushel and a half I shelled and prepared for planting by discarding all
large and all small grains. My seed corn when finally ready to plant,
was uniform in size of grains. I secured an unusually good stand, and
a yield of over seventy-five busnels per acre, which was exceptional! ; T
good for this last year (1902). This superior yield I attribute wholly to
the knowledge gained here this last winter."

Air. R. S. Hooper, foreman of a large corn and stock farm in Mis-
souri, could scarcely say enough of the value he felt the school of 1903
would prove to him, while Mr. E. G. Butler, from the far-famed and his-
toric Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, told the writer of this sketch:

"I never dreamed there was so much to be learned about common
corn. It is one of the staple crops in our valley and I am going home
to put in practice the things I nave learned here. They have been of
great value to me, and will revolutionize our methods of raising corn
in Virginia."

The corn school closed with an examination; those passing a satis-
factory test were granted corn judging certificates by the agronomy depart-
ment of the college. Two hundred and fifty students took this examina-
tion.

The Ioica Homestead offered $68 in prizes for the best corn exhibited
by students enrolled in the school and $32 in prizes to the best corn
judges shown by the examinations. This together with the enthusiasm
developed in the school led to the organizing of a Corn Growers' Associa-
tion. The objects of this association are: "Improvement and develop-
ment of varieties of corn adapted to Iowa; to encourage better and more
thorough methods of cultivation; to secure better seed and to aid in
the organization of local clubs for the study and improvement of corn."

The state nas been divided into three primary districts and each of
these into a number of subordinate districts with an executive officer in
each. Two hundred and seventy-five dollars has been subscribed for pre-
miums at the corn school in 1904 and the members confidently hope to
raise the full amount to $1,200 before the close of the year.

A Grand Champion Prize has been promised by the Wallaces' Farmer,
Mr. A. E. Cook of Odeboldt promises a Trophy Prize, Mr. Whiting in
charge of the Agricultural exhibit for Iowa at the World's Fair at
St. Louis, Missouri, will give another Trophy Prize* and still others are
in sight.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART IV. 185

Mr. Grant Chapman of Bagley was elected president, Mr. George S.
Forest Miles, secretary-treasurer and Mr. Asa Plummer of Maxwell as
vice-president of the new association.

THE STOCK JUDGING SCHOOL.

The stock judging pavilion proved too small for the number seeking
this work. The college has excellent animals in all classes of farm stock
for class study as well as practical work in feeding and breeding.

The work the college is doing in breeding for certain types and spe-
cific purposes in sheep, hogs and cattle proved as interesting as the
judging of the animals themselves. Professor Kennedy was assisted in
this work by Professor C. F. Curtiss, Dean of Agriculture and Professor
E. C. Marshall, assistant in animal husbandry.

Dr. J. Perchbacher of Janesville, Wisconsin, gave a demonstrated
lecture on horseshoeing. Dr. McNeal of the Iowa Station staff gave a lec-
ture on anatomy, Mr. George Heyl, of Washington, Illinois, lectured on
swine, while Mr. Dobson of Marine, Iowa, brought over some light road-
sters and gave an illustration of high action in horses. One horse repre-
sented the quality that tops the New xork market and is valued at $3,800.
The three roadsters made an interesting contrast with the three Perch-
eron draft horses sent out from the Frye Horse Farm.

Probably the most attractive features of the live stock work were the
slaughter test and block demonstrations given at the close of the course.
Mr. M. F. Mullins, foreman of the killing department of the Agar Pack-
ing Company of Des Moines gave the students an object lesson in slaugh-
tering that revealed the science as well as the art of his profession. Mr.
Mullins holds the championship of the world on speed in slaughtering ani-
mals.

For this work the following animals were provided:

1. The yearling grade Angus, Thistle, a prize winner in his class at
International, 1902, winner of the Angus Special, and one of the three ani-
mals with which the college won grand champion herd prize over all
other breeds.

2. A fat Angus heifer purchased in the Omaha market.

3. The best market topper that could be obtained in Omaha, Janu-
ary 12th.

4. An old cow representative of the canner type of beef.

With Thistle, the expert butcher showed how Christmas beeves are
slaughtered and dressed for the block. He proved a veritable artist with
the knife as with deft and rapid swinging strokes, he rolled back th*
black fur from the carcass. When the carcass was halved, using the butch-
er's knife as pencil, chisel and mallet, he decorated the carcass with
holly sprays.

13

186

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Half Carcass of Thistle (which meat dressed
out 69 per cent of salable meat).

Half Carcass of Canner Cow (which
dressed out 43 per cent of salable
meat).

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART IV. 187

With the canner cow, Mr. Mullins gave the students some idea of
what he could do when he had conveniences for his work. It was just 70
seconds from tne time he began skinning the head until it was completely
dressed and severed from the body; from severing of the head until the
carcass hung on the hooks, skinned, dressed and halved was six minutes
and four seconds, and from the time the canner fell to the floor, was bled,
dressed, halved, thoroughly washed and hung on hooks dressed for the
hiorl< 17 minutes. With few conveniences for rapid work, still this was
undoubtedly the greatest exhibition of humane, skillful and rapid slaugh-
ter work ever given before a body of students.

Diagram showing Thistle's carcass cuts with value of each.

After being in the cooler forty-eight hours, the meat was brought out
placed on tables in middle of stock pavilion and Mr. John Gosling, un-
doubtedly the greatest beef expert in this country, gave a demonstrative
lecture upon it.

Mr. Gosling showed the composition of the different types of beef,
gave the students the points of beef, and with his expert cutter, Mr. 0. F.
Eckert, of Weber's market, Kansas City, Missouri, cut up the 3,000 lbs.
of meat before him and showed the students the different kinds of beef
in one and the same animal.

The "eye" of the beef was pointed out, the hanging tenderloin ex-
plained, the regular roll, Spencer roll, the shoulder cloy, sweet bread ex-
plained, that delicacy to so many meat eaters and so on through the
butcher's cuts.

The seven distinctive block cuts are here given of Thistle, with weight
of each and value as fixed by Mr. Reid of the Ames local market. The
value of careful cutting by making the loin and rib cuts, the high priced
cuts of all animals, was interestingly shown. As Mr. Eckert measured
with eye and knife to so divide that he would make the greatest possible
percentage of high priced cuts and at the same time give each one good
quality, the lecturer remarked: "The proper cutting of the beef carcass
often means many dollars, for from the same quarter comes the porter
house worth 17 1-2 to 20 cents per pound and a low priced cut worth 3 1-2
to 6 cents per pound. The turn of the knife may mean many cents a poun'I
less to the butcher or a poor quality to the consumer."

188

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

The weights, percentages and market value of the four animals used
for this, work are given below:

MARKET
VALUE.

LIVE
WEIGHT.

DRESSED WEIGHT.

Fore
quarter.

Hind
quarter.

Total.

DRESSED.

Thistle

1,480

1, 330

1,390

980

274
204
193
109

237
204
207
103

1,022
816
800
424

69.

$ 4.40
5 00
2.70

61.3
57.5

Canner cow

43.2

THISTLE ON THE BLOCK.

CUT.

WEIGHT
LBS.

MARKET
VALUE
PER LB.

VALUE

OF

CUT.

2. Ribs

186
114
208
226
153
80
38

1,005
90
119

1,214

20 C
15 C

8 c
7 c
5 c

3y 2 c

$ 37. 20 I
17.10(*
lfi. 64

3. Round

4. Chuck .

15.82

5. Plate

6. Flank

7.65
2.80

1.33

5 c
2 c

$ 98. 54

Tallow

4.50
2.38

$105. 42

*High priced cuts, 29. 35 per cent.

Live weight

Dressed weight

Net percentage of beef

.1,480
.1,022

Mr. Gosling showed the students with Thistle's carcass, that when
they felt the back of a beef animal and found as they supposed flesh,
they were feeling no muscular tissue whatever for flesh never gets over
the backbone. It is spine fat that, is felt. This spine fat on Thistle was
from one inch to one and one-half inches thick. He also showed that
much coarse muscle or gristle is due to the animal being range fed. Elk
and deer meat is never marbled on account of the constant use of the
muscles. Thistle was cited as an excellent illustration of well marbled
meat.

The fact that the fat Omaha steer was rated in the market at 60 cents
per hundred more and dressed out 3.8 per cent less than the fat heifer
was commented on; also it was noted that the heifer dressed out more
yellow in color. Heifers usually dress out a smaller per cent than the
same weight of steer.

Mr. Gosling is a forceful teacher, a clear demonstrator and as expert
a judge of good beef on the hoof as on the hook.

