10 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



month, and fairly well distributed geographically, except in the south- 

 eastern counties, where the rainfall was much below the normal, the low- 

 est amount being in the extreme southeastern corner of the State, where 

 there was no rainfall until the 19th, and only .42 inch during the month. 

 Over the larger part of the state, precipitation was general on the 1st, 

 from the 19th to the 22nd, and from the 27th to the 31st, with light and 

 widely scattered showers between the 7th and 16th. 



As a whole the month was unusually favorable for farm operations, 

 and the growth of vegetation. Corn was practically all planted before 

 the 20th; and, under the effects of high temperatures, it came up quickly 

 and showed almost a perfect stand, and no replanting was necessary, 

 except on sod ground where cut worms were somewhat more active than 

 usual. The soil was in excellent tilth, and the' fields were generally 

 clean, most of the corn having been cultivated once before the close of 

 the month. Small grain was very promising but the hay crop was below 

 normal, owing to deficiency of moisture. Fruit prospects were never 

 better. The continued low to moderate temperatures during March, April 

 and the early part of May prevented early development of the buds, 

 which did not bloom until toward the middle of May; and, as a result, 

 they were not injured to any extent by the light to heavy frosts that 

 occurred during the first few days of the month. 



Temperatuke. — The monthly mean temperature for the state, as shown by 

 the records af 112 stations was 64.9°, which is 4.8° above the normal for 

 Iowa. By sections the mean temperatures were as follows: Northern 

 section, 63.6°, which is 5.1° above the normal; Central section, 65.2°, 

 which is 5.0° above the normal; Southern section, 66.0°, which is 4.4° 

 above the normal. The highest monthly mean was 70.2°, at Keokuk, 

 Lee County, and the lowest monthly mean, 61.4°, at Clarinda, Page County. 

 The highest temperature reported was 98°, at Fort Dodge, Webster County, 

 on the 25th and at Grundy Center, Grundy County, on the 27th; the lowest 

 temperature reported was 23°, at Decorah ,Winnishiek County, on the 

 third. The average monthly maximum was 92°, and the average monthly 

 minimum was 30°. The greatest daily range was 48°, at Rock Rapids, 

 Lyon County. The average of the greatest daily range was 38°. 



Precipitation. — The average precipitation for the state, as shown by 

 the records of 119 stations, was 3.76 inches, which is 0.74 inch below the 

 normal. By sections the averages were as follows: Northern section 

 3.95 inches, which is 0.60 inch below the normal; Central section, 4.25 

 inches, which is 0.22 inch below the normal; Southern section, 3.07 inches, 

 which is 1.40 inches below the normal. The greatest amount, 8.73 inches, 

 occurred at Fayette, Fayette County, and the least, 0.42 inch, at Keokuk, 

 Lee County. The greatest amount in twenty-four hours, 2.50 inches, oc- 

 curred at Osage, Mitchell County, on the 21st. Measurable precipitation 

 occurred on an average of 9 days. 



SxNOW. — The average depth of unmelted snowfall was 0.7 inch; by sec- 

 tions as follows: Northern section, 1.7 inches, Central section 0.4 inch; 

 Southern section, trace. The greatest fall was 4.0 inches, at Elma, Howard 

 County, and at a number of stations none occurred. 



