TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XII 797 



Potatoes — Early potatoes did nicely, late ones nearly ruined by dry 

 v.eather in August; on the whole the crop is short. 



Vegetables — Late rains are making the turnips and beets. There are 

 several hundred acres of sugar beets; crop looks well and promises a good 

 yield per acre. 



Apples — Crop is light this year. 



OtJiei- Fruits — Berries of all kinds were good yield, fully up to the aver- 

 age, especially strawberries. 



Cattle — An increase in quality, but not in quantity. 



Horses — More attention is given to the raising of horses and the quality 

 is being matrially improved. Prices range very high, which has much to 

 do with the interest taken in the raising of horses. 



Sicinq — The crop of hogs is not up to a normal scale. While every 

 farmer keeps a few, not many of them are trying to increase their stock. 



Sheep — Increasing interest manifested in the raising of sheep, and 

 many of the farmers are in the business on a small scale. 



Poultry — A very important item with the farmer, prevailing prices 

 making it profitable. A good crop of chickens and ducks, but a small 

 crop of turkeys and geese. 



Bees — Are kept only in a small way. 



Drainage — Is a live subject in this county. Much tiling was done last 

 year and is giving good satisfaction; more is being laid this year. Our 

 cement tile works are rushed with business. 



Other Industries — A gasoline engine works is just ready to open their 

 new plant here; the spring bed factory is erecting new buildings, and 

 the corn crusher plant is flourishing. The canning factory is rushed with 

 business and will probably increase their output one-half. 



Lands — There seems to be no shrinkage in the price of farm lands or 

 the demand for them; prices range from $60 to $130. 



Report of Fair — Held at Independence September 7, 8, 9 and 10, 1909. 

 Only fairly good on account of bad weather. Exhibits were good; horses, 

 mules, cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry made a good showing. 



BUENA VISTA. 



C. H. WEGERSLEV, AXTA, OCTOBER 10, 1909. 



General Condition of Crops and Season — The year 1909 will be remem- 

 bered as one of the most unfavorable for farming operations for a decade. 

 In the spring and early summer almost incessant rains prevented the 

 proper cultivation of fields, and from the fore part of May until the 

 middle of July farmers were unable to till their fields for more than 

 one or two days a week. The latter part of the season was dry, being 

 what was needed to mature all crops. 



Corn — Corn was late in being planted, rain prevented proper cultivation, 

 and all through the season the crop was from two to three weeks late. A 

 fair crop. 



Oats— About two-thirds of a crop; yield was light but quality was good, 

 the kernels being plump and full. 



