FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 109 



was more favorable for small grain than for the rapid germination and 

 growth of the belated corn. Good progress was made in replanting the 

 washed out corn fields and in cultivating the early planted corn on the 

 dry upland. Seasonable temperature about the close of the month 

 caused a marked improvement in the appearance and prospects of this 

 important staple and in size and color it was much nearer the normal 

 condition than was deemed possible at the outset. Clover-cutting was 

 begun near the middle of the month and haymaking was quite general 

 at the close, the output being above the average. 



July was characterized by frequent and sudden alternations from 

 high to low temperatures. The daily mean for the month was about ?*= 

 below normal the first decade being unusually warm the second decade 

 unseasonably cool and the third decade bringing the two extremes of 

 temperature. The average rainfall for the State, 4.83 inches, was .91 

 of an inch above the July normal. The distribution was very unequal, 

 the average of the northern section being 6.49, the central section 5.28, 

 and the southern section 2.73 inches. The heaviest amounts of rainfall 

 were reported at stations in the northeast district. The most destruc- 

 tive storm of the month occurred on the afternoon of the 20th. sweeping 

 across the state on a direct line from Lyon and Osceola southward to 

 Adams, Taylor and Ringgold its pathway varying in width from one 

 to eight miles. At numerous points along this line the storm was 

 accompanied by high winds and very heavy hail, causing almost total 

 loss of growing crops within an area of more than three hundred square 

 miles. In portions of the southern section droughty conditions prevailed 

 for many days, causing some detriment to growing crops; but the clos- 

 ing week brought generous showers. On the whole the month was 

 favorable to haymaking and harvesting of wheat, oats, barley and rye. 

 The hay crop proved to be one of the best ever produced in the State, 

 and the greater part of it was secured in excellent condition. "Wheat 

 'and oats were generally harvested in good condition, but on account of 

 the rust and blight the yield has been disappointing, though the quality 

 of the grain will be greatly superior to the output of last year. ' The 

 corn crop made fairly good progress during the month, though the tem- 

 perature was somewhat unfavorable about half of the time. The early 

 planted portion of the crop reached the earing stage while the late 

 planted corn was generally small and unpromising. The outlook for 

 the crop as a whole was not encouraging at the close of July. 



August was cooler than usual, with a large excess of rainfall, hu- 

 midity and cloudiness. TJtie mean temperature was 3.1° below normal, 

 and the average rainfall, 6,64 inches, was 3.43 inches above normal. 

 The southern section received the larger amount, an average of 8.74 

 inches, the bulk of it falling in the last week of the month (State Fair 

 week). It was the wettest August of which we have records for the 

 State, There were nineteen cloudy or partly cloudy days. During the 

 fair weather periods considerable progress was made in threshing and 

 other farm operations. Haymaking was continued throughout the 

 month, when the weather permitted, securing a large amount of after- 

 math, wild hay, and second crop of clover for seed and fodder. More 



