The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-08

| the 2:19 trot and the 2:35 pace were
being carried through this afternoon
without hitch. The race track was
sprinkled last night and rolled this
| morning. 1t is lightning fast
The big tent for the agricultural and
fruit displays presented one of the
most interesting sights of the fair to-
day. For the first time in the history
of the state her resources of meadow,
orchard and field had been gathsreSl
together and placed on display in a
| state fair. There was no imposing
building with its modern improve
ments and handsome background for
the display. but just a big circus tent
stretched over a carpet of Kansas blue
grass, but the marble floors of a pal
ace could not surpass the setting for
this display of corn, millet, wheat,
oats, peanuts, watermelons, pumpkins,
barley, apples. plums and garden pro-
ducts. They were ripened by the mag
ic of the Kansas sunshine and grown
in the enchanting breath of the prair-
les. A partition through the center of
the tent divided the agricultural from
the fruit displays. The partition itself
gave fine chance for a wall display,
and long tables spread down the ave-
nues of the tent give a splendid oppor-
| tunity for the exhibitors. This has been
fine year for apples. and this staple
fruit predominated in the display.
There are apples everywhere and they
rival the watermelons in size and the
plums in their brilliant and beautiful
coloring.
But the humble and dirty swine is
! the glory of the Kansas fair. Pens had
been built for 500 animals and all the
space has been taken. Nebraska stock
raisers have invaded the swine exhibit
in large numbers with some wonderful
animals. There is a white Cheshire
male that weighs 1000 pounds. As he
/ liesd sprawled clear across his pen, a
! white mountain of flesh. this half ton
monster is alone worth the price to the
visiting farmer. Then there are White
Cheshire animals of smaller size but
reachinSthe perfection of comeliness ac-
cording to the tenets of the swine beau
ty book. The Poland Chinas are there
in large numbers, and some of them are
so fat as to be almost round. The
Berkshires, however, are the aristo-
Gratis of the swine world at the fair
grounds Care and breeding have
brought them to perfection Their bris-
ties have been changed to satin coats
and they strutted about as proud of
their looks as horses in the show ring.
The stalls for show cattle have all
been filled with the best animals in the
west Blue, red and yellow ribbons
and many medals cover most of the
SPACE above the stalls of these prize
winners at many fairs. The Durhams
and Herefords are especially fine. Some
of the first named animals have backs
as broad and fiat as a billiard table.
A score of Shetland ponies of every
color fill the pony tent and are a star
attraction for the small boy and his
sister, too.
The poultry tent is filed to the raft
ers' with coops of thoroughbred chick
ems in % varieties. One Wisconsin
breeder has 140 birds in the exhibit and
a Kansas woman from Hutchinson has
155 birds on display.
The Red Cross relief station on the
grounds near the main entrance is a
wise provision of first aid for the in
jured.