956 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



MARION. 



CHAS. PORTER, OCTOBER 30, 1913. 



General Condition of Crops and Season — Early part of season very good 

 but in May cold and wet weather set in, which resulted in only a fair crop 

 of most grains. 



Corn — The early planted making the best yields and the best quality. 

 The crop was badly blown down, making an average of 30 bushels. 



Oats — But very little rust; average about 30 bushels per acre. 



Wheat — "Winter varieties good yield and quality extra fine, making 

 from 20 to 40 bushels per acre. Spring varieties from 12 to IS bushels 

 per acre; fair quality. 



Rye — But little sown ; quality fine. 



Barley — None. 



Flax — None. 



Bitckicheat — None. 



Millet — Fair but not much grown. 



Sorghum — Making excellent syrup but not a big return in gallons per 

 acre. The seed helps to make the crop a paying one. 



Timothy — Good crop; fine quality and selling at $9.00 delivered. 



Clover — First crop good and a fine lot of hay was made. The second 

 crop was generally good and made an extra lot of seed. 



Prairie Hay — None. 



Other Grains and Grasses — A few are experimenting with alfalfa, re- 

 ports are fair. 



Potatoes — Early planting a fair crop but not a large acreage. The 

 late planting resulted in a poor crap. Now selling at 90 cents per bushel. 



Vegetables — Early gardens good but summer and fall planting brought 

 poor returns on account of drouth. 



Apples — Trees in good shape generally. The crop greatly damaged by 

 insects. Winter varieties selling from 75c to $1.00. 



Other Fruits — All small fruits a fair crop. 



Cattle — Not so many as two years ago but the farmers are continually 

 improving their herds. 



Horses — Most of our farmers are breeding the heavy draft type with 

 good results. We have a nice lot of young horses in the pastures. 



Swine — Generally a large crop of spring pigs reported but disease has 

 taken a great many of them. 



Sheep — Not much increase in the number. A good many shijjped in 

 for feeding. 



Poultry — A good season for chickens and wo have a number of fancy 

 breeders in this locality. 



Bees — But few kept over the past winter. This has been a good honey 

 season. 



Drainage — This county is pretty well drained with tile and open 

 ditches. 



Other Industries — Prosperous. 



Lands — Well improved farms selling as high as $250 per acre. Not 

 nuu'li changing hanrls this season. 



