EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI. 793 



Swine — About the same as 1906; some cholera in different parts of 

 the county. 



Sheep — Very few raised. 



Poultry — A slight increase in the number raised. 



Bees — Average crop of honey; quality good. 



Drainage — Our county is awakening to the importance of drainage 

 and many ditches and cutoffs in the river are being made; big drainage 

 canal under way. 



Lands — Prices increasing; land selling near town for $125 to $150 

 per acre. 



Report of Fair — Held at Onawa, September 3 to 6. Fairly good 

 weather and good attendance; more interest being displayed in the suc- 

 cess of the fair. 



MUSCATINE. 

 W. H. Shipman, West Liberty, October 26, 1907. 



Geneiral Condition of Crops and Season — The first part of the sea- 

 son was backward, cold and wet and crops show the effect of it. 



Corn — Shows the effect of backward season in yield and quality. 

 Some very good corn, but low ground produced nothing. 



Oats — Poor quality and light. ^ 



Wheat — None raised. 



Rye — Very little raised but of fair quality. 



Barley — Very good crop and of a good quality. 



Flax — None raised. 



BucKWHEAT^Very little raised but of fair quality. 



Millet— Only a few scattering pieces raised. 



Sorghum — None raised. 



Timothy — Quality very good, but a short crop. 



Clover — An average crop, but weather unfavorable for curing. 



Potatoes — Late potatoes good. The early varieties made a short crop. 



Appi-es — A short crop and the quality not up to average. 



Cattle — Among the beef breeds the Short-horns predominate. The 

 demand and better price for milk and butter is causing the farmers to 

 become interested in dairy breeds. 



Horses — Breeders are improving the grade, by keeping better mares 

 and securing the service of good stallions. There is a noticeable interest 

 in the driving breeds, and the price for all kinds of horses are high. 



Swine — An average litter of pigs and no disease. Breed is being 

 improved. 



Sheep — Better breeds are taking the place of grades. 



Poultry — The farmer's wife looks after the "Great American Hen" 

 and the hen takes good care of the farmer's wife. 



Drainage — The advanced price of land has caused the farmers to lay 

 considerable tile, and the county is expending money on county ditches. 



Other Industries — The condensed milk factory at this point has 

 made a good market and good price for all the milk produced in this 

 locality. 



