324 Eighth Annual Eeport op the 



upon the hay crop. Thunderstorms were severe and frequent 

 during May, causing a considerable loss of property. 



The summer rainfall occurred largely in the form of local 

 showers, alternating with bright weather; the conditions thus 

 being favorable for growth, but less so for harvesting. Early 

 haying began before June 20th. By the first week of July oats 

 were heading and barley and spring wheat were ripening. Win- 

 ter wheat and some rye were harvested earl}^ in the month. 

 Barley cutting began about the 18th, and the oats harvest on the 

 r.Oth in a few cases. Severe local storms -occurred on July 3d 

 and 27th, and flooding rains fell in portions of the Lake Region 

 on the 20th. 



The hot, muggy weather of the first half of August brought 

 corn and other crops rapidly forward, but also developed rust and 

 rotting among grains and potatoes. The second hay harvest was 

 commenced during the third week, and in many cases was larger 

 than the first crop. Corn cutting began toward the close of the 

 month, at a date much earlier than usual, and the tobacco har- 

 vest was also well under way. Heavy thunderstorms caused a 

 serious loss of i^roperty in scattered localities on the 10th and 

 ]8th. 



September and October brought an increase of cloudiness and 

 wind velocity, and a deficiency of average temperature which 

 was very marked during the latter month. Killing frosts oc- 

 curred in the colder part's of the State on September 19th and 

 more generally on the 25th; but sheltered localities were not 

 visited by severe frosts until October 9th, when nearly all crops 

 had been secured against damage. General rains during the 

 latter part of September started early fall seeding, but the rain- 

 fall for October was quite deficient, except in portions of the 

 southern counties. The harvesting of corn, potatoes, beans and 

 tobacco was completed under very favorable conditions in Sep- 

 tember. Grapes, also, were generally secured without damage 

 from fro.st. The first snowfall of the season was commonly re- 

 ported on October 12th. 



