746 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



Millet — Small acreage, but yield and quality good. 



Sorghum — An exceptionally fine crop of very juicy stalks, and some 

 fine molasses the result. 



Timothy — Rather light crop, but that which was cut for seed yielded 

 well. 



Clover — Fair crop of hay, but scarcely any seed; did not seem to fill. 



Prairie Hay — Small yield, but of exceptionally fine quality. 



Potatoes — Small acreage, fine quality and average yield. 



Vegetables — Yielded well, especially onions, of which there was an 

 increased acreage over former years. 



Apples — Early varieties yielded an abundant crop and were of ex- 

 ceptionally fine quality; a great many, however, are going to waste on 

 account of no market. Late and winter varieties are of excellent quality 

 and average yield. 



Other Fruits — Strawberries were not very good, either in quality or 

 yield. Raspberries and other small fruits were fine, both in quality and 

 yield. 



Cattle — More were raised during the past year than during any pre- 

 vious year in the history of the county, and the finer grades seem to be 

 in the ascendant; especially is this true of the milch breeds. Possibly 

 not quite so many being fed for market as in some other years, but alto- 

 gether an improvement is noticeable. 



Horses — There is a noticeable diminution in the size of the horses in 

 this county, due to the high prices offered by outside buyers, having re- 

 sulted in the purchase and shipment out of the county of many of the 

 best and largest horses. However, the young stock now coming on is 

 of the finest draft breeds, of which there seems to be a larger number 

 than usual. 



Swine — This county has the reputation of being the largest swine- 

 producing one of the state for its size, and a drive over the county will 

 bear out this statement, as will the shipping records of the railroads. 

 It is impossible to estimate the number now on hand, but it will exceed 

 all previous records. 



Sheep — This industry has had an unusual impetus the past year, and 

 there are now a larger number in the county, by one hundred per cent, 

 than at any previous time. 



Poultry — Increase in quantity, especially the Spanish varieties, on 

 account of increased egg production. Large shipments of market poultry 

 are sent out each fall, and indications are that a larger number are now 

 on hand than at any time during the past. 



Bees — Not so numerous as formerly, but a few farmers have a hive 

 or two, and occasionally there is one with a dozen or more. The past 

 season has not been a favorable one for the honey crop on account of the 

 dry weather, and very few pounds have been marketed. 



Drainage — Natural drainage is very good, and the small amount of 

 tile that is used is of the small size. 



Other Industries — The butter industry is the largest and most profit- 

 able and almost the only one of mentionable proportions. There are 

 eleven active creameries in the county, and several car loads of butter 

 are shipped weekly. 



