698 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



year to hold but a three days' session of the fair, but owing to the unfav- 

 orable weather during the original dates decided to extend it for two 

 days, and the latter two days, while threatening weather prevailed,, 

 brought out a fairly good attendance. 



Naturally owing to such weather conditions our fair financially con- 

 sidered was not a decided success, yet we paid all premiums in full, and 

 taking everything into consideration did reasonably well. 



■ The showing of horses was not as good as we have sometimes had,, 

 yet was fairly good, and there were represented various breeds and indi- 

 viduals of decided merit. Our farmers find that it is profitable to raise 

 a good breed of horses, and are using good judgment in the breeding of 

 them. 



This section is well stocked with thoroughbred cattle, there being 

 several fine herds of Shorthorns, Aberdeen Angus and Jerseys. Breeders 

 in general use only thoroughbred males, and the bulk of the cattle here 

 are well graded up. 



Swine, of which large numbers are raised in this county, made a fine 

 showing, and were of superior quality; Poland China, Duroc Jersey and 

 Chester White were the breeds most in evidence. 



The sheep exhibit was good, considering that but a small number 

 are raised here. The breeds exhibited were Shropshire and Lincoln, 



Oats had a fairly good yield, though the quality was not of the best, 

 owing to wet weather damaging them considerably while in shock and 

 stack. Comparatively no wheat is raised here. 



The hay crop was an exceptionally good one, the supply being more 

 than adequate for home demands, and considerable is being baled and 

 shipped to other markets. Considerable timothy and clover were cut for 

 seed and yielded fairly well. 



Rye is not grown here so much as formerly, but that raised was a 

 fair crop. 



Potatoes were very light in yield, but of a good quality. It is doubt- 

 ful whether the supply is enough for home consumption, and is quite 

 probable that at least much of the seed for next year will have to be 

 shipped in. 



Corn lacks greatly in uniformity, and will yield from sixty bushels 

 per acre in some fields to but very few in others. Some of it is not yet 

 out of the milky stage (September 28th) and will be valuable only as fod- 

 der. Husking will be greatly delayed this season, owing to slow ripening 

 and drying, and even in the good fields of corn there are many belated 

 ears, which are likely to do harm in crib if not sorted out. Much of this 

 has been produced on sucker stalks, for the process of suckering existed 

 to an unusual degree this season. The corn which was planted on low 

 lying land, and not properly drained, was mostly all drowned out. 



Millet sown was a very satisfactory crop, although some trouble was 

 experienced in curing, owing to unfavorable weather conditions, 



A number of silos are in operation in this county, and this method 

 of utilizing the corn crop is proving very satisfactory and is greatly 

 increasing in popularity. 



