852 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



IVIARSHALL. 



ir. M. WEEKS, RHODES. OCTOBEK 12, 1909. 



General Condition of Crops and Season — Wet weather in the spring re- 

 tarded planting and cultivation, and considerable damage v>'as done by the 

 drouth in August and September. The fall has been generally favorable 

 with the result that crops are fairly good and of fine quality. 



Corn — Large acreage. Considerable damage on low land, but on good 

 land the yield is good and of good quality. Many fields will be ready to 

 crop by October 15th. Crop above the average for five years. 



Oats — Yield from twenty to thirtj'-five bushels per acre. Grain fine 

 and heavy and straw of good quality, free from rust. Crop harvested in 

 good condition. 



Wheat — Very little spring wheat raised; crop of winter wheat fair 

 and of good quality; yield twenty to thirty bushels per acre. 



Rye — But little raised. 



Barley— SmaU acreage; yield light; quality fair. 



Flax — None. 



Buckxolieat — None raised to speak of. 



Millet — Some raised for fodder on land too wet for other crops. 



Sorghum — None to report. 



Timothy — ^A fine crop and well secured. Yield from one and one-half 

 to two and one-half tons per acre and of fine quality. Fall rains have 

 caused good second growth. 



Clover — Considerable of the land seeded in 1908 was winter killed but 

 the crop was generally fair. Second crop light but free from weeds and 

 of fine quality. 



Prairie Hay — None left in this county. No wild hay except in sloughs. 



Other Grains and Gi'asses — A few are experimenting with alfalfa. 



Potatoes — Average yield and of fine quality. Worth in this section 

 of the county seventy-five cents per bushel. A better crop in the north 

 and east part of the county. 



Vegetables — A good yield of all garden vegetables and of superior size 

 and quality. 



Apples — Rather a light crop. Home grown winter apples one dollar 

 a bushel; about enough for home consumption. 



Other Fruits — Strawberries and grapes fine; other small fruits a light 

 yield. Few plums; fair crop of pears; no peaches. 



Cattle — Pastures good and stock in fine condition. Farmers are get- 

 ting herds well graded and inferior cattle are rapidly disappearing in this 

 section; Short-Horns are the favorite breed. 



Horses — Farmers are breeding with care and stock is being rapidly im- 

 proved. Heavy draft horses are most extensively raised and many car- 

 loads are shipped annually. 



Sivine — Extremely high prices have caused much attention to be paid 

 to this industry. A fine lot of pigs raised this season and the showing at 

 the county and district fairs was fine. 



