SEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XII. 757 



The exhibits of stock, poultry, grains, fruits and vegetables were un- 

 usually large and of excellent quality. The industrial and fancy work de- 

 partments contained many more exhibits than ever before, and the floral 

 hall was crowded from top to bottom. 



Every one was well pleased, as there was plenty of amusements and 

 the very best band of music that could be secured. Taken as a whole 

 it was the most successful fair the society has ever held, giving the 

 management encouragement to go ahead and push things for the fair 

 of 1907, which will be held September 3, 4, 5 and 6. 



CLAYTON. 



J. A. KRAMER, ELKADER, OCTOBER 26, 1906. 



General Comdition of Crops and Season — Season favorable; crops 

 good, excepting hay which was a little light in yield. 



Corn — First class; well matured, very little, if any, damaged by frost. 



Oats — Good. Threshing was delayed to some extent on account of 

 heavy rains. Quality fair to good. 



Wheat — Small acreage but yielded a good grade. 



Rye — Good average crop. 



Barley — An exceptionally good crop, both in quality and yield. 



Flax, Buckwheat, Millet — None raised. 



SoKGHUM — Some raised, but not of a good quality, running too much to 

 water. 



Timothy — Fair; early part of season too dry. 



Clover — Fair to good. 



Prairie Hay — None raised. 



Potatoes — Good crop, although affected by rot to some extent, espe- 

 cially late varieties. 



Vegetables — Good, both in quality and yield. 



Apples — Good yield, but of only fair quality. 



Other Fruits — Good. An abundant crop of grapes. 



Cattle — Average number raised, and there is a noticeable improve- 

 ment in their breeding. 



Horses — Scarce and selling at very high prices. Usually of good 

 breeding. 



Swine — Average number raised; of good quality and improving each 

 year. 



Sheep — Very few in this county, but are of a good grade. 



Poultry — A growing industry; a great many raised the past season. 



Bees — Very few. 



Drainage — Natural conditions very good. 



Lands — Very little changing hands. Prices range from thirty to one 

 hundred dollars per acre. 



Report of Fair — Held at Elkader, August 21-24. Weather very hot 

 and dry, being the warmest of the year. Fair crowd Wednesday; large 

 crowd Thursday. Friday it began raining in the forenoon and kept the 

 crowd away. The sentiment of all present was that it was too hot and 

 early for a fair, so the fair of 1907 will be held later in the season. 



