682 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Rye.— Practically none raised. 



Barley. — Spring. Average yield twenty-five bushels per acre, and of 

 a fair quality. 



Very little flax, buckwheat or sorghum raised in this county. 



Potatoes. — Average yield forty bushels per acre, of good quality, and 

 bringing $1 per bushel. 



Timothy Hay.^ — Average yield two and one half tons per acre, with . 

 about one and one half tons per acre from second crop. 



Prairie Hay. — Average yield one and one half tons per acre, of good 

 quality. 



Timothy Seed. — Average per acre four bushels, of good quality. 



Horses. — Principal breeds, Norman, Clydesdale, English Shire and 

 grades. There is a general improvement in horses of all kinds. A great 

 many are bought here and shipped to other markets. Prices range high. 

 Number assessed, 8,420. Actual value as assessed, $469,138. No disease. 



Cattle. — Principal breeds, Durham, Hereford, Polled Angus, Jersey 

 and grades. Durham preferred for beef; Jersey for dairy; steady im- 

 provement. Number assessed, 34,663; actual value as assessed, $874,118. 

 Mostly marketed at Chicago. No disease to speak of. 



Swine. — Breeds represented: Poland China, Berkshire, Chester 

 White and Duroc Jersey. Poland China preferred, with Chester White 

 and Duroc Jersey a close fight for second place. Supply good. Market, 

 Chicago and Omaha. Practically free from disease. Number assessed, 

 39,197; value as assessed, $273,911, 



Sheep.^Mostly Southdowns and Shropshire. General health good. 

 Not much increase in industry. Numbers assessed. 1.671; actual value 

 as assessed, $6,686. 



The cultivated land is largely devoted to corn, hay and pasture, 

 small grain not being very extensively raised. This is strictly a stock 

 raising county, and can't be beat, in this respect, in western Iowa. 



This year's crop was materially damaged by wet and cold weather, 

 yet take it on the whole we have plenty to be thankful for. In August 

 a destructive hailstorm passed over the west part of our county, which did 

 a great amount of damage, but the soil is so productive and the farmers 

 so thrifty that Jhe loss will only be felt for a short time. 



Small fruit was injured to some extent this year on account of the 

 extremely wet weather. While the crop set well in the spring, it did 

 not mature well and the cause is generally laid to the wet weather. This 

 IS also true with most of the large fruits, although the apple crop is quite- 

 good. 



There is a steady improvement in the farms of Audubon county and> 

 very few farms can be bought for less than $60 per acre. 



