60 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



southern portion of the southeast section, the precipitation was consider- 

 ably below the normal amount, some localities in the northwest section 

 receiving less than i inch, but over nearly all of the east-central, central 

 and southwestern counties there was an excess, a majority of those coun- 

 ties south of the Missouri river receiving from 4 to over 6 inches. The 

 average precipitation for the State was 3.49 inches, o.ii inch above the 

 normal. The greatest local monthly precipitation was 7.67 inches, at 

 Mt. Vernon, and the least, .46 inch, at St. Joseph. A heavy fall of very 

 wet snow occurred over portions of the central and western sections on 

 the 29th, but elsewhere very little snow fell during the month. Except in 

 some of the southern counties, where heavy rains kept the ground too wet 

 to work, the weather was generally favorable for farming operations and 

 for the growth of grains and grasses. Although in some of the northern 

 counties the precipitation was exceptionally light, there was generally suf- 

 ficient for the time being, though a considerable portion of the State did 

 not receive enough to thoroughly saturate the subsoil. In a majority of 

 the central and northern, and also in many of the southern counties, the 

 bulk of the oat crop was sown, with the soil in good condition, but in por- 

 tions of the southern sections the ground was too wet for seeding. In 

 some districts the acreage was considerably reduced owing to the scarcity 

 and high price of seed. Considerable gardening was done, many early po- 

 tatoes were planted, and much plowing done for corn. In a few of the 

 central and western counties a little corn was planted. Some flax was 

 sown in the southwestern, and a few melons were planted in the southeast- 

 ern counties. In a few localities in the northern and eastern sections wheat 

 suffered to some extent from lack of moisture, but in most counties the 

 crop was reported as looking well, and in many its condition was much 

 above the average. Clover was reported in good condition in some locali- 

 ties, but in many counties it was almost completely killed out by the drouth 

 of 1901. Grasses started well, as a rule, and in some districts afforded con- 

 siderable feed by the close of the month. In some of the extreme south- 

 ern counties early peaches were in bloom at the close of the month and 

 promised a good crop, but elsewhere practically all of the buds had been 

 killed. 



April. — From April ist to 17th cool weather prevailed throughout 

 the State, with frequent frosts, but during the last decade of the month the 

 days were much wanner, though the nights continued cool. The month, 

 as a whole, averaged slightly cooler than usual, the mean temperature for 

 the State being 53.9 degrees, or 1.5 degrees below the normal. The high- 

 est local monthly mean, 59.8 degrees, occurred at Gayoso, and the lowest, 

 50.0 degrees, at Maryville. The highest temperature recorded was 95 

 degrees, at Oregon on the 20th, and the lowest, 19 degrees, at Edwards 