The editor of the Farmer's Review, Chicago, speaks for all, when he
says: "We are going ahead of the world in this kind of work. Nowhere
else have students such grand opportunities for study along both scien-
tific and practical lines, and the Iowa educators deserve all the fine repu-
tation and renown that is accruing to them." They have not only fed
animals that are good enough to win, but animals that dress up well as it

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART IV. 189

is possible for animals to dress. This is shown by the recent victory at
the International Live Stock Exposition; on foot, and by the block test at
Ames, where Thistle dressed out no less than 69 per cent net to gross
weight. To most of the young men who enjoyed the privilege of viewing
these carcasses the sight must have been novel and interesting. From the
time of this exhibit they will possess different ideas on the subject of beef
production and the lessons learned cannot but benefit them in their future
work on the farm. They have seen how the different cuts are selected
how quality is appraised, that good beef is marbled with fat, what pro-
portion the cheap cuts bear to the high priced ones, how the fore quart-
ers weigh out compared with hind ones, how the tallow of a well fed,
early matured beast looks, compared with that of a tough old canner, and
we expert also have learned how good beef feels. The latter is a point
sometimes forgotten in teaching the business of judging meat, but the
skilled meat cutter can tell, by merely running his fingers lightly over a
freshly cut rib roast, exactly what class it belongs in and how it will
'eat on the table." The trained finger tells the grain of the meat and that
silky quality that is only found in well fed, choice young meat.

Each evening during the ten days the students gathered in a mass
meeting for lectures and general discussions.

While the work in this course can in no way be equal to the train-
ing given in the longer course, it does broaden the one who can come,

(M *|Hr

1

B 1

•'fX H

Carcass of Angus fiteer, Thistle, killed during
beef dressing demonstration at Ames.

190 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

gives him many new ideas, makes him a greater student of his farm work
and thus, in the end, a better farmer, a stronger citizen, a nobler man.

One of the immediate results of the work in corn is a series of co-
operative experiments planned at the short course school. Prof. Holden
purposes to purchase choice seed corn and send to those who have signi-
fied their desire to co-operate with him in seeking to establish over the
state standard varieties of pure bred corn best adapted to that particular
locality. He is seeking to have these experiments carried on in each
county in Iowa. It will undoubtedly be of incalculable value to this, one
of the leading corn states in the union. Hearty co-operation with Pro-
fessors Kennedy and Holden on the part of Iowa farmers in feeding
steers and growing corn means added value to the intrinsic worth of our
"Hawkeye State."

THIRD ANNUAL VKAK BOOK — PART V. 191

PART V.

IOWA IMPROVED STOCK BREEDERS'
ASSOCIATION.

TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL SESSION.

The twenty-ninth animal convention of the Iowa Improved Stock
Breders' Association convened in the opera house at Newton,
Iowa. January 2 Lst, at 1 :30 p. in. The meeting was called to order
\,\ Secretary E. II. White. A letter from President W. M. Mc-
Fadden was read, stating his inability to he present.

Mi - . Foresl of Miles was appointed temporary chairman.

ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT.

W. M. McFadden.

The underlying principle of live stock breeding is supposed to be
like begets like." For some years we have been rapidly developing the
idea that farming and stock raising is a profession, and that numerous
scientific principles are the basis upon which successful farming is con-
ducted, but the experiences of the past two years by Iowa farmers are
calculated to shake both these theories.

It is doubtful if the history of agriculture in this state has ever seen
two years so remarkably different in all respects. A year ago we thought
we had laid by many rules and helpful hints for dry weather; all our
experience, all our study had been along the line of what was best to
do to combat the troubles and annoyances incident to a dry season. All
of these carefully cherished rules must now be decidedly rusty — if not
entirely washed away.

I think the records show the greatest amount of rainfall during the
past season that has ever been recorded in Iowa. These two seasons
have brought into play all the different rules, hints and suggestions that
any kind of a previous season has ever before suggested. What we
learned in 1901 we found little or no use for in 1902. The crops that
were successful, the methods of handling stock that were just right in
one year would totally fail the next.

In no other business or profession, it seems to me, is there so con-
stantly coming up questions to be met and settled that are entirely new.

192 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

It is the necessity for the exchange of experiences, and barter of ideas
that m|akes such meetings as this interesting and instructive. Time was
when the Iowa Improved Stock Breeders' Association was the leading
one of its kind in the United States. That it is not so today certainly
is not because the need for it is gone.

I believe that some line of action should be decided upon here thnt
will properly present this matter to our next legislature. This organi
zation should be one in keeping with the agricultural interest of the
greatest state in the union.

The organizations in our sister states, such as Minnesota, Illinois
and Nebraska, are recognized and encouraged by the legislatures of those
states in a substantial manner. A bill on this subject was before our
last legislature and there is but little doubt but what it would be favor-
ably acted upon by the next legislature if it is properly presented. I
hope this meeting will not adjourn without some decisive action on this
matter.

Certainly there is not a farmer or stock grower in the state of Iowa
who does not take great pride in the position attained by our agricul-
tural college. That it is in the forefront of agricultural colleges was
clearly demonstrated at the recent International Show at Chicago. The
record made there clearly demonstrates what a commanding position we
hold in stock breeding and farming.

This great live stock center of Newton should be exactly the right
place to inaugurate a movement whicn shall result in giving us an organ-
ization of improved stock breeders that will as thoroughly and properly
represent Iowa's position as an agricultural state, as does our agricul-
tural college. The need for an organization of this kind never was
greater than at present. New problems are coming up to be solved all
the time, and the recent sharp advance in lands in Iowa calls for better
and more careful farming than ever before. The methods heretofore in
vogue, in many places, will not do for the future and if we are to main-
tain the position we now occupy, advancement and education along agri-
cultural lines must be the watchword.

There is one feature of live stock breeding and improvement that
many farmers and breeders overlook. A farmer may get the idea that
the ordinary kind of stock he has been raising has not been profitable,
and for this reason he will buy a good thoroughbred male. The first
cross is, if at all judiciously made, almost always surprisingly satisfac-
tory. The test, however, comes as to whether he can see the necessity
for keeping on in the sam,e direction. It is rare indeed that such im-
provement can be noted by any succeeding cross. The owner is quite
likely to conclude that he has not been so fortunate in securing a good
male as in the first instance, and owing to this fact he loses his en-
thusiasm, and his stock begins to go back.

Very few farmers, comparatively, realize the necessity for the con-
stant use of improved blood. They do not realize that the introduction
of improved blood is necessary to guard against the natural deterioration
that comes from bad crosses, poor feed and unfavorable seasons.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART V. 193

The popular idea is, that if a sweepstakes male and female at our
state fair could be crossed together, the result could be nothing but satis-
factory- As a matter of fact, the animais may not be at all suited, either
in form or in blood lines, to cross together, and it is very often the fact,
that the coupling of these very best animals is attended with extremely
unsatisfactory results. Old breeders realize to its fullest extent the dan-
ger and liability as to what is known as a bad cross; then,' a very great
proportion of our really good animals are ruined by a lack of care. We
hear a great deal about the danger and damage from over feeding.

There are a great many who even go so far as to say that the animals
shown at our state fairs should be only in breeding condition.

I undertake to say that ten animals are ruined by lack of feed to
where there is one that is injured by over-feeding. The facts are, that
the injury from over-feeding comes more often from the way it is taker;
off than in the way it is put on. It is these bad crosses, the unfavorable
seasons and the lack of care that is constantly working to reduce the
standard of excellence of all breeds of stock. They are kept up only by
the intelligent care and mating of the really successful breeders.

It is the efforts of the few that are necessary to maintain the im-
proved standard of any breed iof stock. There are so many influences
that tend to deterioration in all breeds of stock that make necessary the
improved stock breeder. These things are true in the same degree with
grains and grasses. This feature of agriculture is just coming into
its own, and the study of it is developing the fact, that we must have
pedigreed seedsmen as well as pedigreed stockmen. Some have had the
idea that such a high state of perfection would be reached with certain
breeds of live stock, that further improvement would be impossible, and
that the general standard of excellence would be so high that the im-
proved breeder would lose his business. Nothing could be further from
the real facts in the case than this. It often requires more skill and good
care to maintain a herd to a high standard of excellence than to put
it there in the first place. In fact, the real test of the successful breeder
comes when he has put himself at the very top. So few are able to stay
there once they reach it.

What is true of a herd is true in a broader sense of a breed, and the
necessity for this battling against deterioration will aiways remain. This
demonstrates the great need of an organization such as this that shall
be a permanent power for good in Iowa, and I hope that some action will
be taken at this, the twenty-ninth annual meeting, to place the associa-
tion in a position to properly represent our peerless Iowa, the leading
agricultural state of the union.

The following committees were appointed :
Resolutions— F. F. Failor, E. H'. White and T. M. Flynn.
Location — G. W. Burge, E. H. White and Stustman.
Officers — D. L. Howard, H. R. Parsons and C. W. Norton.

194 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

A. conference committee was appointed to meet a similar com-
mittee! from the Short-Horn Association, to define a breeding
animal. The following named gentlemen were appointed on such
conference committee : Flynn Donahev, Forrest and Parsons.

THE FARMERS' INSTITUTE.

