SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X. 1049 



Report of Fair. — The Williamsburg District Fair Association held its 

 eighth annual exhibition Sept. 12-14, and notwithstanding a heavy rain 

 on the 14th, which necessitated extending the original dates one day, 

 and with the additional expenses incurred thereby, it was the most suc- 

 cessful fair in the history of the association. Many predicted a failure 

 on account of having no trotting races, but were forced to admit that a 

 fair can be made a success without racing. There were excellent attract- 

 ions, clean, wholesome and educational, which fully met with the expec- 

 tations of the visitors and caused expressions of commendation from 

 all present. No gambling nor any show of an immoral nature was per- 

 mitted on the grounds. All departments were well filled with excellent 

 exhibits and visitors expressed themselves with being pleased with the 

 educational features of the exposition. 



All expert knowledge obtained from the judges in the different depart- 

 ments brought out practical ideas which will aid in making still greater 

 advancement in the field of farm activity. Improved labor saving machin- 

 ery, the rural mail delivery that carries the news to the farmer's door, 

 the telephone system which puts the farmer in close touch with every- 

 body and ever}- place, renders farm life no longer the dry drudgery of 

 the past, but places him in direct communication w'ith neighbor, mer- 

 chant or dealer in farm products, and by securing market reports by 

 wire places him in a position to take advantage of favorable prices. Of 

 these improvements the farmers have been quick to take advantage, 

 and the result is a complete transformation in farm life. From the 

 writer's personal observation, prudent economy, neatness and thrift seem 

 almost universally characteristic of the farmers of Iowa county, and 

 when farming is thus intelligently conducted there can be no more wor- 

 thy occupation than this which renders service to the whole human 

 race. Agricultural colleges, experiment stations, state boards of agricul- 

 ture, fairs, judging contests, and farmers' institutes have all been impor- 

 tant factors in furnishing the necessary technical education that has pro- 

 duced such splendid results. 



JACKSON 



E. D. ELY, ilAQUOKETA, SEPT. 17, 1905. 



General Condition of Crops and Season. — Better than for several years 

 past. 



Corn. — Large acreage planted, and yield and quality will be much 



above the average of the past several years. 



Oats. — Yield and. quality excellent. 



Wheat. — Small acreage, which yielded well and was of good quality. 



Rye. — Very little sown. 



Barley. — This grain is becoming more popular among feeders and a 

 much larger acreage was sown this j"ear than last, which yielded a good 

 crop of excellent quality. 



Flax. — None grown. 



