FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART XII. 717 



before the date set for holding it the weather began to clear, and we 

 had what we call a very successful fair, taking into consderation the 

 weather, bad roads, and farmers being behind with their work. 



There was a good exhibit in all stock departments, but that of farm 

 products was not very large. The Art Hall made a very good show- 

 ing, for which the ladies must have all the credit, they taking much 

 interest in the display of fancy goods. 



The attendance was very good. Good attractions were provided. 



The crops this season, owing to excessive rains and unfavorable 

 weather, are not up to the average of former years. Summer wheat 

 was poor in quality, and yielded from eight to fifteen bushels per acre 

 Oats were mostly very light, the early ones being of better quality and 

 yield. 



Corn gave promise of an enormous crop, but the wet weath.-r and 

 early frosts did considerable damage, and will only average about fifty 

 per cent of a crop. 



STORY COUNTY. 



J. R. Larson. 



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



The corn crop in this county will be about the average in yield. 

 There will be some soft corn, but ninety per cent of the crop will be 

 marketable. There are some spots where ground was low lying, especially 

 along Skunk river, where all crops were drowned out during the high 

 water in the spring, but our avreage and quality of corn is much better 

 than is the average of the State. 



The oat crop had a good yield, but quality poor, the grain being light 

 and chaffy. 



The hay crop was the largest on record, and the farmers were able 

 to put most of it up in good shape. Threshing is nearly all done at this 

 writing (October 7th), and fall plowing is well under way. 



The farmers of this county are using more improved machinery 

 than ever, and a better system of farming is gradually being adopted. 



There is a growing interest being taken in the breeding of thorough- 

 bred stock bf all kinds, many farmers having started herds of pure 

 breeds during the past two years. 



The showing of hogs at the fair this year was better than ever be- 

 fore, while that of horses and cattle was about the average. 



TAMA COUNTY. 

 A. G. Smith. 



Fair held at Toledo, September 15, 16, 17 and 18, 1903. 



The exhibits in all departments were lessened to some extent on ac- 

 count of rain. Tuesday and Wednesday, the first and second days of 

 our fair, it rained, and the fair was extended fo include Saturday. 



