S20 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP ACRICUT/rURE 



bulk of the corn crop escaped serious injury by the freezing temperatures 

 on the 22d. Rains during the second and third decade of the month 

 revived pasturage, replenislied the water supply and put the ground 

 in excellent condition for fall plowing and seeding and much of that 

 wok was done. 



The fore part of October was generally warm and pleasant, although 

 showers were frequent between the 4th and 10th, while the last 15 days 

 were cold and inclement. As a whole, the month was colder than usual, 

 and had more than the average precipitation as well as an excess of 

 snowfall. As a whole, the month was favorable to agricultural interests. 

 The rains were beneficial to grass and small grains and facilitated plow- 

 ing. Corn husking began between the 15th and 23d, and by the close 

 of the month much of the crop was in the crib. 



November was the vv^armest month of that name since Statewide 

 observations began in 1890; the mean temperature being 44.1°, or 8.2° 

 higher than the normal for the State. The latter half of the month was 

 especially warm, and on the warmest days, which were at and near 

 the close of the second decade, the daily means were 25° higher than 

 the normal. The precipitation was slightly less than the normal, but 

 there was an excess of damp, foggy and cloudy weather during the latter 

 half of the month, during which time nearly all of the precipitation fell 

 in the form of rain or snow. There was, however, much less than the 

 usual amount of snowfall. In fact, there was no snow over the southern 

 and but little in the northern half of the State. The bulk of the corn 

 crop was harvested and plowing was in progress until the close of the 

 month. Winter grains made a good growth and were in fine condition. 



December was characterized by its mild and dry weather, and by the 

 fact that the lowest temperatures and greatest amounts of snowfall oc- 

 curred in the extreme southern part of the State. The temperature was 

 not below zero in the northern half of the State, except in the extreme 

 northwestern counties, and there the readings were not as low as in the 

 southern districts. The lowest temperature, — 13°, and the greatest 

 amount of snowfall, 7.6 inches, occurred in Taylor County, near the 

 Missouri line. There was no rain or snow at several stations in the 

 extreme northern counties. Plowing was continued and stock was in 

 pasture as late as the 20th. In some localities in the southern part of 

 the State, frogs were heard croaking on the 1st and dandelions bloomed 

 until the 18th. Much more than the usual amount of fall plowing had 

 been done and winter grains were reported to be in excellent condition. 



