WEATHER AND CROPS. 61 



on the 8th. The average number of days with minimum temperature be- 

 low 32 degrees was 2 in the southwest section, 3 in the southeast section, 

 and 5 in the central and northern sections. The precipitation of the month, 

 the greater part of which fell during the last decade, was unevenly dis- 

 tributed and generally deficient. Over small areas in the southern and 

 central sections the total for the month ranged from 4 to over 6 inches, 

 hut many of the northern and western counties received less than 2 inches, 

 and in some localities there was less than i inch. The average precipita- 

 tion for the State was 2.66 inches, or 0.98 inch below the normal. Tbe 

 greatest local monthly precipitation was 7.13 inches at Eldon, and the least 

 .72 inch at Maryville. A light fall of snow occurred over portions of the 

 northern sections on the 3d, the greatest depth, 3.0 inches, being reported 

 at Fairport. The weather during April was exceptionally favorable for 

 the rapid progress of farm work, but the low temperature and deficient 

 precipitation greatly retarded the growth of vegetation. During the 

 last decade of the month, however, the weather became warmer, and good 

 showers fell in most sections, resulting in a marked improvement in the 

 condition of all growing crops, although in portions of the northern sec- 

 tions, where the rainfall was lightest, high, drying winds offset to a 

 considerable extent the good efifects of the increased warmth and moist- 

 ure. Very heavy rains occurred in some of the central and southern 

 counties on the 25th, 29th and 30th, washing corn fields badly, and wind 

 and hailstorms did considerable damage to fruit and gardens in some 

 localities. Frosts were of frequent occurrence up to the 19th, but no 

 serious damage resulted, vegetation not being advanced sufficiently to 

 be injured. Oat sowing was practically completed by the loth, early 

 gardens were made and potatoes planted, and corn planting progressed 

 favorably with the soil in good condition. Some farmers delayed plant- 

 ing for a time waiting for warmer weather, but by the close of the month 

 the work was well advanced in all sections. Germination was slow, 

 owing to the coldness of the ground, but by the 30th considerable corn 

 was up and cultivation had commenced. Flax was about all sown in 

 the southwestern counties by the 15th, and generally came up well, and 

 cotton planting progressed favorably in the extreme southeastern coun- 

 ties. Wheat and oats in the northern sections suffered from lack of 

 moisture during the middle of the month, and were also damaged to some 

 extent by high winds, but were revived by the showers during the last 

 decade, except in some of the extreme northwestern counties, where the 

 rainfall was too light to be of material benefit. In most of the central 

 and southern counties wheat continued in an exceptionally promising 

 condition, and oats did fairly well, though their growth was retarded by 

 the cool weather. Rye also did well and was heading by the close of 



