Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-09-18

names OF the parties showing them:
In Agricultural Hall there was a
good showing, especially in apples,
when the scarcity of the local crop
this year is considered. There were
over 100 plates of them, o. O. Lomen
showing 81 varieties, Gus Johnson
10, T. Bringsford and Mrs. Walter
Brakeman 2. Isaac Johnson, the
nurseryman, made fine showing,
while John Harter & Son showed the
products of their development of
seedlings, in all 81 plates, besides
ever-bearing strawberries, grapes
and plums. O. o. Lomen showed Is
varieties of plums, VIM. Makepeace
and Mrs. Lewis Johnson also making
exhibits of plums.
In canned fruits and vegetables
Mrs. B. F. Headington, o. o. Lomen
and E. Brakeman made an excellent
exhibit, the former two also show
ing some handsome potted plants.
Isaac Johnson also had some beau
tiful gladiolas and dahlias on dis
play.
e. L. Beard & Son made one of the
most attractive and instructive ex-
hibts on the grounds, 26 varieties of
hay and pasture plants grown on
their farm west of this city, includ-
ing a cap sheaf of alfalfa, which
has yielded three crops this season,
the first on June 18th, 2,400 pounds
dry hay to the acre; the second on
August 3rd, 1900 pounds; the third
on Sept. 9th, 1900 pounds, a growth
for the year which will equal ~
inches, an experiment on two acre
patch which shows what can be done
with alfalfa in this country.
o. C. Olson of Madison was also
an interesting exhibitor of general
farm produce, which included a fine
showing of corn out of danger of
frost.
The Standard Seed Tester Co. ex-,
hibited tester in operation.
In vegetables there were exhibits
by E. r. 7lount & Son, John Harter,
Frank Headington, Mrs. G. A. Mat
er and George Child.
The farm machinery exhibit was
confined to Sellman & Co., and in
cluded gasoline engines, separators,
manure spreaders, automobiles. etc.
There was a noticeable lack this
year of the side. shows and other conA
lcessions which are usually found at
the fair. Several of these, includ-
ing the Canada Bill wild west show,
engaged space on the grounds and
were advertised TO some extent, but
they failed to make their appear
ance. 1t is presumed that they all
went to some of the other fairs in
this section of the country. About
the only thing in the vaudeville
amusement line was Shaft & Shaft,
hay rack contortionists, who each
day gave an exhibition of tumbling
and acrobatic work that was very
good.
The unfortunate airship combina-
ton was a failure. Messrs. Pound
and Merrill, with their assistants,
worked faithfully here for about a
month on their biplane, but met
series of accidents that seemed to
pursue them in rapid succession.
Every time they would get the ma
chine in condition, as they thought,
and attempted to fly, something hap
pened. On one evening, Tuesday,
Mr.. Pound got up in the air about
25 feet, when the propeller struck
the gasoline tank and knocked 1t
loose, breaking the propeller. They
worked until Friday on the machine,
but were unable to make it fly, and
left town Saturday, completely dis
couraged. 1t was disappointment
to everyone, as good aeroplane flights
would have been a great attraction.
Financially, the fair paid out, In
spite of the fact that no fair was
held on Friday, but the $500 note
left over from last year will leave
the society still several hundred doi
lars in debt.