18 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 
1.5° in the southern districts. The warmest period of the month was 
between the 2d and the 5th, inclusive, when the maximum temperatures 
ranged from 88° to 101°; the highest occurring in Mahaska and "Wapello 
counties on the 3d. The coolest period was from the 20th to the 24th, 
inclusive, the lowest temperature occurring on the 24th. During the past 
18 years, there have been eleven warmer Augusts and seven that were 
slightly cooler. The rainfall was above the normal in all districts. Most 
of .ae precipitation came from local showers and thunderstorms, which 
were quite well distributed as to numbers, but the heaviest rain fell over 
the Missouri divide, thence eastward over the northern portion of the 
southern districts. There was but one county in the State, Lyon, which 
reported less than two inches. While the average amount of rainfall for 
the month was in excess of that for August, 1907, the average number of 
clear, partly cloudy, cloudy and rainy days were the same as in August 
of last year, which indicates, as it did then, that there was an excess of 
sunshine. 
The weather was favorable for the growth of vegetation and for farm 
work. Harvest was finished and threshing well advanced at the close of 
the month. Local showers in a few localities interfered with threshing 
operations and some grain, in shock, was damaged by excessive moisture, 
but the percentage of loss was small. Corn made rapid advancement 
toward maturity but is still very green. Pastures were exceptionally 
good for the time of year, and all stock is in good condition. The after- 
math in meadows made good growth and the second crop of hay will be 
heavier than normal. The indications are very favorable for a good 
crop of clover seed. 
Temperature. — The monthly mean temperature for the State, as shown 
by the records of 114 stations, was 70.0°, which is 1.8° below the normal 
for Iowa. By sections the mean temperatures v/ere as follows: Northern 
section, 68.2°, which is 2.1° below the normal; Central section 70.1°, which 
is 1.8° below the normal; Southern section, 71.8°, which is 1.5° below the 
normal. The highest monthly mean was 74.5°, at Keokuk, Lee county, 
and the lowest monthly mean 66.2°, at Sibley, Osceola county. The highest 
temperature reported was 101°, at Oskaloosa and Ottumwa, in Mahaska 
and Wapello counties, on the 3d; the lowest temperature reported was 
38°, at Atlantic, Cass county, on the 24th. The average monthly maxi- 
mum was 94.1°, and the average monthly minimum was 45.1°. The greatest 
daily range was 45°, at Atlantic, Cass county. The average of the greatest 
daily ranges was 34.8°. 
Precipitation. The average precipitation for the State, as shown by 
the records of 123 stations, was 4.77 inches, which is .78 inch above the 
normal. By sections the averages were as follows: Northern section, 
4.03 inches, which is .51 inch above the normal; Central section, 5.07 
inches, which is 1.02 inches above the normal; Southern section, 5.21 
inches, which is .81 inch above the normal. The greatest amount, 10.58 
inches, occurred at Pella, Marion county, and the least, 1.35 inches, at 
Rock Rapids, Lyon county. The greatest amount in twenty-four hours, 
6.02 inches, occurred at Stuart, Guthrie county, on the 15th. Measureable 
precipitation occurred on an average of 9 days. 
