182 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



CLIMATE AND CROP REVIEW, 1905. 



The mean temperature of the year 1905 was 47.3°, which is 0.4° be- 

 low the normaL The daily average for the year was 1° above the mean 

 of 1904, The average precipitation for the state, 36.51 inches, was 4.79 

 Inches above normal, and 7.77 inches above the average in the preced- 

 ing year. 



January and February were colder than usual, the average for the 

 former being 11.2°, and the latter 12.8°, or nearly 7° below normal. 

 Considerable snow fell, and there was much stormy weather during 

 those months. The fields generally were well covered by snow during 

 the coldest periods, affording protection to winter grain and grasses. 



The last week in February was generally moderate, and March was 

 phenominally warm, the mean temperature for the month being 9.1° 

 above normal. Springlike conditions were continuous, except about 6 

 days in the second decade. The frost disappeared and the surface dried 

 off rapidly. Much preparatory work was done the first half of the 

 month, and considerable seeding of spring wheat, oats and barley was 

 done in the latter half. Winter wheat, rye and clover showed but little 

 damage from effects of freezing, and fruit buds were apparently un- 

 harmed. The season for farm work and growth of vegetation was about 

 a week earlier than the average. 



April brought unusually variable temperature, the average for the 

 state being 1.8° below normal. Severe frosts were reported in all dis- 

 tricts in every week, causing apprehension for safety of fruit buds. In 

 portions of the southern section excessive moisture retarded plowing 

 and seeding, but in the central and northern districts there was little 

 hindrance to field work. At the close of April the season was some- 

 what earlier than usual in respect to growth of grass and foliage, and 

 more than the usual amount of plowing and other farm work had been 

 done. And during the last three days of the month corn planting oper- 

 ations were in progress in favored localities. About the usual acreage 

 of oats, spring wheat and barley was sown in April. 



The temperature in May was 2,1° below normal, and the rainfall 

 was 1.82 inches above the average. The larger portion of the excess 

 of moisture fell in the northern half of the state, in the first and second 

 decades of the month. Frosts were noted in all districts about the 5th 

 and 26th, and at numerous stations the temperature fell to 32° or be- 

 low; but the damage to vegetation was light. During the first week in 

 May conditions were generally favorable for preparing the ground and 

 planting corn on the best drained lands. The weather was wet, cool and 

 backward from about the 7th to the 17th, causing delay in planting 



