COUNTY AND DISTRICT REPORTS. 24^ 



ALLEN COUNTY. 



The Northern Indiana Fair Association has existed, as at present constituted,^ 

 just three years. The last annual exhibition, September 29, October 1, 2 and 3, 

 1884, was indicative of the growth of the society in popularity and wealth, until 

 now the management find their association without entangling alliances, without a 

 penny of indebtedness, with a surplus in the treasury, handsome exhibitioa 

 grounds, and the confidence of their patrons. 



The exhibitions of the Northern Indiana Fair Association have culiivated a 

 taste or vspirit for scientific agriculture, fine stock and blooded horses; not alone in 

 Allen county, but throughout Northern Indiana, every portion of which Fort 

 Wayne's seven great trunk line railroads permeate. In this county, within the 

 past two or three years, six or seven extensive stock farms have been established, 

 and citizens of this county can boast of Clydesdale and Norman horses, celebrated 

 in this country and Great Britain, while the speed department includes a former 

 winner of the Derby, and trotting horses of great promise. Our farmers can like- 

 wise boast of as iine herds of Short Horns, Jerseys and Galloways as roam any 

 pasture. The same spirit has actuated farmers in rearing sheep and swine, while 

 their agriculture has, in a like manner, advanced to a degree of excellence. 



Wheat is the great crop in Allen county, and in fact in Northern Indiana, with, 

 corn, hay, oats, rye and buckwheat following in the order named. 



Primitively a great portion of the land in this county was low and wet, but a 

 thorough system of tile draining and ditching has entirely reclaimed and greatly 

 enhanced the value of a vast tract of real estate, and even now an expenditure of 

 a large sum of money, running into the thousands, has been ordered by the Circuit 

 Court to reclaim and drain a section of low prairie land in this county, and west 

 of the city of Fort Wayne. This work is promotive of the general welfare, and is 

 destined to make Allen county the first in Indiana in health, wealth and resources. 



The new gravel-road law has provided excellent public highways, and no coun- 

 ty in Indiana can boast of finer bridges, neater farms, better crops, and greater fer- 

 tility than can Allen county. 



This advancement, as well as the establishment of the American Farmer, a 

 monthly magazine, devoted to agriculture and stock raising, can be attributed to 

 the spirit kindled at the recurring exhibitions of the Northern Indiana Fair As- 

 sociation. W. W. ROCKHILL, 



Secrekmj. 



BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY. 



The Bartholomew County Agricultural Society held no meeting in 1884,. 

 having, at the solicitation of the Bartholomew County Agricultural and Indus- 

 trial Association, leased its grounds and surrendered its dates for that year to 

 them. In doing this, however, we, by agreement with them, relinquished no rights 

 we enjoy from the State Board. 



