8 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
lower than that of last year. The lowest temperature occurred during 
the first decade, generally on the 8th when it was from 1° to 8° below 
zero in a few of the northwestern counties. The warmest days of the 
month were from the 10th to 14th and on the 25th and 26th. The precipi- 
tation was quite well distributed, and fell mostly in the form of rain, no 
snow being reported except small amounts in the central and northern 
counties. There was a deficiency of precipitation in the larger part of 
the State, the only exceptions being over the east central counties where 
there was a slight excess. There were three periods during ihe month in 
which the rainfall was general, viz.: 4th to 6th, 14th to 18th, and 27th 
to 30th, but the average number of days on which .01 inch or more fell 
was only six, so that the month afforded more than the usual number 
of pleasant days for farm and other out-door work. The growth of vegeta- 
tion was not as far advanced at the end of the month as it was at the 
close of March, 1907, but fully as much seeding of small grain and plow- 
ing for corn has been done. The crop conditions in general are very 
promising. 
Temperature. — The monthly mean temperature for the State, as shown 
by the records of 116 stations, was 37.9°, which is 3.9° above the normal 
for Iowa. By sections the mean temperatures were as follows: Northern 
section, 34.7°, which is 3.5° above the normal; Central section 38.1°, which 
is 3.9 "above the normal; Southern section, 40.8°, which is 4.1° above the 
normal. The highest monthly mean was 44.8° at Keokuk, Lee county, 
and the lowest monthly mean 31.4° at Sibley, Osceola county. The highest 
temperature reported was 85° at Woodburn, Clarke county, on the 25th; 
the lowest temperature reported was -8° at Inwood, Lyon county, on the 
8th. The average monthly maximum was 76.1°, and the average monthly 
minimum was 9.8°. The greatest daily range was 62° at Woodburn. The 
average of the greatest daily ranges was 47.9°. 
Precipitation. — The average percipitation for the State, as shown by 
the records of 121 stations, was 1.58 inches, which is .34 inch below the 
normal. By sections the averages were as follows: Northern section, 
1.56 inches, which is .17 inch below the normal; Central section, 1.69 
inches, which is .29 inch below the normal; Southern section, 1.50 inches, 
which is .55 inch below the normal. The greatest amount, 3.74 inches, 
occured at LeClaire, Scott county, and the least, .45 inch, at Ames, Story 
county. The greatest amount in 24 hours, 2.15 inches, occurred at Tipton, 
Cedar county, on the 27th. Measureable precipitation occurred on an 
average of 6 days. 
Sunshine and Cloudiness. — The average number of clear days was 13; 
partly cloudy, 7; cloudy, 11. The duration of sunshine was about normal, 
the percentage of the possible amount being 51 at Des Moines, 54 at 
Davenport, 55 at Dubuque, 55 at Keokuk, and 59 at Sioux City. 
Wind. — Northwest winds prevailed. High winds were reported on the 
6th, 21st and 25th. The highest velocity reported was 48 miles per hour, 
from the north, at Sioux City, Woodbury county, on the 25th. 
tornado in lee county. 
At about 6:30 P. M., March 27th, a tornado of moderate violence struck 
the village of New Boston, in the southeastern part of Charleston town- 
