Stewart & McMillen, Entry No. 895.-Commended for clean, sweet flavor, firm texture and superior excellency generally, comprising samples of different creameries.

[NOTE. The general report of the committee on butter puts the yield of the United States for 1876 at 710,000,000 lbs. Messrs. Stewart & McMillen had about ninety competitors, among whom were the best butter makers of the world. In addition to the centennial awards, they got the golden medal awarded by the national butter and egg association. Iowa creamery butter sells in the Philadelphia market readily with the gilt edged brand. The butter crop in Iowa is an item of interest, and the State owes Stewart & McMillen a debt of gratitude for their very active exertion at the centennial in raising Iowa butter to a level with the gilt edge manufacturers of the eastern States. Delaware county, Iowa, is to our State what Chester county is to Pensylvania.]

Bryan & Curtis' butter, Strawberry Point, Clayton county.-Commended for fine quality and superior skill in manufacturing.

GROUP NO. VI.

Collection of woods by Prof. McAfee, Agricultural College.-Commended as a good State exhibit, containing 160 specimens arranged in vertical and transverse sections.

J. C. Arthur, Charles City, No. 185.-Herbarium of plants. The herbarium contains species named and clasified, neatly mounted, labeled and one in duplicate. The duplicate collection ingeniously arranged for exhi bition on large sliding frames within a glass case. The whole accompanied with a printed catalogue.

AWARDS ON COLLECTIVE STATE EXHIBITS.

State of Iowa, No. 11.-Commended for a large display of its minerals, soils, native and cultivated grasses, its pomology in large variety, and collection of woods and a valuable collection of mound builders relics.

GROUP NO. XXVIII.

EDUCATIONAL.

Board of Education, Burlington, No. 76.--Commended for creditable display of the work of pupils.

State Educational Department, No. 77.-Report good exhibit of the statistics of State school system and work of public schools.

Board of Education of West Des Moines, No. 78.-A creditable exhibit of work of pupils.

GROUP XXII.

PLOWS.

Skinner Bros., Des Moines, No. 63.-Commended for excellence of ma terial, good workmanship and beauty of form.

GROUP NO. XXIII.

BOOK BINDING AND PAPER INDUSTRY.

John D. Metz, Dubuque, No. 94.-Blank books with patent ends and mode of stitching. Report an admirable made book aside from the patent improvement claimed.

GROUP XXX.

HORSES AND CATTLE.

Eli Elliot, West Liberty.-Short Horn bull, Baron French, No. 8.-Report in form, quality and useful characteristics he is entitled to rank as a superior specimen of the Short Horn breed.

State of Iowa, Short Horn Herd, No. 12.-One bull and four cows. The animals composing this herd, in high excellence of form, quality and useful characteristics, are entitled to be ranked as first-class specimens of the Short Horn breed.

J. W. Jacobs, West Liberty, No. 13.-Two cows, Maid of Honor and Lucy Napier, commended for high excellence of form and useful characteristics, entitled to rank as first-class specimens of the Short Horn breed. E. S. Wilson, West Liberty, No. 35.-Heifer, Louden Mirvine, for high excellence in form, quality and useful characteristics is entitled to rank as a first-class specimen of the Short Horn breed.

E. S. Wilson, No. 36.-Emma Down and heifer calf Centennial Mine. In form and useful characteristics they are entitled to be ranked as firstclass specimens of the Short Horn breed.

GROUP XXXVI.

Henry Avery, Burlington.-Commended for a collection of apples, among which Grimes' Golden Pippin, an excellent kind, is especially meritorious in size and flavor.

David Leonard, Burlington, No. 16.-Commended for a valuable selection of varieties very well grown, and especially for a seedling named Robinson, which promises well for the northwest, both as respects to tree and fruit.

No. 27.-Polk County, by James Sinith, Des Moines. Commended for 160 varieties of apples, and for the very large number of valuable varieties and for the very superior manner in which they are grown; also for great care and correctness in naming.

No. 30.-E. H. Caulkens commended for twenty varieties and their valuable characteristics; also great excellence and beauty in growth.

R. S. Willet, Malcolm.-Commended for 40 varieties of apples of general value and the superior manner of growth.

No. 39, L. Hollingsworth, Montrose.-Seventy-five varieties of apples, commended for a large number of useful sorts and for the meritorious manner in which they are grown.

No. 65, G. B. Brackett, Denmark.-Pears are Plate White Doyenne.

These specimens of this old and important variety reach the highest stan dard of excellence of large size and beautifully colored.

No. 81, Wilson T. Smith, Des Moines.-Twenty varieties of pears commended for being well grown, and handsome collection. The Flemish Beauty and Beaurae Clangean being superior.

No. 83, White Elk Vineyard, Keokuk.-Eighteen varieties, creditable display of pears. The Beaurae Clangean having brilliant coloring.

Iowa State Horticultural Society wax models of fruit. No. 209.-Three hundred varieties of apples in wax, of perfect accuracy and beautifully displayed-the work of the Iowa State Horticultural Society.

[NOTE.-There were in all 1020 specimens. The fruit furnished as models was by various members of the State Horticultural Society, crop of 1875, the greatest number of which was by James Sinith, of Des Moines, and to whom the nomenclature is mainly due; 610 of the casts were made by Mrs. Wm. Greenland, of Des Moines, and 410 of them by Col. G. B. Brackett, of Denmark. This was the most attractive display made by Iowa, and was universally admired; and in this line Iowa can boast of as fine talent for accuracy as to model and coloring as is found anywhere. Two hundred of these casts were sold to and exchanged with the Japanese authorities, and are now doing duty in the archives of their government.] Iowa State Horticultural Society, No. 217.-September collection, report a very good collection, containing many varieties.

