724 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



MILLS COUNTY. 



I. J. Swain. 



Fair held September 2, 3 and 4, at Malvern. The weather during the 

 week was ideal and attendance larger than usual. The people of the 

 county appeared to take more interest in the annual fair than ever before. 



Horses, swine and poultry were shown in large numbers and were 

 all of excellent quality. The cattle department was somewhat neglected, 

 though there were some very fine animals shown. 



The agricultural department was tilled to overflowing. 



Crops of all kinds were good, exceptionally so the corn, which gave a 

 big yield. This crop went from forty to fifty bushels per acre. Some 

 fields were slightly damaged by the frost. 



MITCHELL COUNTY. 



W. H. H. Gable. 



Fair held at Osage, August 26, 27 and 28, 1902. 



The meeting was fairly well attended and the exhibits very good 

 considering the early date of the fair and the immaturity of the crops. 

 The showing made in the live stock department was very good. The num- 

 ber and quality of the exhibits in the fruit and floral departments were 

 exceptionally fine. 



Crops in Mitchell county the past season were good notwithstand- 

 ing the long and heavy rains of the summer. Corn was slightly injured by 

 an early frost, but upon the whole was an average crop. 



This county can boast of many fine animals, both horses and cattle. 

 The recent high prices of horses has brought into the county many well 

 bred animals. 



The prices of farm lands are steadily advancing. 



MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



D. B. Gunn. 



Fair held August 19 to 22, 1902, at Red Oak. 



The fair met with a downpour of rain which had the effect of lessen- 

 ing attendance and receipts. The showing in the cattle department was 

 the best in fifteen years and the showing in the swine department was 

 also fine. The horse exhibit was hardly up to the average. 



