272 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



roads, almost every leading one in the county being a free gravel road, and many 

 of the cross-roads are also graveled. Out of twelve gravel roads leading into the 

 city of Huntington but four are toll roads, and efforts ai-e now being made looking 

 to the conversion of two of these into free roads. 



It is the industrious nature of our p?ople, coupled with good roads and sys- 

 tematic drainage throughout the county, that is making ours one of the most pros- 

 perous and important in the State. 



Leon T. Bagley, 



Secretary. 



JACK.SON COUNTY. 



The Jackson County Agricultural Society held its ninth annual fair at 

 Brownstown, July 28 to August 1, 18S4, inclusive, being nearly one month earlier 

 than any previous faii-s, and the season being later than usual the exhibit of agri- 

 cultural articles were small. The show of live stock, mechanical articles and fine 

 arts was equal to j^revious years. The live stock show was the , leading feature of 

 the fair, es})ecially the Shorthorn cattle and sheep, there being in both depart- 

 ments a much larger number and of better quality than ever before exhibited. 



The fair was a success financially, the receipts being sufficient to pay premiums 

 and expenses, witlj a small surplus to apply on indebtedness, which leaves the 

 Society in debt less than one hundred dollars. 



No county in the State has better agricultural resources than this one. The 

 bottom land along the Driftwood fork of White river and the many smaller streams 

 produces large crops of corn, wheat, oats, clover, and grass, corn being the leading 

 article. 



Nearly one-fourth of the farming land is a sandy soil, wliich is the very best for 

 the growth of watermelons, nutmegs, potatoes, and all the varieties of early vegeta- 

 bles. 



There has been a great amount of draining done in this county in the past year, 

 both by open ditches and tiling. The most of the open ditches have been made by 

 order of the Board of County Commissioners, under the law approved April 21, 

 1881. The only objection urged, against that mode of ditching, or rather against 

 the law, is that there is too much expense in getting ready to do the work and re- 

 ceiving it after completion. The tile put down has given satisfaction, and the 

 demand for tile is increasing 



The barbed wire fence is fast taking the place of the old rail and plank fences, 

 as it is considered more durable and cheaper. 



This county was once heavily timbered Avith wood of fine quality, which has 

 been, and is yet being rapidly worked into lumber, staves and spokes. 



The present dog law is satisfactory. The statistical repoi-ts are sought by our 

 best citizens, and are considered useful, but more care sliould be taken by tlie offi- 

 cers in gathering statistics. J. H. Matu^ck, ^ 



Secretary. 