F. F. Failor, Xewton, Iowa.
The County Farmers' Inscitute is the preliminary school to all agri-
cultural advancement and improvements, and provides the opportunity
for study and the attainments of knowledge in all the various branches
pertaining thereto; with the advancing prices in land and higher priced
labor, it becomes necessary to raise less stock and better ones, to be-
come skilled in the art of breeding and feeding, and to understand the
relative value of different kinds of feed, both as to cost and feeding
value.

No branch of business in the world today is receiving so much atten-
tion from outside sources as is given to agriculture. First, the Secre-
tary of Agriculture which adds prestige and dignity to the industry,
second, the agricultural colleges and experiment stations where the fu-
ture farmer can gain a thorough knowledge of all the little details,
where experiments are carried on and a careful record of the result >
given as a guide for future operations.

In the improved methods of farming we have the same source of
knowledge as in the improvement of live stock, viz., through the experi-
ment stations at our agricultural colleges.

Our government is sending men all over the world in the search
of grains, grasses and live stock suitable to the varied climates and soils
of this great country, such as the reindeer from the far north, macaroni
wheat for the great wheat belts of the northwest, and many varieties of
grasses from tne arid district of the West, in fact, when you come to con-
sider what this government is doing for the farmer, it is astonishing.
Government inspection for meats, tariff legislation for the protection of
infant industries, especially sugar, duties on live stock that we can pro-
duce, and free entry of improved stock for the betterment and building
up of our herds.

It might be no more than fair to look at the other side a momenr.
What the farmer is doing or has done for the government. When he
tide of emigration took its westward course, this westward country was
but a howling wilderness, and but for the hardy pioneer who braved
the hardships and privations of frontier life, we would not have a schooi-
house on every hill, and a meeting house close by.

As the country became more settled, capital was interested, in build-
ing the great railroads that gird the country from east to west, and the

THIRD ANNUAL YEAK BOOK — PART V. L95

wilderness was made to blossom as the rose, and the vast plains
where the bison roamed free from the sight of man is now thickly settled
with happy homes and prosperous farmers.

The farmers' wives and daughters should be interested in these
county institutes. They should lake part in the program and discuss the
best methods of housekeeping, and instruct their unfortunate sisters
in the art or inducing their husbands to have all next summer's wood
nicely cut and stored away to fortify against the days when time is
precious and important farm work is pressing.

They should also tell their sisters how to induce their husbands to
see the necessity of doing the milking and help get the water ready on
wash day. and many other duties the husband owes his patient helpmeet,
for the Lord knows she has enough to do without adding any of those
things to her never ending daily duties.

The American farmer is the predominating element of this country.
and I feel free to say that if all her forces could be marshaled under one
comjmon head, they could control the commerce of the world. How long
would it be until the more densely populated portions of the old world
would be in distress for want of bread, if this country would with-
hold the shipment of grain alone, to say nothing of the semi-luxuries
such as our meats and packing house products, and the real luxuries
as wines, fruits and many other articles. I mention these things that the
young farmer may realize the grand position he occupies in this grandest
of all nations on earth.

The most unfortunate fact is that we don't half live up to our priv-
ileges in this country. Too many of our young farmers are content to
take up the worn just where their fathers left off, and continue it in
the same old way. This is an age of progression, and while old methods
may have done very well at the time, under the new order of things,
they are out of date.

The remedy is at hand, however. Every agricultural paper is full
of good suggestions bearing upon good farming and improved methods
of feeding and stock raising. Read those papers, young man, study the
experiment station biillentins, think and then act. Attend the Farmers'
Institute, learn to make two blades of grass grow where but one grew
before.

"Do noole things, not dream them all day long and thus make life,
death, and that vast beyond, one grand sweet song."

196 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

EVENING SESSION.

ONE OF THE ESSENTIALS.

J. W. Johnson, Albia, Ioica.

The first I knew of the circumstances which led up to my present
situation was that I was on the program for a paper and the above sub-
ject assigned me. I felt toward the committee as Pat Murphy did th3
Cruickshank bull. He had just come over — that is Pat, the bull had been
imported the year before — and was making across the pasture. Whether
it was his red hair or verdant hue that angered his majesty, the bull
made after him. Pat made wild strides for salvation and was ready for
the final leap over the fence when the polished horns of the thoroughbred
caught him amidships and tossed him over. He lit in the brush and dust
bit the ground, scraped his shins and got up saying something not re-
corded and as he smoothed down the ruffled places he looked back over
the fence at the bull, who was bowing and pawing and making greaf
ado. "You old divil," said Pat, "you need make no apologies to me, ye
did it a purpose."

But on second thought we have taken it more kindly and forgiven
them. There is need of great care at times like this for, "we have known
I stand in the presence of men who have done much for the material
too much that was not so," and we are always asserting it for the truth.
prosperity of ihe great commonwealth of Iowa, indeed who rank with the
most eminent in the great fine stock industry of the whole country.
Whether it be in the cabinet or congress or the public service, or national
politics or the fat stock snow, or wherever it be, Iowa's thoroughbreds
are all right and will continue to be, for our whole people are alive and
thinking, wide-awake and working along all lines.

There are many essentials on the farm. The first to suggest itself is
the farmer's wife. Mr. Farmer is quite apt to believe that he is "it." but
the gentle, patient, bright woman that stands by him in life's picture is
just as essential as he. My mother was a farmer's wife and my wife a
farmer's daughter, so that it is not theory, but sweet experience I am
talking. The lady of the white house is all right in her place, "the new
woman" has added many charms to modern life, but the farmer's wife
is more essential to your prosperity and business than any element or
factor mentionable. A farm without a home would be a drear and a
desert place. There mould be mould, dust and decay, it would be sun-
shine without vitality, leisure without pleasure, life without refinement,
without the farmers' wives. Forget her not. In the struggle and toil of
the day, in the rush for wealth, smile upon and love and cherish the noble
woman who is wife and mother in your farm home. Says Tennyson:
"Happy he with such a mother; faith in womankind beats with his blood,
and trust in all things high comes easy to him." It was woman who was
last at the cross and first at the tomb, and so it is with the true woman
in every trail.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAH BOOK— PART V. 197

The agricultural experiment stations of the country, fifty or more are
essential to the farmers' and stock breeders' business. Perhaps no class
of men dote more on "practical experience" than farmers, and true it is
that when you work out a thing for yourself and get the right answer, it's
complete and satisfying. Josh Billings says there is one thing peculiar
about a self-made man — he's always proud of the job. But jokes aside,
the most practical, the most progressive, most successful farmers, stock-
men, creamerymen, keep a sharp eye on the experimental work of the
agricultural colleges. They solve new problems quick and by better
methods than can be done anywhere else, for they have the facilities and
exist for that end. What George Washington recommended a century
ago, Cyrus C. Carpenter of Iowa, when in congress, framed into law,
which in 1887 was passed, appropriating money as a perpetual aid to
agricultural experiment work in connection with the land grant colleges.

The value of this work the country over can be estimated approxi-
mately by taking our own splendid institution at Ames as an example.
While such eminent men as the lamented McKinley, President Roosevelt,
James Wilson and others endorse and fostter agricultural experimenta-
tion, and so long as we see the splendid results of the work, study it,
follow it, swear by it. They discovered certain facts that lead to economy
of labor, or saving in feeds, or increased production of grains or grasses,
or better methods in cheese and butter making or develop better varie-
ties of fruits and vegetables, or produce a Shamrock for the fat stock
show, or beat the world on fine stock judging. Why not keep up with
the experiment station? The Ames boys are filling good positions every-
where ai fine salaries, or, if doing work for themselves on some broad
western farm, are succeeding like eminent "captains of industry" which
they are. Put your sons into these short courses in dairying or stock
judging, or, better still, give them a full course that covers these vital
subjects of botany, chemistry, zoology, geology and 'a that. It will
broaden them, polish them, quicken them, give them confidence in self,
and enable them to cope with the powerful competition of today, whether
brains or brawn, whether statecraft or commerce or field sports. Who
have preferment in places of trust and emolument? It is the educated as
against the uneducated, 100 to 1. (The Inter Ocean some time ago pub-
lished an editorial in which it is claimed that college trained people had
advantage over the unschooled 700 to 1.) When Daniel Webster's father
told him he was to have his wish gratified, he would send him to college,
he fell upon his father's neck and wept for joy. There are Iowa boys
who carry with them this burning desire which if you gratify you will
add jewels both to «your crown and theirs. Lincoln once met a ragged
urchin on the street and said to himself, "You can't tell what possibili-
ties are buttoned up in that old coat," and at that moment he drew a
picture of himself and did not know it — did not seem to know.

"The One Essential" for this hour's discussion is dairying as a neces-
sary adjunct of stock raising and general farming. Shakespeare says
"learning is but an adjunct to ourself," but since learning is life, since
knowledge put to use is power, since it is the truth that makes us free,

198 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

the comparison is conclusive. We would never know "which side of our
bread is buttered" if it were not for the dairy cow. She has been the
mortgage lifter, the wealth producer, the constant friend of the Iowa
farmer for many years. Nobody will deny the truth of my statement, but
there are so many, especially among stockmen, who will not milk. In
fact stock breeders have retarded dairying" and their own business of
breeding and selling fine stock because they have directly and especially
indirectly discouraged dairying.

