788 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
of the fair opens up a new and interesting study for consideration and 
discussion, tlie educational influences of which are beneficial in bringing 
new ideas before the mind which may be developed into practical appli- 
cation.' You may rest assured that when the intelligent farmer enlists 
as an exhibtor or even as an earnest visitor at the fair the seeds of im- 
provement have been sown, and the results will be fully indicated in 
the future by improved live stock, farm machinery, and improved grains, 
vegetables, fruits, etc.; in fact by a general spirit of advancement along 
all lines of agricultural development. 
It has been the business of the Williamsburg Fair Association to 
preach the gospel of pure bred stock persistently, until the live stock 
on all of our Iowa county farms shall show unmistakeable evidence of 
such breeding. The pure bred stock industry has never been under more 
favorable conditions for advancement and there is no better evidence of 
this than to see the young men of the farms making a start in pure bred 
stock, indicating enterprise and intelligence and a better understanding 
of what is practical in present high priced land values. 
JACKSON. 
B. D. Ely, Maquoketa, Septemb?:r, 1908. 
General Condition of Crops and Season — Good. 
Corn — Very good crop. 
Oats — Good quality but not very large yield. 
Wheat — Good but very little sown. 
Rye — Not much planted. 
Barley — Very good. 
Flax — None raised in this county. 
Buckwheat — Good. 
Millet — Not much raised. 
Sorghum — Not much raised. 
Timothy — Good, large yield. 
Clover — Good. 
Prairie Hay — Not much in this county. 
Other Grains and Grasses — Very little raised in this county. 
Potatoes — Very good, big yield. 
Vegetable — Good. 
Apples — Excellent. 
Other FrUits — Big crop of all fruits excepting plums. 
Cattle— Good quality of cattle. 
Horses — Good many horses raised and good quality. 
Swine — Good quality and a great many raised. 
Sheep — Not many. 
Poultry — Raised extensively and of good quality. 
Bees — Very few. 
Drai7iage— Good natural drainage. 
Other Industries — Two lime-kilns and a canning factory. 
Lands — Increasing in value every year. 
Report of Fair— Held at Maquoketa September 1, 2, 3 and 4, 1908. Very 
successful fair; large exhibits in every department; fine weather; fast 
track and very good racing. 
