NINTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART I 33 
tilled land showed a good stand and was exceptionally clean, and some 
fields were laid by before the end of the month. The excessive moisture 
and moderately cool weather were very beneficial to grass, and the hay 
crop of 1908 will go on record as having been one of the largest yields 
per acre ever harvested in this state. The cherry crop was light in 
southern and fair in the northern counties, where the buds were not so 
far advanced at the time of the frosts in May. 
July was an exceptionally good harvest month, the temperature being 
very nearly normal and but little rainfall after the 7th. The number 
of wind squalls and hailstorms were less than is usual in July; the 
worst windstorm occurred on the afternoon of the 26th in Ida county 
and caused considerable damage to crops and buildings; and the worst 
hailstorm of the month occurred on the 17th near Woodburn, Clarko 
county. Small grain harvest began during the second week and was 
nearly completed and threshing operations were in full progress before 
the close of the month. Corn made rapid growth but was very uneven in 
size, owing to the long interval of time between the early and late 
planted fields. 
The mean temperature of August was 1.8° below and the average 
precipitation was .78 inch above the normal. The highest temperature 
of the summer was recorded during the month, the maximum being 
101.° The rainfall was fairly well distributed both as to amount and 
number of showers. The weather was favorable for the growth of 
vegetation and for farm work. Harvest was finished and threshing was 
well advanced at the close of the month. Corn made rapid advancement 
but showed no indication of ripening. 
September will go on record as having had the longest drouthy period 
of any September during the past ly years, and for its long period of 
high temperature which averaged 4.2° above the normal. With the 
exception of a few scattered showers on the 4th and 5th, 13th and 23d, 
there was no rain in the state from the night of August 31st to the 
night of September 25th. The warm, dry weather prevented fall plowing 
and was injurious to pastures and the surface water supply, but was very 
beneficial to corn, preparing it for the killing frost and freezing tem- 
peratures which came on the 28th and 29th. Fall plowing, which had 
been delayed by the dry weather, was resumed after the copious showers 
on the 26th, 27th and 28th. 
Drouthy conditions prevailed from the 1st to the 19th of October, 
with an excess of temperature during the same period, but during the 
last decade of the month the conditions were reversed, the average 
temperature for the month being below and the precipitation above the 
normal. The clear, dry and warm weather with brisk winds during the 
first half of the month caused the corn crop to dry out rapidly and 
husking began between the 15th and 18th, but was delayed by the rains 
between the 19th and 28th so that only about 15% of the crop was cribbed 
at the close of the month. 
November was an exceptionally mild and pleasant month with an 
average temperature 3.4° above the normal, and a slight excess of pre- 
cipitation. There were no severe rain or sleet storms and but one light 
3 
