714 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The winter wheat gave a large yield of fine quality of grain where it 

 was stacked before the heavy rains after it was cut. Oats and spring 

 wheat suffered material loss in the shock as well as in the field before 

 it was cut. The wet condition of the ground precluding the cutting of the 

 crop in the sloughy portions of the fields. The yield of oats we would 

 estimate, however, at an average of thirty bushels per acre. Corn was 

 a large yield in bulk but much of it was light in weight. Average, thirty- 

 five bushels per acre. The apple crop was of fine quality — fall apples 

 were low in price, but hand picked winter fruit of good quality as Jona- 

 thans, Ben Davis, Grimes' Golden, etc., are selling at $1 a bushel. Late 

 potatoes are poor in quality. Too wet and soggy and are rotting in the 

 ground. Cattle are unusually abundant in this county. 



The week the fair was held, was one of storms and rains, and reduced 

 the receipts about one-half. Owing to the wet condition of the track the 

 races were eliminated. All premiums were paid in full and the society had 

 a balance of a couple of hundred dollars in the treasury. 



HANCOCK COUNTY. 



John Eammill. 



Fair held September 16 to 18, 1902, at Britt. 



The exhibits of stock at the fair were the largest ever on the grounds. 

 Many fine herds of cattle and swine were on exhibition. The other exhibits 

 were about the average with those of other years. 



The excessive rains of the summer greatly damaged crops of all kinds 

 in Hancock county in 1902. The yield was in all cases below the average. 

 The low lands of the county suffered more than other lands. 



The condition of all stock in this section is healthy. The dairy interest 

 is receiving a great deal of attention and is proving very profitable. 



HARDIN COUNTY. 



C. E. Greef. 



Fair held at Eldora. August 19, 20 and 21, 1902. 



The Hardin county fair, like scores of others in the state, experienced 

 a disagreeable spell of weather, which had the effect of keeping hundreds 

 away. The last two days of the meeting, however, saw about the usual 

 crowds. The prospects were for the most successful fair ever held on 

 the grounds and such success would have been fully realized had it not 

 been for the unfavorable conditions of the weather. 