You have persistently refused to milk the cows of your herd because
you say you want fine, fat calves for the show ring and auction block
and they cannot be produced without tbey run with the dam. To save
time let this be admitted as to show cattle and the highest blood for pri-
vate sale, yet it is a serious question if such handling of cows as this is
not breeding out or turning dormant the milking power of the animal, to
say nothing of the fact that fine, fat calves are raised by hand from the
warm separator milk supplemented by oat meal, oats, corn, bran and
good pasture at various stages of growth. But stockmen indirectly have
crippled the dairy (and their own business as well) because their exam-
ple is contagious. Other men who are not breeding thoroughbred cattle
copy the example and contend that it does not pay to rob the calf of the
fresh full milk of the dam, and so thousands of Iowa cows that cost from
$18 to $25 each to keep them are carried through the year to raise $15
calves. Farmers see this finally and get discouraged with the business

Courtesy Wallaces' Farmer.

One of the prize Short-Horns at the Iowa State
Fair 1902.

and decide to give up cattle. That hurts the fine stock industry and you
are yourselves in part to blame. You pay little or no attention to that
phase of the trade. You do not breed for milk because you have blinded
your eyes to the necessity of a double purpose, or all purpose cow. The
average farmer must have that kind or none.

The man who keeps sheep gets both of clip of wool and a lamb per
ewe, and a fine carcass from the weathers. The man who raises colts

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART V. 199

uses his mares on the farm and gets two products, while hogs reproduce
themselves more often and thus return values, and the genaral farme 1 '
and the man who raises grade cattle cannot afford to use the cows for bur
the one purpose, and your business is hurt when they do it.

If farmers will handle the cows as they should be they will not only
get just as good a calf, and 100 to 250 pounds of butter in a year, but
will get a third more of product, surplus of warm milk from the separator
for pigs and chickens. Vast sums of money are wasted every year in
Iowa because of this mismanagement. In Albia and vicinity butter has
sold for almost two years at from 16 to 35 cents a pound, and if 2,000
cows were put onto the farms of Monroe county and handled skillfully
they would not adequately supply the demand for good butter.

We would not draw here a dark picture. We picked up for Sunday
reading on January 18, 1903, a copy of the Iowa Agricultural Report of
1864 and looked it carefully over to find out about the Iowa dairy at tha>
time, but the thing was not mentioned. Then we thought a moment and
recalled that it was severalyears later than that before John Stewart of
Manchester started the first gathered cream creamery, and not until 1876
did he achieve the distinguished victory over all the world with his Iowa
butter at the Centennial. Before that it had been known in the eastern
market as "prairie grease." Then came the era of invention and expan-
sion, the building of creameries and cheese factories, until the combined
number in the state reached nearly one thousand. We built them whether
there were cows in the neighborhood or not or ever would be. We
bought all the cans and tanks and churns and curious appliances sug-
gested by all the Chicago and New York houses, and thus were thousands
of dollars unwisely invested in the business. Meanwhile the counter-
feiter was getting in his work and butterine and other patent stuff v/ere
being sold as genuine butter, and here again the fine stockmen hailed
and said if they use our tallow to make oleomargarine it will make tallow
prices better, guess they can use fraudulent butter if they don't know it,
and so the dairy met with another backset. Pardon a personal allusion, but
it was your speaker who from the platform of the National Dairy Asso-
ciation in Cincinnati in 1883 first called the hog butter business by its
right name and made the old thing come out into broad daylight and
show its bristles. The scene was dramatic. There were 350 men present
from twenty-seven different states. The paper was read at 2 o'clock
and the discussion closed at 5:30, after men from Denver, St. Louis, New
Orleans, Richmond, New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago, to say
nothing of brave Colonel Littler of Iowa, who defended the Iowa crearn-
erymen against the charge they for years before were using oleo oil in
their creamery churns to swell the butter output of Iowa, had taken part.
Mr. Coleman of St. Louis, afterwards Mr. Cleveland's secretary of agri-
culture, and Professor Taylor, who was afterwards Mr. Coleman's expert
chemist in Washington took part in that discussion. You know the his-
tory of butterine since that time. State and national legislation has been
called in. The thing had been branded and colored and labeled and taxed
and is now under better control (Dairy Commissioner Wright says there

200 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

is almost none at all sold in Iowa), but these are some of the ups and
downs of dairying in the past.

Let me name two incidents which go to show that dairying is im-
proving. In 1885 I represented Iowa, along with C. A. Houston of Linn
county (the state forgot to pay us for that service, though fully author-
ized and appointed by die governor), at the world's fair at New Orleans,
and when the dairy butter was examined (258 packages, that required
two and one-half days' work), I assisted the committee and kept close
watch of their work. There were not twenty-five packages in the entire
lot that could be called fine, and not seventy-five that ever had been,
though the age of the goods was somewhat against the quality of the
product.

Last week I assisted in judging thirty-eight exhibits of butter at the
Mahaska County Farmers' Institute and 75 per cent was fine and 90 per
cent was as good as the best at New Orleans. From these facts, and
they are the facts, the art of butter making is surely improving.

A strenuous effort should be made at all these meetings to educate
the people in these matters. There is untold loss in Iowa because of
mismanagement in dairying. De do not complain of Iowa, for she leads
all others as a dairy state. In 1902 Iowa produced 80,000,000 pounds of
creamery butter, and 60,000,000 pounds more on the farms and in private
dairies. Of this about two-thirds was shipped out of the state, making a
return of nearly $20,000,000. Nothing was taken from the soil. Millions
of dollars worth of milk and cream were consumed at home. The total
milk, cheese and butter product of the state for 1902 will reach above
$40,000,000. Can it be thought that this is not important?

There are many things that can be done to improve the business. Do
not increase the number of poor cows, but breed and select and train
until- we have tetter cows. Instead of 135 pounds of butter per cow it
should be 250 to 300 pounds. There are and always have been too many
creameries. Every factory that makes money must make a large amount
of butter. If farmers will keep hand separators and take the cream from
the milk and large quantities of water and make the business easy. Then
the milk and large quantities of water and make the business easy. Then
sell the cream to the creamery or the ice cream man in the city or make
butter for the city market as the circumstances seem to warrant. This
will improve the quality of the product, for the separator takes out im-
purities that nothing else will, the cream can be better shielded from
bad company (onions, potatoes, the pups, boots and old clothes in the
milk room and a hundred things that rob butter and cream of its fine
flavor.) We do not advocate any special cow except a good dairy cow.
If she be a good beef animal all the better. The farmer needs both. The
question of profit in the dairy will be settled if the double purpose cow
is well handled — feed, shelter, cleanliness, separator, in fact, utilizing
all the product. Thus done, dairying is the one essential.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART V. 201

THURSDAY FORENOON.

BLACK THINGS ON THE FARM.

J. 8. Trigg, Rockford, Iowa.

The question of color in our domestic animals cuts no small figure
with many men in the selection of varieties to keep. There is probably
more than one breeder of Short-horn cattle present who is wedded tio
red as a standard color for his stock, when the facts are that a large
proportion of the prize winners at our stock shows, of this breed, are any
other color than red, some of the top-nothers being roan, while pure
white is associated with some of the best Short-horn pedigrees in the
country. The color fad may easily be carried to extremes, and in many
cases is. Uniformity of color in a herd is desirable, in that such a herd
is thus more attractive in appearance, and the way to easily obtain it is
partly the object of this paper.

Speaking of the colors of domestic animals we note that among the
most valuable are the black ones. This color not only harmonizes with
the green of the fields, but in this northern latitude bespeaks a degree
of hardiness suited to our variable climatic conditions. There is the
black Percheron horse — he of the shiny, silky coat, powerful as a locomo-
tive, gentle as a kitten, true as steel, sound as a dollar; no curby, splint-
legged, balky brute, without pedigree, a product of chance, where man's
intervention thwarted nature in her effort to secure the survival of the
best. Hitch three of these horses to a sixteen-inch sulky plow, and, as
we saw last fall, put a pretty girl in a sunbonnet up on the seat to drive
them, and just see her turn over four or five acres in a day, while her
town sister was fretting over the cut of her new sacque or discussing
some ethical problem at some woman's club. There is a girl worth hav-
ing, as well as a team — a black-eyed, black-haired beauty — gritty, inde-
pendent, resourceful, helpful and rich in good health, good looks and
executive ability. Hitch two of these horses up and the residents of the
town will all say: "There goes Jones and is $500 team."

Then there are the "Doddies," the Ethiopian kings of the beef tribe,
broad-backed, smooth lords of the blue grass, royal bullocks, whose juicy,
marbled flesh will glut the carnivorous appetite of some old wide-
paunched gourmand in English ducal halls, who with their near relatives,
the Galloways, represent the best and most modern machines for con-
verting blue grass, clover and corn into money, and besides have a way
of taking all the prizes at the state fairs.

