68 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



during the latter part, and some cotton Avas damaged. Where threshing 

 had not been completed that work was also delayed by the rains, and con- 

 siderable grain in stack sprouted and rotted. Except in a few counties, 

 where the ground was too wet, preparations for fall seeding progressed 

 favorably until the 20th, the soil being generally in fine condition, and 

 in some districts wheat sowing was nearly completed, but during the last 

 decade of the month work was generally at a standstill owing to the wet 

 weather. Early sown wheat came up to good stands, but some of that 

 sown just before the rains rotted. Tobacco was generally cut and housed 

 in good condition. Potatoes yielded well, but there was considerable com- 

 jilaint of rotting in the ground. Pastures were excellent. Sorghum 

 making progressed favorably and the yield was good and the syrup of 

 fine quality. Apples continued to rot and drop badly in some localities, 

 but as a rule they matured well, though the crop w^as light, except .in a 

 few counties. Gathering was in progress at the close of the month. 



October. — With the exception of the first five days the month of 

 October was mild and pleasant, the mean temperature for the state, 59.5 

 degrees, being about 2 degrees above the normal. The highest local 

 monthly mean, 63.1 degrees, occurred at Caruthersville, and the lowest, 

 55.4 degrees, at Maryville. The highest temperature recorded was 88 de- 

 grees, at Lebanon on the 22d, and the lowest, 23 degrees at Potosi on the 

 29th. Over the greater part of the State the total precipitation ranged 

 from 2 to 3 inches, and in portions of the central and northern sections 

 it exceeded 3 inches, but over the northern counties of the southwest sec- 

 tion, and also over a few counties of the southeast section, there was but 

 liitle more than i inch. The average for the State was 2.52 inches, or 

 practically normal. Except in portions of the northern sections, by far 

 the greater part of the precipi-tation occurred during the last five days 

 of the month. The greatest local monthly fall was 4.72 inches, at Ore- 

 gon, and the least, .87 inch, at Jackson. The weather could hardly have 

 been more favorable for drying out the corn, and the damage resulting 

 from the previous wet weather was not as great as had been fearexl. In 

 a few localities the crop was reported damaged one-tenth to one-fourth, 

 InU as a rule the damage was comparatively slight. Gathering was in 

 progress during the latter part of the month. The weather v.as also 

 very favorable for cotton picking and abcnit one-half the crop had been 

 picked at the close of the month. Wheat seeding was greatly delayed 

 by the wet weather during September and the first week of October, and 

 in some of the western counties the ground could not be worked until 

 after October 15th, but in most sections the soil was in good condition 

 (luiing the middle and latter part of the month and seeding was rapidly 

 completed. Excellent stands were reported, as a rule, but in many of 



