298 • STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



kinds of elm, hickory, hackberry, cottonwood, linn or bass wood and 

 some few other kinds. 



We have two railroads in the county, one running through west 

 side of the county, the other running from Mt. Ayer, Iowa, to Grant 

 City, the county seat. 



We have seven towns in the county. Grant City is a fine business 

 town; there is more business done there than there is at some towns 

 in the surrounding counties of twice the population. Grant has about 

 1500 inhabitants; it has more fine brick business houses than any town 

 in the surrounding country of the same size. There is a good graded 

 school, a good flouring-mill, two banks, two hardware stores, fourteen 

 dry-goods, groceries and drug-stores in the town, and four good church 

 buildings, enough for this place. 



We have 56 public school buildings in the county, 20 church 

 houses and not a saloon in the county, and our county is the banner 

 county for Sunday-schools and Sunday-school scholars. We have the 

 most Sunday-school scholars of any county in the State to the popu- 

 lation, and a great many of our districts have nine months' school in 

 the year, with a levy of 40 cents on the $100 valuation. Our railroads 

 are reasonaole in their freight charges. 



Our lands are adapted to all the grains and cereals grown in this 

 climate, but our lands are extra good for the different kinds of grass. 

 And as for fruit, our county is splendid for cherries and all the different 

 small fruits, and apples have been a great success here on nearly all 

 kinds of land until this year, and this year they are almost an entii^e 

 failure. There are some orchards that in 1890 paid over $100 per acre. 

 Peaches used to bear about two years out of every five, but of late 

 years have not done that well, yet I would advise the planting of peach 

 trees to some extent. 



Pears do tolerably well, especially the Kiefer. Plums in some 

 localities do well. The planting of orchards does not cost so high as 

 in some localities, as the ground is easily worked, and I think the cost 

 of planting one acre of trees would not be more than $15, including 

 cost of trees, as the trees will cost from 10 to 15 cents per tree. Land 

 is worth from $10 to $15 per acre unimproved, from $15 to $35 improved, 

 owing to the improvements. 



Those looking for cheap homes in a country where you can raise 

 almost anything in the way of grain, fruit, grass and vegetables grown 

 in this climate, and where law and order prevail, are cordially invited to 

 come and see and be convinced that we have not overdrawn the picture. 



Terry Davidson. 