Then there is his excellency, the Poland-China hog — the western
farmer's mortgage lifter and barn builder, and the begetter of more
healthy bank accounts than any other animal. Black as Erebus, he roots
out and sleeps away his brief existence, revelling in unlimited clover,
milk and corn, until the very luxurious riot of living, as the man, sim-
ply hastens his end. He not only pays the mortgage and builds big red
14

202 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

barns, but he puts a surrey in the carriage shed, a piano in the home,
sends the boys and girls to college, and helps pay the preacher and con-
vert the heathen. Your Chester Whites and Jersey Reds are to him as
commoners to the aristocrat — poor relations.

In a smaller way in the poultry yard no breeds of fowl will be found
more profitable or handsomer in general appearance than the Black Span-
ish and Langshans — prolific egg producers.

But better than all these is the rich black soil of these Mississippi
valley farms. What a soil this is! — the bed of the prehistoric ocean,
which has hoarded for ages the accumulated detritus of mighty glacial
forces, which in ages past robbed the mountains of their primal fertility
and stored it up for us; just as now and then some old pirate's pot of ill-
gotten gold, long buried, is turned up by the plowman of today. No state
in the union possesses so large and uniform an area of this black and
treasured wealth of the past as Iowa; farm after farm, section after sec-
tion, county after county, from Minnesota to Missouri, from river to
river, every acre fertile, every farm a garden spot. Just as in a side of
leather, or in a boiled ham, the best cut is toward the center, so the very
best of this good, black soil of the Mississippi valley is found in Iowa — a
soil alike indifferent to excess or scarcity of rainfall, a soil which like an
old friend can always be depended upon, reliable as a Scotch Presby-
terian elder, as easily pleased as a child, generous as heaven, responsive
as its own fair girls, forgetful of wrong or neglect as a sister of charity,
prolific as the hoary ocean, dabbled in by infancy to make mud pies,
acquired as a precious heritage and lived from by the matured man and
welcomed by him as a last resting place when the day of life is done.

Black things on Iowa farms are good things; they are the state's
best gifts. With them she is gracious, liberal, responsive. You son of
toil, wearing out a miserable existence among the stumps, rocks and
gravel hills of the east, battling with nature in her most unkindly moods,
come here, where the rows of corn are half a mile long, two ears on a
stalk, where cows have twin calves and hens lay double-yolked eggs,
where the cyclone goes north of us, the blizzard west of us, the drouth
south of us, and the untimely frost east of us. Iowa's black soil begets
her black horses, black cattle, black pigs and poultry, and the color,
somber though it be, has become the insignia of her unequalled agricul-
tural prosperity.

THE OUTLOOK FOR THE BREEDER OF PURE BRED CATTLE.

Albert Harrah, Newton, Iowa.
As long as there is an Iowa farmer who persists in breeding scrub
cattle, just so long is there an outlook for the breeder of pure bred cat-
tle. For the war on scrubs is a war of conquest to be waged until the
last scrub is exterminated from the Iowa soil. This is a strenuous fight,
but I rejoice in the advancement made during the past five years. In
traveling through the country, I can see the work of grading up is coing

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART V. 203

on and you will find but few herds, even among the small land owners of
Iowa, where there is not a marked improvement in the quality of their
cattle. The breeding of pure bred cattle has assumed an intensely prac-
tical basis. There can be no hap-hazard work for the successful cattle
breeder of the future. His success depends upon intelligent action, adapt-
ability for the business, a constant application to fortify against all weak
points, economy in management, intelligent and economical feeding, a
scientific knowledge of mating, and from first to last a conservative finan-
cial policy. Too many of our young breeders take their cue from breed-
ers well advertised and strong financially, and are led into the error of
buying cattle beyond their means, and from the start are handicapped by
debt. I consider that the breeder of pure bred cattle is under moral obli-
gations to give honest advice and most hearty support to every customer
that buys his cattle. For every man that engages in the business and
makes a failure has a widespread depressing influence on the trade.

Note the difference. A man or a dozen men may make a complete
failure in handling the promiscuous scrubs of the country and their fail-
ure is accepted by the public as a matter of common occurrence, and no
criticism is made, and the business moves along just the same. But let
a breeder of pure bred cattle make an assignment and the fact creates an
illusive argument used without limit against the business. It is true, a
breeder has many unjust and unreasonable things to contend with in his
trade. But after all they only prod a breeder up to more careful methods
in his business and his complete success in business depends largely upon
broad-minded and liberal treatment of customers.

"While the present improvement in the quality of the cattle bred and
handled by the average farmer of Iowa is encouraging, it has not kept
pace with the wonderful transformation on the range. The ranchmen
who wrestled with his conscience several years ago to nerve himself up
to buying even grade bulls is now buying thoroughbreds and will not use
a grade, and the dividing of ranges and creating a larger number of cat-
tlemen will necessitate the breeders establishing shipping points in the
ranch country where the average cattle man can buy one or more bulls
at a time, as these men will not, neither can they afford the expense of
single shipment.

Money consideration after all is the basis of all cattle breeding, and
while there is a profound inspiration in the breeding of pure bred cattle
developing the highest type of agricultural life, yet we naturally drift
back to the "profit and loss" page of the ledger, and the average breeder
has to reckon from this point no matter what his ambition may crave.

With the satisfactory results of our experimental stations at our com-
miand there are many questions simplified, as but few breeders can afford
independent experimental tests of various feeds and proccesses.

I am infidel to the fad of importing. You may ask what would we
have done without the imported blood. I acknowledge its past virtue
in the line of improvement, but in my judgment we do not need the im-
ported blood today to improve our cattle any more than we need the
imported blood to improve our people.

204 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

The exhibition at our international show of beef production commands
the admiration of the old world, and from now and henceforward we
wield the sceptre and wear the crown before the civilized world along this
line. I maintain, therefore, the outlook for the breeder of pure bred cat-
tle in Iowa is encouraging if practical, economical methods are adopted.
We are an important factor in the commercial transactions of the coun-
try, subject to the reverses and depressions of finance and hence gov-
erned by the fluctuations of trade, the same as all industries.

We have an important and desirable mission in the cultivation of
new territory where we will have a market for our surplus stock. Our
work must be aggressive like every other good work. To this end our
best thought and judgment should be displayed.

I do not desire to boast of our superiority over our sister states
adjoining us. The reliable statistics of our agricultural department show
our standing. We have the motto of success inscribed upon our banner.
I enjoy the proud honor of having lived in the grand state fifty years, a
half century of development.

Spiritual discernment could hardly have portrayed the magnificent
growth of this period. It is simply grand to me to be one of the fortunate
number who have lived this past fifty years, and I bless the memory of
my father for possessing the spirit of conquest, and desire for bettering
the condition of his family that caused him to sever his boyhood connec-
tions in eastern Ohio and push out into this "Beautiful Land."

I predict a magnificent future for our industry. A careful, conserva-
tive, intelligent course is demanded and to the breeder of pure bred cat-
tle in Iowa will be allotted a full share of the credit due every breeder in
this grand union.

THE ODEBOLT EXPERIMENT.

R. J. Kinzer, Ames, Iowa.
Mr. President and Members of the Iowa Improved Stock Breeders' As-
sociation: There has been so much said and written about the Odebolt
experiment during the last year that it seems like threshing old straw
over again in discussing it at this meeting. The agricultural papers all
over this country have reviewed it in their columns and pointed out its
great value to the cattle feeders of the country and I shall only endeavor
to give you a brief review of some of the minor details.

About a year before this experiment started, Professor Curtiss began,
looking around over this state for a place to do some experimental feed-
ing under ordinary farm conditions. Many of the experiments at the
Iowa station as well as at other stations, have been conducted on so
small a scale that they have been of little value to the practical feeder.
And the Iowa station was very fortunate in securing the facilities offered
by the Brookmont farms where there was ample room for the feeding of
carload lots of cattle under conditions no better, if as good, as the Iowa