[NOTE.-The Horticultural Society showed in May thirty-five varieties of apples of late keepers, also the summer varieties were shown in their season. The fall display was very fine, covering seven tables 35x6, and numbering about 335 varieties of apples, and filling over 2,000 plates.]

W. W. Winterbotom, Fort Madison, No. 191.-Timothy grass seed. The seed is remarkably clean, and every way meritorious.

H. C. Gordon, Davis county, No. 204. His yellow corn was of peculiar weight and good quality, one ear weighing one pound and thirteen ounces. L. T. Chute, Manchester, No. 207.-The cereals and roots in the Iowa collection exhibited are a well grown collection of twenty-five varieties. Potatoes especially meritorious.

State of Iowa, September exhibits of the crop of 1876, No. 208.-They make a collection of cereals, grasses and roots, exhibiting the ability of the State to produce these articles in the highest degree.

The information contained in the notes is additional to that given in the official reports of the Exposition, and is furnished by Dr. Alex. Shaw, of Des Moines, who held an official position in connection with Iowa exhibits up to August 18, 1876.

ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.

BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES.

UPON negotiable bills, and notes payable in this State, grace shall be allowed according to the law merchant. All the above mentioned paper falling due on Sunday, New Year's Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas, or any day appointed or recommended by the President of the United States or the Governor of the State, as a day of fast or thanksgiving, shall be deemed as due on the day previous. No defense can be made against a negotiable instrument (assigned before due) in the hands of the assignee without notice, except fraud was used in obtaining the same. To hold an indorser, due dili gence must be used by suit against the maker or his representative. Notes payable to person named or to order, in order to absolutely transfer title, must be indorsed by the payee. Notes payable to bearer may be transferred by delivery, and when so payable, every indorser thereon is held as a guarantor of payment, nnless otherwise expressed.

In computing interest or discount on negotiable instruments, a month shall be considered a calendar month or twelfth of a year, and for less than a month, a day shall be figured a thirtieth part of a month. Notes only bear interest when so expressed; but after due, they draw the legal interest, even if not stated.

INTEREST.

The legal rate of interest is six per cent. Parties may agree, in writing, on a rate not exceeding ten per cent. If a rate of interest greater than ten per cent is contracted for, it works a forfeiture of ten per cent to the school fund, and only the principal sum can be recovered.

DESCENT.

The personal property of the deceased (except (1) that necessary for payment of debts and expenses of administration; (2) property set apart to widow, as exempt from execution; (3) allowance by court, if necessary, of twelve months' support to widow, and to children under fifteen years of age), including life insurance, descends as does real estate.

One-third in value (absolutely) of all estates in real property, possessed by the husband at any time during marriage, which have not been sold on execution or other judicial sale, and to which the wife has made no relinquishment of her right, shall be set apart as her property, in fee simple, if she survive him.

The same share shall be set apart to the surviving husband of a deceased

The widow's share cannot be affected by any will of her husband's, unless she consents, in writing thereto, within six months after notice to her of provisions of the will.

The provisions of the statutes of descent apply alike to surviving husband or surviving wife.

Subject to the above, the remaining estate of which the decedent diod siezed, shall in absence of other arrangements by will, descend

First. To his or her children and their descendants in equal parts; the descendants of the deceased child or grandchild taking the share of their deceased parents in equal shares among them.

Second. Where there is no child, nor descendant of such child, and no widow or surviving husband, then to the parents of the deceased in equal parts; the surviving parent, if either be dead, taking the whole; and if there is no parent living, then to the brothers and sisters of the intestate and their descendants.

Third. When there is a widow or surviving husband, and no child or children, or descendants of the same, then one-half of the estate shall descend to such widow or surviving husband, absolutely; and the other half of the estate shall descend as in other cases where there is no widow or surviving husband, or child or children, or descendants of the same.

Fourth. If there is no child, parent, brother or sister, or descendants of either of them, then to wife of intestate, or to her heirs, if dead, according to like rules.

Fifth. If any intestate leaves no child, parent, brother or sister, or descendants of either of them, and no widow or surviving husband, and no child, parent, brother or sister (or descendant of either of them) of such widow or surviving husband, it shall escheat to the State.

WILLS AND ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS.

No exact form of words are necessary in order to make a will good at law. Every male person of the age of twenty-one years, and every female of the age of eighteen years, of sound mind and memory, can make a valid will; it must be in writing, signed by the testator, or by some one in his or her presence, and by his or her express direction, and attested by two or more competent witnesses. Care should be taken that the witnesses are not interested in the will. Inventory to be made by executor or administrator within fifteen days from date of letters testamentary or of administration. Executors' and administrators' compensation on amount of personal estate distributed, and for proceeds one-half per cent on overplus up to five thousand dollars, and one per cent of sale of real estate, five per cent for first one thousand dollars, two and one-half on overplus above five thousand dollars, with such additional allowance as shall be reasonable for extra services.

Within ten days after the receipt of letters of administration, the executor or administrator shall give such notice of appointment as the court or clerk shall direct.

Claims (other than preferred) must be filed within one year thereafter, or are forever barred, unless the claim is pending in the District or Supreme Court, or unless peculiar circumstances entitle the claimant to equitable relief. Claims are classed and payable in the following order:

1. Expenses of administration.

2. Expenses of last sickness and funeral.