152 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



lands of the central valleys of the State. Broadly stated, the actual damage 

 by frosts affected less than one-fourth of the area planted, and the shrinkage 

 of the frosted portion of the crop was probably less than 20 per cent. This 

 would indicate possible loss of 5 per cent of the crop for the State, as the direct 

 result of frost. The cold weather of that period, however, retarded the 

 development of the crop, and made it desirable to extend the ripening 

 weather beyond the first of October. During the month good progress was 

 made in the usual farm operations, such as plowing, seeding fall wheat and 

 rye, harvesting potatoes, apples and millet, and threshing small grain. The 

 yield of potatoes, and fall apples has been very satisfactory. The grape 

 crop was heavy, and there has been a good yield of plums. The growth of 

 all kinds of garden truck has been unusually heavy. The pastures have 

 been much better than usual for September. At the close of the month it 

 was estimated* that ninety per cent of the corn crop was practically safe. 



October was warmer and drier than usual, the daily mean temperature 

 being about 1° above normal, and the average rainfall of the State was 0.73 

 of an inch below normal. The northern section received the largest amount, 

 the average being about .29 of an inch above the October normal. The first 

 frost of the month occurred on the morning of the 6th, and was heavy 

 enough to kill vines and most of the cornstalks remaining green in the 

 northern half of the State. In the southern half the frost was light, caus- 

 ing no damage. The first general killing frost covering the State occurred 

 on the morning of the 23d, all crops being safe at that time. The bulk of 

 the rainfall came in the first and second decades — mainly between the Sth 

 and 20th, the balance of the month being dry and favorable for farm work, 

 for drying out the corn crops and harvesting the miner crops. No better 

 weather could be desired for preparing corn for cribbing than was preva- 

 lent from the 20th to the 31st. Good progress was made in harvesting the 

 corn during the last week though the heavier ears contained considerable 

 moisture. But the weather was cool by night, though moderate and clear 

 by day. The heavy potato crop was harvested in good condition, the qual- 

 ity of the product being unusually good. Pastures were very good through- 

 out the month. Good progress was made in fall plowing. The small acre- 

 age in fall wheat and rye showed an excellent growth and good stand. On 

 the whole, October was a very mild and favorable month, crowning a fairly 

 productive crop season. 



The month was unusually warm and the driest November on record for 

 the State. The mean temperature, as shown by records of 110 stations, was 

 41.0% which is 6.3° above normal. The average in 1902 was .2 of a degree 

 higher and 2.9° higher in 1899. The average precipitation for* the State at 

 119 stations was .15 of an inch, which is 1.25 inches below normal. Nine 

 stations reported no rain in measurable amount. Practically all the precipi- 

 tation fell on the 9th and 10th, and the average number of clear days was 

 twenty. The conditions were ideal for husking corn and drying out the 

 surplus moisture. At the close of the month the bulk of the crop was har- 

 vested. Conditions were also favorable for fall plowing and general farm 

 work of the late autumn period. The pasturage was better than usual, 

 though the fields were brown. Winter wheat and rye suffered some damage 

 for want of moisture. 