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART V. 205

feeder gives his cattle. The Brookmont farms are located six miles north
of Odebolt in Sac county. Here Mr. Cook has 7,351 acres of land all
in a body. He has it divided into farms of one-half section each with
buildings and feed lots on each farm. Three of these feed yards lying
nearest the ranch headquarters were selected as the places for this exper-
iment. On farm No. 14, one-fourth mile west of the headquarters, three
loads were fed. On No. 3, one-fourth mile south, three loads were fed
and on No. 16, one-half mile east, five loads were fed. Yards of as near
the same size and with as near the same accommodations as possible were
selected. The object of the experiment was to determine the value, if
any, of feeding by-products and condimental foods for the production
of beef, and it was planned to feed eleven lots of cattle. Lot 1, on corn
alone, Lot 2 on corn and oil meal, Lot 3 on corn and cotton-seed meal,
Lot 4 on corn and gluten meal, Dot 5 on corn and gluten feed, Lot
6 on corn and germ oil meal, Lot 7 on corn and dried blood, Lot 8 on
corn and Iowa Stock Food, Lot 9 on corn and International Stock Food,
Lot 10 on corn and Standard Stock Food, Lot 11 on corn and grass. The
by-products and condimental foods were furnished by the following com-
panies: Old process oil meal was used, furnished by the Midland Lin-
seed Oil Co. of Minneapolis, Minn. The cottonseed meal by the Amer-
ican Cotton Oil Co., of Chicago. The gluten feed, gluten meal and germ
oil meal were furnished by the Glucose Sugar Refining Co. of Chicago.
The dried blood by Swift & Co. The Iowa Stock Food by the Iowa Stock
Food Company of Jefferson, Iowa, and the International Stock Food by
The International Stock Food Co. of Minneapolis, and the Standard Stock
Food by the F. E. Sanborn Co. of Omaha. These products were all de-
livered free of charge at Odebolt. Mr. Cook furnished the cattle, yards,
corn and roughage and they were fed under the direction of the experi-
ment station or rather under the direction of the companies furnishing
the food, that is as to the amount of grain and by-products or condimental
foods their respective lots were to have. But they were all to have the
same kind of corn and roughage. With this in view, 220 head of steers
were selected from some 500 head which Mr. Cook had running in his
stalkfields and on a light ration of snapped corn at the time. The steers
were very common grades, Angus, Hereford and Short-horns, two years
old. They were purchased by Mr. Cook from the Bartlett-Richards Cattle
Co. in western Nebraska. The 220 head were divided as evenly as con-
ditions would permit into eleven lots of twenty head each, each lot con-
sisting of one Hereford, four Angus and fifteen Short-horns, or steers
showing some evidence of such blood. This division was made two weeks
before the experiment began and the cattle were placed in their respec-
tive yards. This was done that they might become accustomed to their
yards and all be under practically the same conditions when the feeding
started. On the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth of March, each lot was driven
over the scales and an average of these three weighings was taken as
the starting weight. The feeding started on the eleventh. All the grain
feed that each lot had was carefully weighed, mixed and placed in labeled

206 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

sacks at the elevator and hauled to the feed lots. It was the intention
to start the cattle on corn and cob meal but owing to delay in getting
the macinery necessary for crushing, the snapped corn feeding was con-
tinued until the thirtieth of March. On the twenty-first of March, a little
shelled corn was added which was gradually increased until the twenty-
seventh, when the feeding of corn and cob meal was begun. The first
day's feed on March 11th was three hundred pounds of snapped corn to
each lot in addition to five pounds of each of the various by-products and
one pound of the various stock foods to their respective lots. On March
28th, the grain ration was two* hundred pounds of shelled corn, one
hundred pounds of snapped corn, 40 pounds of corn and cob meal to
each lot, with 17 pounds of oil meal, cotton-seed meal, gluten meal, germ
oil meal and dried blood were given to their respective lots. Twenty-
four pounds of gluten feed was fed to lot 5 and the stock food lots were
each receiving t wo pounds. The amount of shelled and snapped corn
was gradually decreased and the corn and cob meal increased and on
April 9th, each lot was receiving 450 pounds of corn and cob meal, lot
2, 38 pounds of oil meal; lot 3, 29 pounds of cottonseed meal; lot 4,
38 pounds of gluten meal; lot 5, 66 pounds of gluten feed; lot 6, 38
pounds of germ oil meal; lot 7, 20 pounds of dried blood; lot 8, 2y 2 pounds
of Iowa Stock Food; lot 9, 2 pounds of International Stock Food, and lot
10, 2y 2 pounds of Standard Stock Food. The corn and cob meal did not
give satisfactory results as it proved too binding a ration with nothing
but wheat straw for roughage and on April 16th, coarsely ground meal
was added to the ration. This was gradually increased until May 8th,
when the corn and cob meal was all taken out and corn meal alone was
fed from this in connection with the various by-products and condiments.

Each lot was now allowed all the grain it would readily clean up and
they were eating from 460 to 480 pounds of corn meal, lot 2 having an
additional 60 pounds of oil meal; lot 4, 60 pounds of gluten meal; lot 5,
70 pounds of gluten feed; lot 6, 60 pounds of germ oil meal; lot 7, 20
pounds of dried blood; lot 8, 2 pounds of Iowa Stock Food; lot 9, 2 pounds
of International and lot 10, 3 pounds of Standard Stock Foods. The
feeding continued in about this manner until the experiment closed,
June 13th, when the various lots were eating from 480 to 520 pounds of
corn meal, with lot 2 eating an addition of 80 pounds of oil meal; lot 4
76 pounds of gluten meal; lot 5, 76 pounds of gluten feed; lot 6, 80
pounds of germ oil meal; lot 7, 20 pounds of dried blood; lot 8, 2 pounds
of Iowa food; lot 9.^ 1 / ^ pounds of International and lot 10, 3% pounds
of Standard stock foods. The racks in each yard were kept well filled with
wheat straw, some of which was not of extra good quality. The straw
was never weighed but so far as I was able to see, there was practically
no difference in the amount each lot consumed.

Lot 1 was fed on corn alone. As a rule they were always ready for
their feed and had fairly good appetites to the end although they did
not shed off quite as early or look as sleek as some of the other lots.
They weighed at the beginning an average of 1,042 pounds and made a

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART V. 207

gain of 2.71 pounds per day, shrunk 55 pounds in shipping, sold for $7.45
and dressed 58.8 per cent. The cost of 100 pounds gain was $10.71. Net
profit $14.49.

Lot 2 with a ration of corn and oil meal were the heaviest lot of
all at the start, averaging 1,082 pounds. They gained 2.51 pounds per
day at a cost of $11.02 per hundred pounds, they shrunk 54 pounds in
shipping, sold for $7.50 and dressed 60.6 per cent. This lot fed nicely
all along and were the first cattle to shed. They stood the feeding of
corn and cob meal better than most of the others, and dressed out better
than any of the others excepting lot 5, which just equalled them, $14.85.

Lot 3, on corn and cottonseed meal. After being on feed 42 days,
these steers showed signs of sickness and three of them died. This made
it necessary to drop this lot from the experiment. The cottonseed meal
men claim this was not due to the cottonseed meal but the cattle were
fed exactly the same kind of corn meal and wheat straw from the same
stack as the other lots, none of which showed any signs of sickness. The
average analysis of 35 samples of cottonseed meal as reported by Professor
Henry in his work on "Feeds and Feeding" shows 8.2 per cdnt water,
7.2 per cent ash, 42.3 per cent protein, 5.6 per cent crude fiber, 23.6 per
cent of nitrogeb. free extract and 13.1 per cent of ether extract, and the
analysis of the meal which we were feeding, made by Dr. Weems, shows
9 per cent water, 7.4 per cent ash, 41.3 per cent protein, 7.8 per cent crude
fiber, 18.9 per cent nitrogen free extract and 15.6 of ether extract. The
cattle were feeding nicely and only eating 2y 2 pounds of cottonseed meal
per head daily when the first symptons of sickness appeared. They
were making a gain of 2.38 pounds per day at a cost of $9.84 per hun-
dred. During July and August while still at the Brookmont farms, I
fed a bunch of yearling steers as high as seven pounds of cottonseed meal
per day without bad results but they were only on this feed about forty
days and they lacked a few pounds of making as good gains as a like
lot on corn meal alone. My experience with cottonseed meal has there-
fore been quite unsatisfactory but I am not prepard to say that the cot-
tonseed meal was or was not the cause of this trouble as it has been
fed by others in larger quantities and for longer periods without bad
results, and in many cases giving very satisfactory returns.

Lot 4, on corn and gluten meal, were a very even lot of cattle and
took kindly to their feed from the start, averaging 1,075 pounds and mak-
ing a gain of 2.92 pounds per day at a cost of $9.34, shrunk 62% pounds
in shipping, sold for $7.65 or five cents above any other lot, dressed 59.6
per cent. Net profit for steer $17.99.

Lot 5, on corn and gluten feed, were a little slow in taking hold of
their feed at the start. They did not seem to like the gluten feed until
they became accustomed to it, but during the latter part of the test they
fed very satisfactorily. They weighed 1,025 pounds at the start, made
an average gain of 2.88 pounds daily at a cost of $9.65 per hundred,
shrunk 50 pounds in shipping, this being the lightest shrink on any lot.

208 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

They sold for $7.60 and dressed 60.6 per cent, equalling the oil meal lot
in this respect. Net profit per steer $17.60.

Lot 6, on corn and germ oil meal, never took hold of their feed with
the relish that the other lots did and were very slow feeders all through
the test. They weighed 1,075 pounds average at the start, made an aver-
age gain of 2.32 pounds per day at a cost of $11.64 per hundred, shrunk
71 pounds in shipping, sold for $7.40 and dressed 60.3 per cent. Net $12.16
Lot 7, on corn and dried blood. The best feeding steer in the whole
220 head was in this lot and also some of the poorest feeders. At first
they turned away from the dried blood when it was scattered over the
snapped corn but later when mixed with corn meal they seemed to like
it and ate it with a relish and were never off their feed. They weighed
1,062 pounds at the start, made a gain of 2.42 pounds daily at a cost of
Ml. 08, shrunk 63 pounds in shipping, sold for $7.60 and dressed 59.5 per
cent. $15.36.

