Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-11
JUDGING FRUITS AND CORN
Horticultural Exhibit Net Up to Standard
Owing to Wet Season.
PROF. HOLDEN TALKS ABOUT SEED CORN
Opens the Eyes of Agriculturists on
the Lack of General Information
on This Most Import
ant subject.
CFrom a STAR correspondent.,

DES MONIES. Dec. 1O.-(Special.)-
elimination of the weeks events OF special
interest to the agriculturists of the state
came today, when the fruit and seed corn
exhibits were judged by experts. The
fruit judging was by a committee consist
ing Of G. l.. Watrous, Des Moines; R. M
]. Rohlfs, Eldredge, and S. H. Marshall
Madison, Wis. The fruit exhibition at the
state capitol was not as fine as 1t has been
in other years, because fruit in Iowa did
not come up to the average Of the state,
but many handsome specimens were shown
from ALI Sections. The seed corn exhibit
was something new and novel. Specimens
of seed corn were on hand to compete for
prizes, and Prof C. p. Holden of the State
college did the judging. Prof. Holden is
the head of the Department of Agronomy
and will conduct the corn judging school
at the college in January. He spent a
great deal Of time demonstrating how to
judge corn and among the veterans who
have attended State Agricultural society
meetings for many years he attracted more
attention than anyone else. Prof Holden
convinced those present that in nothing is
Iowa more backward just now than in
consideration OF the seed corn question
and he declared his intention of doing all
NC SOuAu AZ thS fSOliS66 anu III SNGIy way
to arouse the people to a proper interest
in the subject
The annual meeting of the Department Of
Agriculture was held today This body is
made up of delegates from the local and
county societies, representatives Of coun-
ties in which no fairs are held, representa-
tives OF the county farmers Institutes and
a few others. The chief consideration OF
the department is in the holding OF the
annual state fairs The report of Secre-
tary- Simpson on this work and on other
matters was read at length. Mr.. Simpson
spoke in glowing terms of the Iowa state
fair held last August 1t was the greatest
the state has ever seen. The receipts were
larger than at any previous Iowa fair,
totaling $4,000. with premiums paid out
$4,000, leaving a net profit OF $4,000 on
account of the fair. The largest day
brought the department receipts amounting
to $4,000. while the largest previous day
was in 1896, when $4,000 was received.
This was done despite that on the first day
Of the fair week there were heavy rains,
which compelled putting off the program
of dedication of the stock pavilion. The
remainder of the week was good. but the
heavy rains prevented a good race pre-
gram.
Cattle Exhibit Great Feature.
In regard to the exhibits at the state
fair Secretary Simpson recounted that the
cattle exhibit was the great feature.
| Never before in the history of the Iowa
| state fairs" he wrote. has 80 great a
lot OF cattle been gathered together as at
the 1902 exhibition. 1t was the strongest
| in numbers and best IN quality ever wit
messed in the show ring. over 800 head of
cattle were or the ground and this GER
tainly demonstrates 1owss rank as the
first cattle state of the union The ex-
hibltors were generally satisfied with the
awards"
In horses the exhibit was fine, but will
be better. Both the hog and sheep exhibits
were good and all other departments were
up to their usual standards In every re-
spect the fair Of 1902 was the best ever
held in the state.
Secretary Simpson suggested that the
program should be so arranged that horses
and cattle should not be shown In the ring
at the same time. The success Of the horse
and cattle exhibit was largely due &c hav-
(CoutfutYad IN Ninth paRel