SEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XII. 773 



IOWA. 



ALEX MC LENNAN, MARENGO, OCTOBER 22, 1906. 



General Condition of Crops and Season — Quality of crops was gen- 

 erally good. No exceptional yields. Season unfavorable for all except 

 corn crop. Very little fall plowing or pasturage, on account of ex- 

 tremely dry weather at latter end of growing season. 



Corn — Increase in acreage over last year; is well filled and has not 

 been affected by early frosts. Is of good quality and will yield well. 



Oats — Decrease in acreage from last year. Light yield, but of good 

 quality. 



Wheat — Small acreage; of excellent quality, and yielded from fifteen 

 to twenty-five bushels per acre. 



Rye — Small acreage, but yielded well and was of good quality. 



Barley — About half the usual acreage. Splendid quality. 



Flax — None raised. 



Buckwheat — Very little grown. 



Millet — Very little grown. 



Sorghum — Small acreage, but yielded a crop of good quality. 



Timothy — Very light yield on account of insufficient rains in early 

 part of season, but of excellent quality. 



Clover — Very little harvested except for hay, although one field, of 

 alsike variety, made an average yield of five and seven-tenths bushela 

 of seed per acre. 



Prairie Hay — None raised. 



Potatoes — Average yield and of excellent quality. 



Vegetables — Large yield and of good 'quality. 



Apples — Early varieties good, while late varieties are scarce and of 

 poor quality. 



Other Fruits — Peaches good in most localities where grown, al- 

 though there are not a great number of trees in county, but number ia 

 increasing each year. Some pear, plum and persimmon trees bore this 

 year. 



Cattle — A larger number than usual on exhibition at our fair, and 

 of better breeding and quality. Aberdeen-Angus, Hereford and Short- 

 Horns are the leading breeds here. General condition much below aver- 

 age for feeding purposes, owing to poor condition of pasturage, caused 

 by dry season. Many farmers have had to supplement pasture feeding 

 with grain and fodder for six weeks past. 



Horses — Larger number than any previous year. Good demand, and 

 high prices being obtained. Tendency is to raise only the best breeds. 

 A number of western horses have been shipped in, and have met with 

 ready sale at good prices. 



Swine — Poland China, Duroc Jersey and Chester White are the fa- 

 vorite breeds raised. Pig crop smaller than last year. No cholera re- 

 ported. All are well bred and good prices are obtained. 



Sheep — Very few in county. 



Poultry — Increased interest taken in this industry each year. Plym- 

 outh Rock is the favorite breed. A large number were on exhibition at 

 our fair. 