Lot 8, on corn and Iowa Stock Food, weighed 1,015 pounds at the
start, made a gain of 2.30 pounds per day at a cost of $10.51, shrunk 60
pounds in shipping and sold for $7.40. They were the lightest lot of
cattle in the test but fed fairly well all through, dressing out 59.6 per cent.
Net profit $13.89.

Lot 9, on corn and International Stock Food, fed very slow on the
start but did better toward the close. They averaged 1,016 pounds, made
an average gain of 1.97 pounds at at cost of $13.41, shrunk 72 pounds in
shipping, sold for $7.20 and dressed 59.6 per cent. Net profit per steer,
$6.33.

Lot 10, on corn and Standard Stock Food, weighed 1,030 pounds, made
an average gain of 2.17 pounds per day at a cost of $11.95, shrunk 67
pounds in shipping, sold for $7.00, the lowest price of any lot and dressed
58.7 per cent. According to the instructions given by the company fur-
nishing the Standard Stock Food, these cattle were fed but once daily,
receiving the whole of their grain ration in the morning. Net profit, $5.52.

Lot 11, on corn and grass, average 1,053 pounds at the start, made a
gain of 2.49 pounds per day at a cost of $10.20 per hundred, and as would
be expected of grass cattle they shrunk 84 pounds in shipping, which
was the heaviest shrink of any lot. They sold for $7.55 which was within
ten cents of the top, dressing out 59.3 per cent. This lot was fed exactly
the same as lot 1 until April 17th, when they) were turned on a 24-acre
pasture. The grass was very short at this time and they were still
allowed access to straw. Net profit per steer, $14.97.

There was very little difference in the gains made by the hogs fol-
lowing the different lots. Twenty hogs were placed in each lot at the
beginning and no extra feed was given them. At the end of eight weeks,
when the cattle were being fed corn meal, half of the hogs were taken
from each lot Those following the grass cattle made the best gains.
This was perhaps largely due to the amount of feed they got from tne
grass. Careful check was kept on each lot while they were being shipped,

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART V. 200

also in the Union Stock Yards and until they were hanging in the coolers.
They were purchased by Nelson Morris & Co. and they reported that lot 4
exhibited the best carcasses though there was very little difference in
this respect.

Experiments to be of the greatest value must be several times re-
peated and as this work will be duplicated this year, we will wait for
the results of the next test before coming to any definite conclusions as
to what is the most economical grain ration for the production of beef.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The committee reported as follows :

The committee on location wished to leave the matter of location to
the president and secretary and it was so left.

Officers: W. F. Harriman, Hampton, president; E. H. White, Esther-
ville, secretary; vice-presidents, First district, B. R. Vale. Bonaparte;
Second, G. S. Forest, Miles; Third, W. H. Warburton, Independence;
Fourth, A. W. Avery. Mason City; Fifth, G. H. Burge, Mt. Vernon; Sixth,
A. Stuart, Newton; Seventh, C. F. Curtiss, Ames; Eighth, S. A. Converse,
Cresco; Ninth, Harvey Johnson, Logan; Tenth, D. L. Howard, Jefferson;
Eleventh, Peter Mouw, Orange City.

The committee on resolutions presented the following:

Resolved, That it is the sense of this institute that our laws should
be so amended as to secure to the farmer and stock raiser better protec-
tion from the depredations of dogs, and we ask our representatives to
use their best endeavors to secure the passage of a law which will impose
a sufficient tax on dogs to reduce their numbers and to raise a fund
sufficient to pay all damages caused to domestic animals by the depreda-
tions of dogs.

Resolved, That we approve the action of the commissioners of the
Iowa-St. Louis Louisiana purchase exposition in their efforts to make a
creditable showing for the state of Iowa, and hereby pledge them our
support and will use all means at our command to assist in the carrying
out of the same.

Resolved, That we favor a much larger appropriation by the legisla-
ture than has been made, in order that we make a showing in keeping
with our position as compared with other states.

Resolved, That this association tender its thanks to the professors of
the Iowa Agricultural College for their able and instructive addresses on
this occasion. That we tender our thanks for and express our highest
appreciation of the general work of the college and the efforts there put
forth in the cause of live stock improvements.

Resolved, by the Iowa Improved Stock Breeders' Association, That
we extend to the citizens of Newton our hearty thanks for their kind

210 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

reception and express our high appreciation of the royal entertainment
afforded the members of this association.

The conference committee's report defined a breeding animal

as follows, and their report was adopted :

At one of the early sessions the question of what constitutes a breed-
ing animal and the disputes that arise between buyer and seller was dis-
cussed quite fully. A committee was appointed consisting of Messrs.
Frank Flynn of Des Moines, E. S. Donahey of Newton, Geo. S. Forest of
Miles and H. D. Parsons of Newton, to draft and prepare a statement
denning a breeding animal. This committee reported as follows:

"A bull 12 months old or over during the years of ordinary useful-
ness shall be considered a breeder when, not being allowed to run at
large with the breeding herd, he will get with calf at least 70 per cent of
all the regular breeding females he may serve during the breeding season.
In cases of disagreement between buyer and seller a trial of six months
shall be given a bull and during the period of such trial both parties must
agree that the bull is receiving proper care, both as to fed, ration, water
and exercise. Shall be kept isolated from the breeding herd except at
such times as a cow is in heat. Such cow shall be left only until she has
been properly served, then removed from the bull.

"A cow shall be considered a breeder; first, if she has at foot a calf
that was carried full period of gestation (about 280 days) and (in the
hands of the seller) not served by a bull since the date of birth of such
calf. Second, a cow that has remained quiet for four full periods from
the date of last service; provided tnat she has carried her last previous
calf to full period of gestation (about 280 days) and that she has never
been a habitual aborter, and that the last previous calf was not more
than seven months old at time of last service.

"A heifer that has never produced a calf shall be considered a breeder,
if after coming in heat regulany has not been served more than four
times and has remained quiet for four full periods from date of last
service."

This is a matter of considerable importance and we advise our read-
ers, both breeders and farmers, to preserve this resolution, which was
adopted by the association. It will serve as a guide in determining dis-
puted questions in the future.

IS IT PROFITABLE TO KEEP SHEEP ON OUR IOWA FARMS?

A. J. Blakely, Grinnell, Iowa.

This is a very practical question. Keeping live stock, especially fine
stock, may be done by some people to a limited extent, not chiefly for the
money there is in it, but for the love of the beautiful animals, just as one
keeps a flower garden. But the practical, money-loving American farmer

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART V. 211

who has many uses for his dollars will not long consent, and should not,
to raise crops or keep any class of stock, which in his opinion does not
yield a good profit.

Hon. J. B. Grinnell, who was the owner of several farms and a man
of extensive observation, used to say he never knew a man who kept
sheep and stuck to the business who did not make a success. That is
more than he or anybody else could truthfully say of continuously raising
and keeping cattle, hogs or horses. But the question is not whether
everybody and at all times who keeps sheep here in Iowa succeeds in
making good profits, but rather whether with good judgment and atten-
tion to business, keeping sheep is and probably will be profitable with our
climate, rich soil and advanced prices of land.

Some people have claimed when land was only half or two-thirds as
high as now that land was too high to keep sheep here. But men have
continued to keep sheep in Iowa, and on the best and highest priced farms
and to make money at the business. It may be still more profitable to
keep sheep in the Dakotas and in Colorado and Montana, for it is well
known that large fortunes have been made and are being made in some
of those regions in keeping sheep on a large scale, where there are large
wheat stubble fields and extensive ranges of free grass, better fortunes in
fact than are made by tne cattlemen in the same localities.

But if Iowa lands are too high for sheep raising, they are also too
high for cattle and hogs, though cattle and hogs have ruled higher the
past year than for thirty years. But fat sheep and lambs have also
brought good prices, and are now fully as high as a year ago. Chicago
quotations for January 9, 1903, show choice native wethers $4.75 to $5.00,
choice native yearlings $5.00 to $5.25. Choice light native ewes $3.90 to
$4.00. Heavy ewes $4.25 to $4.40. Choice lambs $5.80 to $6.00.

I think if we take a series of ten years together it will commonly be
found that there is not much difference between the market price of fat
sheep and fat cattle, if we compare all classes, wethers, fat ewes, year-
lings and lambs, with steers, fat cows, heifers and calves. The fat cattle
are now about $1.00 per hundred less than a year ago, still choice fat
steers are now considerably higher than fat wethers and yearlings, but
fat cows are about the same as fat ewes.

It has been proved at our experiment stations that as a general rule
it requires about the same amount and quality of feed to grow and fatten
a given number of pounds of sheep or mutton, as of cattle or beef. Ac-
cording to this rule ten sheep at two or two and one-half years old weigh-
ing 130 pounds each have eaten the same amount of feed as a steer or
heifer of the same age and weight, 1,300 pounds.

