FOTJRTERNTn ANNUAL YEAR BOOK—PART XI. 821 



CLIMATE AND CROP BULLETINS 



Summaries of Weekly Bulletins Issued in the Season of 1913. 



Bulletin No. 1. For the week ending April 6. — The six months from 

 October 1, 1912, to March 31, 1913, were as a whole mild, dry and pleas- 

 ant, with no severe winter storms. The average temperature for the 

 period was about two degrees above, and the precipitation slightly above 

 the normal. The excess of precipitation was, however, made up during 

 the first ten days of October and the month of March, during which 

 time rains or snows were frequent and heavy, but the amount of snow 

 during the winter months was much smaller than usual. March was 

 cold and stormy, with frequent rain and snowstorms and unusually 

 high winds which have delayed field work. The soil is, however, in 

 fine physical condition and with favorable weather plowing and seeding 

 will become general during the coming week. Some oats and spring 

 wheat were sown early last week, but the work was stopped by the 

 rain and snow on the 3d and 4th. Fall sown grains, clover, timothy, 

 blue grass, live stock and fruit trees wintered well and are now gen- 

 erally in excellent condition. More than the usual amount of hay and 

 rough feed are left on hand. The acreage of winter wheat is reported 

 to be somewhat greater than the area harvested last year, and with 

 favorable weather conditions the acreage of other small grains will 

 be up to the normal. Fruit buds are still dormant, and the indications 

 as present are favorable for a good crop of all kinds of fruit except 

 peaches. 



Bulletin No. 2. For the week ending April 13. — The past week was 

 unseasonably cold and stormy. The average daily temperature was about 

 7 degrees below, and the average rainfall nearly two inches more than 

 normal. Rain or snow fell almost continuously from Sunday night to 

 Friday. Over the northern half of the state the snowfall was heavy on 

 the 10th; the amounts ranging from one inch in the southern part of 

 that section to twenty inches in the northwestern counties. The sun- 

 shine was nil until Saturday. Freezing temperatures occurred on one 

 or two mornings over a large part of the state, but the only damage 

 resulting from the cold, wet weather was in delaying the necessary work 

 of an already belated season, and in the small loss of young pigs and 

 chickens. Unsheltered stock suffered during the storm. The freezing 

 temperatures did no damage to fruit as the buds are still dormant, and 

 in good condition, as are also winter grains and grasses. Compared with 

 the average of past years the season is now fully two weeks late, but 

 the soil is saturated with moisture, and only warmth and sunshine are 

 needed to quicken the growth of vegetation. 



