762 IOWA DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 



Other Fruits — All kinds of small fruits, including grapes and plums, 

 yielded a large crop of excellent quality. Quite a large number of peach 

 trees bore excellent fruit. 



Cattle — Have done exceptionally well, owing to the abundance of 

 pasturage from early spring to date. The large hay crop of last year 

 helped to bring the cattle to grass in fine condition in the spring, and 

 all stock is in better condition at this time than for many years. 



Horses — On account of the very high prices which they command at 

 the present time, they are given the best of care, and are in fine condi- 

 tion, generally, free from disease. 



SwixE — Are feeling the effects of the big corn crop, and are in fine 

 condition. However, there is some cholera, with good prospects of con- 

 siderable more. The crop of pigs this year was not up to the average. 



Sheep — While there are very few in this county the number ia In- 

 creasing, and are usually well bred. 



Poultry — Has done well. Favorable season and there was a large crop 

 of young birds. There has been considerable loss by thieves. 



Bees — Wintered very badly last year, there being fully one-half of the 

 stands lost before spring. Those that managed to live through the winter 

 were in a very much weakened condition, and while the crop of flowers 

 was large the bees were not in condition to take advantage of it and 

 the crop of honey is light. 



Drainage — There has been some tile drainage in this county during 

 the past year but there is more of a disposition on the part of farmers 

 to maintain open ditches with sloping sides, as being cheaper and 

 more satisfactory. 



Other Industries — No new industries established, but some consid- 

 erable agitation for sugar beet and Portland cement factories, but noth- 

 ing definite as yet accomplished. 



Lands — Have increased in price from five to seven dollars per acre, 

 and the demand is quite active, with many sales ranging from sixty-five 

 to eighty-five dollars per acre, and some at one hundred dollars and 

 more. 



Report of Fair — Held at West Union, September 4-7. Favorable 

 weather prevailed, and the attendance which was the largest in the his- 

 tory of the society, reached over eleven thousand on Thursday. Special 

 features were an address by United States Senator B. R. Tillman of 

 South Carolina, the reunion for old settlers and the free admission of 

 people over eighty years of age on Thursday. There were fine ball games, 

 and a large number of other amusements in the way of shows and attrac- 

 tions. Exhibits were large and excellent in every department, and espe- 

 cially was this true of the livestock departments. The race features were 

 not so prominent as at many fairs. 



This society was the first to offer premiums for good roads, and the 

 result of the competition shows that the amount ($50 set aside for the 

 purpose) was well expended and richly earned, and was a splendid ob- 

 ject lesson of what could be done with the King drag. 



This society after paying off all of its old debts, and adding improve- 

 ments during the last year, in which is included a large and commodious 

 dining-hall, has closed the year with a good balance in its treasury, and 

 with confidence and kindly feeling toward the management. 



