FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART XII. 719 



Cattle: While the showing la this department was small, on account 

 cf bad roads and weather, the quality of those shown was fine, Here- 

 fords and Black Polled iDeing the principal breeds exhibited. A number 

 of Shorthorn breeders were prevented from exhibiting, owing to the 

 above mentioned conditions. Cattle assessed, 37.904, valued at $830,843. 

 No disease reported. Principal market, Chicago. 



Sheep: Interest not growing as in other kinds of stock, although 

 there are some very fine flocks in this county. Number assessed, 7,647, 

 valued at $23,151. Present price, $3.50 per hundred, and sold mostly to 

 local markets. 



Swine: Poland China, Duroc-Jersey and Chester White are the 

 leading breeds. No disease reported. A very large number 'of stockers 

 on hand of extra fine quality. Although market at this time is much 

 Lower than at the beginning of the year, there is at present prices a 

 good profit in feeding surplus corn at home to hogs rather than selling 

 it to the elevators. Number assessed, 43,364, valued at $297,717. Mar- 

 keted at Chicago, St. Joseph and Ottumwa. 



Poultry: While the exhibit in this department at the fair was very 

 light, the birds shown were of extra quality. There has been a notice- 

 able increase in the amount^ of poultry raised in this county. Eggs are 

 a source of wealth to the farmers' wives, and shipments are yearly on 

 the increase. Poultry is better cared for than ever before, and better 

 blood is plainly shown in all flocks. Barred, Buff and White Plymouth 

 Rocks. Langshan and White Wyandottes arei the leading varieties where 

 meat and eggs combined is the object, while for eggs alone White and 

 Brown Leghorns are the favorites. 



Corn: That which was planted early on high ground is excellent in 

 quantity and well matured. The unusually wet season drowned out all 

 crops on me bottoms and lowlands. Yellow and White Dent are the lead- 

 ing varieties. At least ninety per cent of crop uninjured by frost. 



Wheat: Very little was sown this season, and that which could be 

 harvested was badly bleached by wet weather. 



Oats: The usual acreage sown, but badly damaged by rust before 

 cutting, and the continued heavy rains damaged it in shock, making 

 yield unusually light and quality inferior. 



Timothy: An exceptionally good crop, and generally put up in good 

 condition. 



Potatoes: Acreage planted below the average of former years, and 

 yielded very light. Many rotted in ground before fully matured; not 

 enough raised for home consumption. 



Fruit: Apples not more than one fourth usual crop, and poor in 

 quality. Peaches, pears, plums and all small fruits damaged by late 

 frosts and heavy rains, and were almost a complete failure. 



