296 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Agricultural Hall was filled to overflowing with grain, potatoes, cabbages, tur- 

 nips, pumpkins, tomatoes, honey, apples, pears, quinces, grapes, bread, butter, 

 cheese, canned fruits, pickles, preserves and jellies. 



A traction engine, from the works of Nichols & Shepherd, of Battle Creek, 

 Mich., demonstrated that the farmer would soon be able to dispense with the horse 

 as a beast of burden, and attach the engine to his plow and harvester. 



Our Floral Hall was one profusion of flowers, and needlework of the daintiest 

 styles, reflecting the highest credit on the fair hands that executed and the heads 

 that planned such delicate work. '^ 



It may truthfully be said that Steuben county is better adapted to the growing 

 of grain and grazing than many other sections of the State. Occupying the high- 

 est land between Toledo and Chicago, the water from its many lakes and streams 

 flowing both into lakes Erie and Michigan. The surface is quite rolling. 



The soil of the northern and western portions of the county is a dark sand and 

 gravel, while the eastern and southern portions are a heavier clay loam ; the sur- 

 face is so rolling that any surplus water goes at once to the valleys, creeks and 

 lakes. 



Apples, pears and grapes do well, also peaches, when the winters are not too 

 cold. The smaller fruits are grown in great vai-iety, and of excellent quality. 



Our farmers manifest a laudable ambition to erect convenient houses of the 

 more modern style— many of wood and brick, and a few of stone. And the 

 farmers' barn is incomplete without a basement, and sheds and stables for the pro- 

 tection of stock. 



Tile draining is receiving a large share of attention. Besides two tile works in 

 the county, large numbers are shipped here by railroad. 



The culture of timber at present is limited to the care of that not already 

 wasted and destroyed. The great demand and liberal prices offered by lumbermen 

 for oak, walnut, ash and hickory have denuded very many farihs of timber now 

 sadly needed by them, and has enhanced the price of well-timbered land above 

 that which is improved. 



The cheapest and best fencing material for the farm that has rail timber is the 

 old rail fence ; posts and boards come next. Wire possesses neither the quality of 

 cheapness nor eflSciency to recommend it. These facts are attested by all farmers 

 who adjoin the railroad where wire is used. Neither sheep nor hogs are stopped 

 by it. The lives and usefulness of horses are always endangered by it, and it forms 

 only an indiflferent enclosure for cattle — so much so that the Legislature of Michi- 

 gan has come to the rescue of the farmer, and forbidden its use along all its lines 

 of railroad. 



Our best roads are now constructed of gravel. They are first well drained and 

 covered with gravel from four to eight and ten inches in depth. Our roads are all 

 free public highways. 



The vexed question of a dog law is an important one, and the last one passed 

 by the Legislature possesses such a bundle of crudities that neither the sheep 

 breeder nor the dog owner is satisfied with it. Every point in it, if it has any, is 

 aimed at the sheep breeder. So much so that he is compelled, in self-defense, to 

 adopt the shotgun policy or abandon his flocks. The construction given the law by 



