150 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



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the saturated condition of the subsoil, resulting: from abnormal rainfall in 

 the preceding season. On the whole it was a favorable month, with suf- 

 ficient warmth and moisture for grass and small grain, and general con- 

 ditions favorable for farm work and the germination of the better qualities of 

 seed. Except in quite limited areas, the corn crop was planted about as early 

 as usual, and the soil was in very good condition. The month was especially 

 favorable for the growth of grass in meadows and pastures, and for the 

 small grain crops on well drained lands. 



The hay crop was well assured; oats and spring wheat stooled out fairly 

 well; potatoes made a fine start; garden truck was well advanced at close of 

 the month, and the fruits promised a better yield than has been produced in 

 recent years. 



June was cooler than usual, with less than the normal amount of rainfall, 

 and a large percentage of cloudiness in portions of the State. The daily 

 average temperature was 2.5 degrees below normal. The precipitation was 

 quite unequally distributed; the northern section receiving an average of 4.53 

 inches, the central section 2. 74 inches, and the southern section 3.08 inches. 

 The week ending June 6th brought excessive rains in all parts of the State, 

 except portions of the east central district. The wet and cloudy weather of 

 that week caused much delay in the cultivation of corn, and in large portions 

 of the State the fields became weedy and the growth of corn was consider- 

 ably retarded by cold nights and wet, cloudy weather. The second week 

 was generally very favorable for field work and the growth of crops, the days 

 being bright and warm with ideal conditions for cleaning out the corn fields. 

 The week ending the 20th was also favorable, though the temperature was 

 below normal. There was but little interruption of work, and fair progress 

 was noted in the growth of all crops. From the 20th to the close of the 

 month the temperature was abnormally low and there was more than usual 

 cloudiness in the larger part of the State. Despite all the drawbacks, how- 

 ever, the corn crop advanced steadily, and at the close of the month the 

 fields were generally clean and the stand was but little below the average 

 of the past fifteen years. The month as a whole was favorable especially to 

 small grain, which headed out about the usual time, though short in straw. 

 The hay crop was well advanced and fairly good, especially in quality. 

 Potatoes and garden vegetables were usually promising. 



July was unseasonably cool, the mean temperature being 3.6' below 

 normal. The warmest period was the second decade. The average rainfall 

 for the State , 4.41 inches , was . 18 of an inch above normal. The northern sec- 

 tion received an average of 3.77 inches; central section, 4 47 inches; southern 

 section, 5.00 inches. Rain in measurable quantity fell at one or more sta- 

 tions every day during the month. And yet the average number of clear 

 days was 16; partly cloudy 9, and cloudy, 6. Generally there was sufficient 

 sunshine to promote plant growth. The days were warm, and nights 

 unusually cool. Tne heaviest storm of the month, in respect to rainfall, 

 occurred on the night of the 19th, bat the excessive downpour was limited to 

 a few counties. Oa the whole the month was favorable for crops and field 

 work. Corn was laid by from the 4th to the 15th— about a week later than 

 usual. During the showery period i i the early half of the month spring 

 wheat and oats were attacked by rust. The wheat crop was damaged seri- 

 ously, but oats were not very badly injured. The latter half of the month was 



