690 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Cattle are in fine shape, as the pasturage was never better. Hogs 

 are doing well, and no cholera reported. 



DALLAS COUNTY. 



H. H. Crenshaw. 



Fair held at Adel, September 9, 10 and 11, 1903. 



The condition of agriculture is not very flattering. While it is true 

 that small grain made a fair yield, most of which has been threshed at 

 this writing (September 9th), the fact remains that the outlook for corn 

 is not good. The early planted corn will yield a good crop, but much of 

 our corn, perhaps one half, is of late planting, and it is hardly probable 

 that it will mature. The potatoes and other garden vegetables are far 

 below the average, both in quality and quantity. 



Some hog cholera has appeared, and our farmers, especially the rent- 

 -ers, are discouraged. 



Much of our land is changing hands at from $80 to $115 per acre, 

 which necessitates raising the rent, and many of our best renters are 

 thinking seriously of moving to some other place where they can acquire 

 cheap land. While we of Dallas county claim to live in the best county In 

 the State, we cannot deny that there is much low land here, which will 

 have to be tiled before it will be useful in a wet year like the present one. 



The farmers are taking more interest in the "county fair" and have 

 began to realize that they can profit as much by it as the local merchant 

 or the wandering popcorn vender. We feel that our fair is entering an 

 era of prosperity. The town of Adel has voted a tax with which to pur- 

 chase the grounds, and new buildings will be erected next year. More 

 premiums will also be added. 



DAVIS COUNTY. 



J. C. Bouharcl. 



Fair held at Bloomfield, September 16, 17, 18 and 19, 1903, after post- 

 ponement of one day on account of rain. The fair was a success finan- 

 cially and otherwise. 



The exhibits in most classes were about the average, with the excep- 

 tion of the swine department, which was larger than at any previous fair 

 held here. All expenses and premiums were paid in full. We erected a 

 new cattle barn this year at a cost of $600. dimensions of which is 112 

 feet by 32 feet, and with a capacity for fifty cattle, which was a much 

 needed improvement. 



The acreage of corn and oats was smaller than for a number of 

 years, owing to wet weather preventing seeding. Many farmers did not 

 get all their land planted, especially that lying in the bottoms. Consider- 



