434 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



SUMMARY OF RAINFALL. 



M|iy 4.12 



June 1.71 



' July 6.64 



Aupust 5.93 



September 3.34 



October 3.54 



Total 25.28 



During the more favorable, or "dry" season of 1902, the total rainfall during 

 the same six months was 18.29, and during 1901, a wet season, 25.28. The first 

 season (1900) was another wet season. Observations were first taken July 8, and 

 the total rainfall up to and including October 31 was 17.12. Taking the total 

 rainfall for all four years from July 8 to October 31, inclusive, the figures are as 

 follows: 



1900 17.12 



1901 16.40 



1902 10.86 



1903 17.47 



FIELD CROPS. 



CEREALS. 



All crops, with few exceptions, stood up well and made a satisfactory showing 

 In spite of cold and wet weather. The cereals are among the exceptions, though 

 unfavorable weather conditions are least responsible for the failure. The im- 

 mediate causes are, first, late planting; second, the most formidable invasion of 

 grain aphis ever witnessed, and third, lack of storage room and the use of the 

 primitive methods of hand threshing. 



At the time of planting, voluntary peas from the crops of the previous season 

 were not only sprouted but had made a growth of six to eight inches. 



It becomes evident that oats and similar early grains must be planted early in 

 this region, w'hen a healthy growth is made by peas, and for that matter, by 

 all other early vegetation, even before the snow has entirely disappeared, and 

 when, as stated in a previous report, brome grass will grow unchecked while the 

 entire ground is still covered with snow. 



Owing to the dry June weather, the .grain aphis multiplied at an amazing rate. 

 They came early in June, and by the end of the month, did not seem to be mater- 

 ially reduced in numl)ers from the attacks of lady beetles and braconids. Long 

 before the grain headed out, the leaves of oats, wheat and rye were riddled with 

 dry spots from which the sap had been extracted by the lice, thus rendering them 

 particularly susceptible to the attacks of rust which spread uninterrupted with the 

 beginning of the wet July weather. It was well towards the end of July before 

 the copious rains had succeeded in killing off an appreciable number of aphis, 

 and the many empty oat hulls which subsequently could be seen dangling upon the 

 grain heads remained as a silent but costly memento of the ravages of an insect 

 which thou.gh always present, seldom multiplies sufficiently to do any great 

 damage. The pest was evidently spread over an extensive area, judgin.g from 

 the numerous samples and inquiries which the stations received from many 

 farmers 



No accurate results from grain plots can be expected as long as the station Is 

 lacking in storage room and as long as the grain has to be threshed by means of 

 the primitive hand flail. While these sortroraings are not so seriously felt 

 during a dry season like that of 1902, they practically annul results during wet 

 seasons like the past. Most of the grain plots were small, the largest being 1x8 

 rods, and all were planted between May 8 and 16. 



Oats. — The straw, except for being rusty, was strong and of good size, ranging 

 from 50 to 54 inches in length. The grain was dark colored and light, and none 



