708 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



There was very little wheat raised, but was of a good quality. 



Hay and grass are in abundance. Pastures were never in better con- 

 dition, and consequently all stock is in fine condition. Hay crop was 

 very heavy, and of good quality. Clover and timothy hay is not raised 

 to any great extent. There was a good yield of second crop clover. 



All kinds of horses are raised, but more attention is being given to 

 the breeding of good sized trotting and coach horses the past four or five 

 years. Farmers are also breeding better draft horses. 



The breeding of cattle for beef purposes has been given the most at- 

 tention, but recently the demand for good breeding cows that are good 

 milkers has been growing, owing to the Iowa Condensed Milk Company 

 having located a plant at this place. They will pay $1.40 per hundred 

 for milk during the winter months, and many farmers think it a profit- 

 able price. The company is organized with local capital amounting to 

 $75,000. 



All breeds of hogs are raised, among which very little sickness has 

 been reported the past year. 



MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



D. B. Gunn. 



The annual exhibition of the Montgomery County Agricultural So- 

 ciety was held at Red Oak, August 17, 18, 19 and 20, 1903, and was a suc- 

 cess in every respect. 



Crops in this county were somewhat backward, as was true through- 

 out the State, owing to the excessive rains. Corn at this writing (Octo- 

 ber 6th) is at least three weeks behind the ordinary season, but with 

 favorable weather much of it will mature. There will be a great deal 

 of soft corn, and the yield in general will be lighter than any year since 

 1884. Will probably not average more than sixty-five per cent of the 

 usual crop. 



Small grain was about the average crop, but was considerably dam- 

 aged by rains after being harvested, and that which was stacked and 

 not threshed as yet is growing badly. 



Hay was an exceptionally large crop, and being favored with good 

 weather at cutting time was put up in splendid condition. 



Stock has done fairly well, owing to the good pasturage. Disease is 

 breaking out among hogs quite badly, and reports are coming in that 

 cattle are troubled, as they< were last year, with Black Scours or Bovine 

 Cholera, as it was usually pronounced. We anticipate much trouble in 

 this respect on account of the very wet condition of the grass and grains, 

 especially corn and fodder, it being damp and sour, thus producing an 

 acid condition that gives very disastrous results to stock, especially hogs 

 and young cattle, with a few cases among feeders. 



As a whole we have had a fair average in production, and as the 

 price on all commodities is fairly good, prosperity seems assured to the 

 industrious tiller of the soil. 