Suppose now we compare ten choice two-year-old wethers, weight
1,300 pounds, with a choice two-year-old 1,300-pound steer. The steer
would sell in Chicago for about $6.30 or about $82.00. The wethers for
about $4.80 or about $62,00, or $20.00 less than the steer. But this differ-
ence of $20.00 is more than compensated by the twenty fleeces which the
ten wethers have produced in the two years, which should weigh ten

212 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

pounds each, or 200 pounds, and would now bring at home fully 20 cents
per pound, or $40, making $20 in favor of the wethers. The quotations
on wool January 1, 1903, are just about the same as in May, 1900, when I
sold for 21 1-2 cents at my home my 400 fleeces of Delaine unwashed wool
weighing ten to fourteen pounds each.

If we compare fat ewes with fat cows the wool is the profit of the
sheep over the cows, while lambs bring nearly as much by the hundred as
steers.

It is wonderful that the prices of fat sheep have been so well main-
tained, when the receipts of sheep the past year have been so heavy —
more than 20 per cent more than in 1901.

Steers and hogs were so very high last summer that many of the
sheepmen thought they were not making money fast enough and sold jff
their flocks and rushed around and brought stock steers at much higher
prices than they were worth two or three months later. Jt is quite prob-
able that if they had kept their sheep they would be better off next sum-
mer. The outlook for sheep and wool has not been so bright for many
years. All reliable statistics show that the amount of wool on hand in
the United States and in the world is much less than for many years. The
annual consumption of wool by woolen mills has greatly increased the
past three years. More than twice as much wool was used last year by
the United States mills as six years previous, while we produce no more
wool in this country than in 1893. The terrible seven years' drouth in
Australia, formerly the largest wool producing country in the world, has
greatly lessened the sheep and wool production there. The Argentine
Republic, which produces more wool than the United States, has during
the past few years changed the character and quality of her wool. Former-
ly keeping sheep wholly or mainly for wool only, their sheep were the
smallest size merinos, but the very low price of wool a few years ago,
and the European demand for mutton shipped in cold storage, induced
the flock owners there to cross their ewes with the large coarse wool
rams from England. They have now made two or three coarse wool
crosses. They could not get the large, good-bodied Delaine rams, now
raised to some extent in this country. The production of fine wool in the
world being thus greatly diminished it must be and already is in great
demand with higher prices. In fact all grades of wool are higher, the
result of which will be that flock owners will hold on to their sheep this
year and this will advance the price of mutton.

While the general rule holds that it takes about the same amount
of feed to produce a thousand pounds of beef as a thousand pounds of
mutton, it often happens that sheep can be kept on cheaper feed. Sheep
eat a larger variety of plants or weeds than cattle and readily convert
even noxious weeds into wool and mutton. The common ragweed, which
some years grows thick and high in cattle pastures, is greatly relished by
sheep. They eat it like clover. A few years ago I bought a forty acres
which was thoroughly infested with cockleburs. Two years later none
were to be found. The sheep exterminated them.

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V.

213

Turnip seed can be sown with oats or barley. The turnips make but
little growth until after l.arvest, but in August and September sometimes
make a large growth, which can be fed off by the sheep, and often proves
to the sheep owner as valuable as the grain crop. The turnips cost only
the seed.

Lord Bauff, prize Short-Horn Bull, owned by Geo. Ward, Hawarden, Iowa,
and shown at the Iowa State Fair, 1902.

Rape also can be sown with the small grain, or in the cornfield the
last time the corn is plowed and commonly yields an immense amount of
best pasturage in the fall.

For a month during the hottest period of our drouth in the summer
of 1901, with ti^e thermometer many days in succession 100 degrees and
over, my 500 Delaines were turned out of my shortened blue grass pas-
tures and into my cornfields commencing at the time when the corn first
silked out, where they thrived on the grass and weeds (which had got
some start in the wet June) and on the lower leaves of the corn, doing
the corn crop no injury, but rather helping it. When in the last of August
the ears bent down to their reach I returned them to their pastures,
which would have been very bare of feed had they been cropped by the
sheep during the time they spent in the cornfields. If they had remained
longer and pulled down some of the ears, there would have been little
waste, for they shell off and eat what they pull down.

Sheep can be well fattened in less time than cattle. The 100-day fed
steer is not finished; but sheep in very moderate condition can be well
fattened in 100 days.

214 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Another element of profit with sheep is the increased fertility which
they give to the soil. No other stock equals them in this respect. In-
creased fertility means better crops.

While good sheep with good management are profitable on our best
lands in Iowa, sheep with light fleeces or with poor mutton qualities will
not pay anywhere, any more than the breeding, keeping and fattening of
inferior scrub cattle, or keeping a dairy of twenty cows that produce no
more butter and cheese than ten good cows well fed and well managed.
Yet there are many such inferior flocks of sheep, many such poor herds
of cattle and such dairies in Iowa. Nothing short of the use of better
sires and better care and management will ever save such stockmen
from poverty. If they don't reform they must sell out or be sold out and
go out of Iowa hunting for cheaper lands, where they think it will pay
to keep stock. They will find cheaper lands and poorer lands, but they
will never succeed until they mend their ways.

I think the average weight of Iowa fleeces does not exceed six and
one-half pounds. A single cross of native and medium and coarse wool
ewes with a good Delaine ram will add two or three pounds to the weight
of fleece, and greatly improve its quality and also improve the shape, con-
stitution and fattening qualities. Great improvement in the carcass can
also be made by the use of pure bred rams of the English breeds.

When these improvements are made, certainly no one will approxi-
mate the truth who asserts that sheep cannot be profitably kept on our
best Iowa farms.

THE OUTLOOK FOR THE BREEDING OF PURE BRED SWINE.

Q. W. Browning, Newton, Iowa.

Preliminary remarks are like a hog's head and ears — quite essential
but we do not want any more of them than are necessary.

I feel honored in having my name on this program, but I realize
that there are others here from a distance who are to speak this after-
noon and I hope to present my subject in the shortest time possible and
do it justice.

The immediate outlook for pure bred swine is like the Indian's sign of
rain — clouds all round and pouring down in the middle. A strong demand
for desirable stock at remunerative prices. But what of the future? The
demand for breeding stock comes largely from the pork producer. Iowa
is well adapted to producing pork. She is surrounded with the greatest
pork producing territory in the world and with which we have excellent
railway connections.

Hogs require for their best development plenty to eat and drink, some
exercise and a comfortable place to sleep. Exercise is best secured in
the pasture, where the hogs combines business with pleasure. Conditions
in respect to pasture are getting better every day. Farms are being

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART V. 215

fenced hog tight throughout, so that every field can be used, if desired,
as a hog pasture.

Corn is well called king of the field, but the king must have his
queen and to modest blooming glorious clover may well be accorded this
proud distinction; and when they are harmoniously united in the bond"?
of the balanced ration what marvelous results are produced!

There was a time when the $10 pig was largely in evidence. The past
few years have seen the passing of the $10 pig and the $1,000 hog. Both
served a good purpose in advertising improved stock. Twenty dollars for
a pig and $100 for a hog are safe prices which represent value received
on both sides of the deal.

There are those who speak lightly of pedigree, but the well informed
buyer insists on having this much-abused article with the stock he buys.
There is only one animal in my mind who can be said to carry the pedi-
gree on his back and that is the thoroughbred razor back.

Comparing cost of beef and pork production we find the advantage
of the hog quite in favor.

In experiments at Ames covering three years of time, with six breeds
of swine and twenty-two different lots of hogs, it required on an average
4.23 pounds of dry matter to make one pound of gain. The highest
amount required being 5.06 pounds and the lowest 3.19 pounds. With
young cattle the amount of feed required to make one pound of increase
ranged from 7.27 pounds to 20.54 pounds, the average being 9.70 pounds.

There is one item that must not be overlooked. It is the most im-
portant from a financial standpoint in the whole business. That item is
printer's ink. Transportation and printer's ink are the greatest moving
agents in this progressive age. In this respect Iowa is perhaps favored
beyond any other state. In the way of farm papers Iowa stands in the
foremost rank. Now a newspaper is a baited hook. The subject-matter
is the bait, while the advertising matter is the hook. The value of a
paper as an advertiser depends largely on the character of the bait. If
it is wholesome and attractive we may expect the hook to do effective
work. From this point of view Iowa papers are of the best. There is one
feature I never like to see in a farm paper and that is the whisky adver-
tisement.

Imagine, if you please, Wallaces' Farmer with Uncle Henry's Sunday
school lesson on one page and on the opposite page a flaming advertise-
ment of four full quarts of Rocky Mountain Rye for $3.20 put up expressly
for family use (that would tickle the devil himself). That is not the Iowa
idea, and Iowa's influence is so strong that it is not safe for even an
Omaha farm paper to carry a whisky advertisement.

Now, to sum it all up, with the best facilities for producing good
stock, a good market near at h