692 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Wheat: An average yield of about twelve bushels per acre, and of 

 fine quality, all of which will be used for home consumption. 



Oats: A fine crop, of good quality, and bringing on the market at 

 this writing (October 15th) forty cents per bushel. The principal varie- 

 ties raised are White Russian and Welcome. There was about fifteen 

 per cent increase in acreage over former years. 



Rye, barley, buckwheat and flax when planted in this county are used 

 only for home use, and as a general thing did well this year. 



Potatoes: A fair crop, averaging seventy bushels per acre. Early 

 Rose, Early Ohio and Beauty of Hebron are the favorite varieties. 



Timothy hay was a fine crop, averaging one and a half tons per acre, 

 and bringing on the market $8 per ton. Considerable is being sold for 

 shipment. There was also a good crop of clover hay, which will average 

 two tons per acre. Prairie hay was a short crop, on account of land on 

 v/hich it is raised lying in the bottoms, most of which was flooded. 



There is a demand for good heavy draft and carriage horses, and 

 many are being brought in. Farmers see that neither electricity, or any 

 other power, can take away the pleasure offered by a good horse, to say 

 nothing of the fact that he is always ready and willing to do the work 

 asked of him, if well treated. 



Shorthorn, Herefords and Polls are the principal breeds of cattle 

 raised, and are in good demand. 



Poland China and Chester Whites are the favorite breeds of swine, 

 and there is a tendency among farmers to improve their herds, recogniz- 

 ing that it is profitable. 



Sheep have received very little attention, owing to losses caused by 

 dogs. 



The season, while wet, has been a good one, owing to our having but 

 little snow last winter, leaving the ground in a condition that it could 

 absorb large quantities of water. While the crops were late in being 

 planted, owing to heavy rains in the early spring, they were well out of 

 harm's way when the first frosts appeared. 



Fruit did splendidly, but farmers have been getting such good prices 

 for corn and cattle that orchards have been neglected, trees dying out 

 without others being planted to take their place, and owing to this fact 

 the crop was small as compared to former years. 



Among the many inducements for farmers in locating here are good 

 roads and safe bridges, with land selling at from $60 to $100 per acre, 

 which is an assurance that they will get a good interest on their money 

 and time invested; also that the county is singularly free from disease 

 among stock, or damage from winds. 



FAYETTE COUNTY. 



H. P. Hancock. 



Fair held at West Union, September 1, 2, 3 and 4, 1903. 

 The fair was a very successful one in every way, and the most profiu 

 able one in its history. Grounds and buildings were in excellent condt 



