802 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



almost discouraged citizens generally from taking the least interest in it. In the 

 face of these obstacles the board congratulates itself on its success. The fair com- 

 menced on September 8, 1884, and continued throughout the remainder of the 

 week. As an exhibition it Avas the largest ever held in Vigo county, and the stock 

 was better than that at any previous fair. It Is true the receipts fell short of the 

 expenditures, but the deficit will b-:- made up in a very short time, and, with the 

 exception of the State Fair, Vigo county expects next year to hold the largest and 

 most successful fair in Indiana. During the year we have sold ninety-one shares 

 of new stock, at twenty-five dollars each, of which sixty have thus far been paid in. 

 By this means the society has reduced its debt to fourteen hundred dollars, and has 

 secured the extension of its lease for another term of twenty years. 



The county is rich in its agricultural resources, its soil being adapted to the 

 cultivation of all kinds of crops. From the statistical reports of the various Town- 

 ship Assessoi-s the following facts are gleaned as to the division of the acreage for 

 the year 18S4: 



Acres of winter wheat, 44,755 ; acres of spring wheat, 90 ; acres of upland corn, 

 36,848 ; acres of bottom land corn, 12,246 ; acres of oats, 8,515; acres of barley, 79; 

 acres of rye, 673; acres of buckwheat, 20; acres of Irish potatoes, 1,120; acres of 

 sweet potatoes, 118; acres of melons, 534; acres of tobacco, 6; acres of cabbage, 50; 

 acres of beans, 50 ; acres of onionn, 10 ; acres of strawberries, 142 ; acres of timothy, 

 14,451; acres of clover, 7,420; acres of blue-grass, 10,292; acres of plow-land not 

 cultivated in 1884,5,280; acres cultivated for first time, 1,116; acres of timber, 

 37,230. 



There are also in operation in the county 23,380 rods of drain tile, and the work 

 of laying now is steadily progressing, and becoming more popular as its value be- 

 comes better known. The farmers are, generally speaking, in good financial cir- 

 cumstances. 



A number of years ago Eastern capitalists held mortgages here amounting to 

 nearly $1,000,000, but these have been reduced to a sum which is comparatively 

 insignificant. During the year 1884, however, there has been a general complaint 

 of poor crops. The wheat yield was poor, and the quality inferior. Some parties 

 reported a yield of from six to ten busliels per acre ; others did not cut at all, 

 while a few reported twenty-five bushels per acre. The yield of oats was the best 

 ever known in this locality, and the corn was fully up to the average. The fencing 

 is in good condition. The roads are improving rapidly. The people recognize the 

 value of good gravel roads, and the prospects are that in the near future we will be 

 supplied in distance and quality equal to any county in the State. The present 

 dog law gives pretty general satisfaction. As to stock running at large there is a 

 difierence of opinion. In the city of Terre Haute, with a population of nearly 

 40,000, cattle have the freedom of the city, and are allowed to roam at large when 

 and where they will. In some townships they are allowed to run at large, while in 

 others they are fenced in. 



Of course every person interested in agriculture favors full statistical reports, 

 and fully recognizes their value ; but under the existing law it is the next thing to 

 an impossibility to gather them. Such work requires care and |»atient work. It 

 also requires time. At present the Township Assessors have the task assigned 



