COUNTY AND DISTRICT REPORTS. 263 



attendance, the result of which is due largely to the fact that our society allows no 

 gambling, immoral shows or intoxicating liquors on the grounds. The result of 

 which is a quiet, peaceable and very instructive gathering, which, of course is bet- 

 ter calculated to promote the interests of all industrial pursuits, good morals, and 

 humanity generally. 



The principal crops raised in this county are wheat and corn. The manner of 

 preparing the soil for wheat shows great improvement over former years, and the 

 yield is correspondingly improved. Thorough cultivation of corn by our improved 

 machinery has about expelled all fear of failure to produce a good crop during a 

 dry season, for as the warm air frequently comes in contact with the fresh plowed 

 earth, causing the vajjor in the atmosphere to solidify as it does on the outside of a 

 pitcher of cold water, so will the frequent stirring of the soil produce natural irri- 

 gation. 



Personal liberty, to the detriment of progression in many respects, appears to 

 reign supreme in Gibson county. No attention is given to timber culture. The 

 value of our forest trees (like our mothei-s) will only be appreciated when they are 

 gone. The board and barbed wire fences are about to be superseded by slats or 

 pickets interwoven in smooth wire, the same being considered cheaper and le«s 

 barbarous. 



To show that our society stands at the top, the Louisville Southern Exposition 

 offered a bronze medal and diploma to the society or State making the best display 

 of agricultural and mineral products. Not wishing to be selfish, the Gibson 

 County Society competed for the above, and was awarded both prizes by the Expo- 

 sition over the States of Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee, and various county 

 societies in our own State. This speaks well for Gibson county. 



S. Vet. Strain, 



Secretary. 



GRANT COUNTY. 



The Grant County Agricultural and Stock Association held its annual fair on 

 its grounds, one mile east of Marion, the county-seat, from the 16th to the 20th of 

 September last. The show, in the aggregate, was better than usual. The live 

 stock department was unusually well tilled. The attendance was not as large as 

 on some former occasions, owing to the Presidential campaign and the establish- 

 ing of a fair at Fairmount, in the south side of our county. 



Our crop the past season was a full average. Notwithstanding the dry season 

 we had a good corn crop, especially on our black lands, which prevail in this 

 county. 



The road system in our counfy is reasonably good. We have about fifty miles 

 of toll gravel roads, about ninety miles of free gravel roads completed, and about 

 fifty miles laid off and in process of construction. A fair quality of gravel can be 

 obtained within reasonable distance for constructing roads. 



As timber becomes scarce and of more value, the old rail fence is giving way 



