THIRTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART I 11 



MAY. 



May was warm and moderately dry, but on the whole the conditions 

 were favorable for agricultural pursuits. The average temperature was 

 2.6° above normal, and the rainfall, 1.17 inches below the average of past 

 years. The rainfall was, however, well distributed throughout the month, 

 and fairly well distributed geographically, the only sections reporting less 

 than an inch being Carroll, southeastern Harrison, northern Cass and 

 Mills Counties. Over a part of Cherokee and Buena Vista Counties the 

 monthly amount exceeded 6.00 inches, but more than half of it came in a 

 heavy downpour on- the 26th-27th. Over the central and south-central 

 counties, heavy showers occurred on the 10th or 11th, during which several 

 stations received more than 3.00 inches. The heavy rainfall in Cherokee 

 County on the 26th-27th did considerable damage by washing plowed fields 

 and taking out several bridges. The temperature was above the normal 

 except from the 11th to 17th, inclusive, and on the 28th and 29th. The 

 lowest temperatures generally occurred on the 14th, when the minimum 

 was near or below the freezing point in all but the extreme southern coun- 

 ties, and heavy frost occurred in many localities, but no material damage 

 was done except to prevent the germination of corn that had been planted. 

 Rapid progress was made in plowing, planting and re-planting. Owing to 

 poor seed, cold weather, cut and wire worms, considerable replanting was 

 necessary, but at the close of the month nearly all of the corn was planted 

 and the early planting was up, and showed a fair to good stand. The cool 

 weather and frequent showers were beneficial to all small grains and 

 grasses. Spring seeding of timothy and clover were especially in good 

 condition. Fruits were only in fair condition. Apple trees failed to pro- 

 duce the usual amount of bloom, due probably to over-bearing and the 

 drought of last year. Cherries will be about two-thirds of a crop, but 

 plums will yield well. 



Temperature. — The monthly mean temperature for the State, as shown 

 by the records of 111 stations was 62.7°, which is 2.6° above the normal 

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

 section, 60.1°, which is 1.6° above the normal; Central section, 63.0°, which 

 is 2.8° above the normal; Southern section, 64.9°, which is 4.8° above the 

 normal. The highest monthly mean was 66.6°, at Keokuk, Lee County, and 

 the lowest monthly mean, 57.6°, at Estherville, Emmet County, and at Sib- 

 ley, Osceola County. The highest temperature reported was 97°, at Pacific 

 Junction, Mills County, on the 26th; the lowest temperature reported was 

 29°, at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, on the 14th, at Decorah, 

 Winneshiek County, on the 14th, at Pacific Junction, Mills County, on the 

 14th, and at Washta, Cherokee County, on the 17th. The average monthly 

 maximum was 88° and the average monthly minimum was 34°. The 

 greatest daily range was 45°, at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, and 

 at Fort Dodge, Webster County. The average of the greatest daily 

 ranges was 37°. 



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

 the records of 118 stations, was 3.33 inches, which is 1.17 inches below the 

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

 3.60 inches, which is 0.95 inch below the normal; Central section, 3.22 

 inches, which is 1.25 inches below the normal; Southern section, 3.17 



