SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 183 



operations and retarding germination of seed in the ground. The bal- 

 ance of the month was variable, with some more than the average 

 amount of moisture; but fair progress was made in planting, and cul- 

 tivating the early planted fields. Wheat, oats, barley, rye, meadows and 

 pastures made good growth in May. The average conditions of grain 

 and grasses were nearly normal at the close of the month. 



June was about normal in temperature, and the rainfall was 1 inch 

 above the state average. The distribution of rainfall was very un- 

 equal, ranging from 1.80 inches at Forest City to 14.89 at Keosauqua. 

 The greatest excess was recorded in the southeast district, and in the 

 northwest counties. The first week was warm and mostly dry, afford- 

 ing ideal conditions for growth of crops and cultivation of corn and po- 

 tatoes. Some corn planting was done, in localities previously too wet, as 

 late as the 12th to 15th of the month. The rainfall on the 9th and 10th 

 was excessively heavy and destructive in Van Buren and adjoining 

 counties; but the copious showers in other parts of the state were 

 timely and beneficial to all crops. The third week was normal in tem- 

 perature and amount of sunshine, with conditions favorable for clean- 

 ing out the weedy fields, and general farm work. The month closed 

 with a showery period of three to four days. Haying operations were 

 begun somewhat earlier than usual, and the first cutting of clover suf- 

 fered damage by the wet weather. The corn crop was aoing fairly well 

 in the larger part of the state at the end of the month. 



The daily mean temperature of July was 3.8° below normal and the 

 rainfall was 1.44 inches below the average of previous years. The first 

 half of the month brought the bulk of the wet weather and conditions 

 were more favorable during the latter half for harvest of hay and grain. 

 The conditions were not altogether favorable in the early part of the 

 month for finishing the cultivation of corn. The fields were not gener- 

 ally clean as could be desired when laid by. The warmest period was 

 from about the 13th to 20th, during which corn made rapid advance- 

 ment. Spring wheat, rye and barley ripened under favorable conditions 

 and the work of harvesting was well advanced in the latter half of 

 July. As a whole July was a favorable month. With but little damage 

 from excess or deficiency of moisture. The crops of wheat, oats, barley 

 and rye secured were better in quality and yield than was deemed pos- 

 sible in the early part of the season. At the close of the month corn 

 gave promise of more than an average crop. 



August was above normal in temperature and rainfall. The mean 

 temperature, 74.3° was 2.3° above normal, and 3.7° degrees higher than 

 the daily average in July. From the first week to the close of the month 

 the temperature was near or above the normal line. The rainfall was 

 generally timely, and not greatly in excess of local needs in any part 

 of the state, the distribution being more than usually favorable. In the 

 state the average number of clear days was 16, and 9 were partly cloudy, 

 affording ample sunshine to hasten growth of all belated crops. At the 

 close of the month the corn crop was generally in the full roasting ear 



