FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 151 



favorable for harvest operations and most of the small grain was in shock 

 or stack before August 1st. Haying progressed quite favorably and though 

 the yield was lighter than the average the quality was superior, and most of 

 it was secured in good order. Corn made notably fine progress, despite the 

 cool weather, and at the close of the month that crop was much more 

 advanced than was deemed possible earlier in the season. Potatoes, garden 

 truck, apples, small fruit and all minor crops made normal advancement. 



The average temperature of August, 1904, was exactly the same as 

 August, 1903, 1902 and 1891. The mean temperature was 2 1^ below the 

 August normal. In the northern section it was 67.3°; central section, 69.2'; 

 southern section, IQJ' . The month was mostly clear and warm by day, 

 though unseasonably cool at night. The average rainfall was normal for 

 the State, but in its distribution the larger amount was received in the south 

 and eastern districts, where it was most needed. The bulk of the rainfall 

 came about the 17th to 21st and 29th. There were, on the average, 17 clear 

 days, 8 partly cloudy, and 6 cloudy, affording an ample amount of fair 

 weather for harvesting, stacking, threshing, cutting wild hay, millet, etc., 

 and fall plowing. In all these farm operations very good progress was 

 made. The pastures were revived and made green as in June by the copious 

 showers in the latter half of the month. The corn crop made fair advance- 

 ment during the month, though in view of its belated condition its progress 

 was not as rapid as seemed desirable. The most advanced portion of the 

 crop was well filled and dented at the close of the month. Reports at that 

 time indicated that about one-third of the crop, with favorable conditions, 

 would be mature by September 20th, while the balance required abundant 

 warmth and sunshine until October 1st to be safe from harm by killing 

 frost. The crop was unusually rank, green and heavily eared. The minor 

 crops were in good condition. Potatoes made heavy yield, and early apples 

 were especially good and abundant. The yield of tomatoes and green corn 

 for canning has been better than usual. Garden truck, cucumbers for 

 pickling and melons yielded abundantly. 



The average temperature of September was about normal for the State, 

 the southern and central sections showing an excess, and the northern section 

 a small deficiency. The coldest period was from about the 11th to the 22d. 

 The average rainfall for the State was 2.78 inches, which amount is about 

 .52 of an inch below the normal for September. In its distribution there 

 was much inequality, ranging from less than a tenth of an inch atone station 

 in the northwest to over eight inches in the southeast district The south- 

 east and northeast districts received the heaviest rainfall. The week ending 

 September 12th was normal in temperature and sunshine, with very light 

 rainfall, and generally favorable conditions for ripening the belated corn 

 crop, a considerable portion of which was well dented, with husks and 

 blades putting on the brown shade of autumn. The week ending the 19th 

 brought several days of good ripening weather, but much anxiety for the 

 immature portion of the corn crop was caused by the occurrence of light to 

 heavy frosts on the mornings of the 12th, 14th and 15th, the cold wave extend- 

 ing to all districts in the State. A few stations also reported frost on the 

 21st. The lowest temperature reported was 30% at four stations. The ob- 

 served effects proved that the frosts were not ''killing," and that the 

 damage to the corn crop was limited to late planted fields in the bottom 



