COUNTY AND DISTRICT REPORTS. 257 



Floral Hall was crowded to its full capacity, with every thing that goes to make- 

 up the conveniences and attractions of home. I think, in many instances, the 

 awards in this department are far less than they should be, considering the import- 

 ant bearing the culture and taste thus^ encouraged exerts over the home life. 



Financially we have no complaint to make. The premiums were all paid in 

 full; the improvements, though quite extensive, are all paid for, and a small bal- 

 ance left over. The attendance on Thursday was not near what it would have 

 been, but for the rain in the morning and forenoon. Friday, also, was wet and 

 threatening until midday; otlierwise nothing transpired to militate against a com- 

 plete success for the exhibition. 



Our farmers have achieved a reasonable degree of succe-s the past year. Our 

 soil being admirably adapted to general agriculture and stock raising, farmers wha 

 combine the two systems are generally the most successful. 



Wheat, corn, and gro.ss are the staple crops, oats being grown in small quanti- 

 ties and only as a change of stock food Corn is the sole reliance for the grain ration 

 for all stock. Eye and barley are almost unknown, and a flax crop the exception, 



As a large part of the wooded district of the county was heavily timbered with 

 white oak, a heavy clay soil predominates, and yields good crops of grain and grass 

 if well treated, but is very jealous of any neglect. 



Farm methods have undergone a radical change during the last fifteen years. 

 At that time scarcely a farm had afield that could be cultivated as a whole. 

 Swales, branches, and swamps of elder brush adorned the landscape in disagreeable 

 profusion. But with the lielp of the drainage law, and the introduction of tile 

 making machinery, the channels of some of the principal sloughs have been deep- 

 ened and put in shape to perform tlie office nature designed tliey should ; and while 

 like all innovations such improvements were sometimes met by stubborn opposi- 

 tion, the example was contagious, and now to see an undrained pond, even in the 

 uncultivated lands is the exception, and the uplands, our fathers never dreamed of 

 ditching, are being rapidly honey-combed with drain tile. 



Stating it generally, men who have the necessary industry and pluck, can suc- 

 ceed possil)ly as well in Clinton county as any portion of the State. 



Of fruits, the apple seems destined to be one of the products of the past, for iu 

 spite of tlie very best efforts of owners, orchards are rapidly failing. There is not 

 one healthy, thrifty apple orchard in the circuit of my acquaintance. It matters 

 not what the nature of the soil or the location. 



" The trail of the serpent is over them all." 



We formerly thought dry gravelly locations best adapted to fruit. But in tho.se 

 locations where tlie elevations rise almost to the dignity of hills, and where for- 

 merly the finest specimens of appl&s, pears, etc., grew to perfection, now decaying 

 trunks, broken branches, and other unmistakable indications of speedy death are 

 visible on every hand. To sum up, a majority of the orchards of Clinton county 

 are in a. bad way. The culture of small fruits affords a more inviting field, all 

 varieties succeeding admirably. 



The timber question and tree planting does not cut much of a figure in the cal- 

 1 7 — Agriculture. 



