168 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ing from .87 of an inch at Washta, Cherokee county, to 18.04 inches at 

 Grand Meadow, Clayton county. The area of the marked deficiency was 

 limited to a small portion of the northwest district. The northern sec- 

 tion received the heaviest rainfall, and the eastern half of that section 

 the bulk of that amount. But the soil was very dry, and in excellent 

 condition to absorb and retain a goodly portion of the copious moisture; 

 and despite the interruption of frequent rainy days the work of planting 

 corn progressed rapidly between showers, so that before the close of the 

 month the corn area was practically planted. The seed was generally 

 good, and a fair stand of corn was secured, with not more than the usual 

 amount of replanting. Cultivation was begun early, and in portions of 

 the state where the rainfall was about normal, or less than normal, the 

 crop was most thoroughly cleaned and made most satisfactory progress. 

 Generally corn was rated in high condition on June 1st. The copious 

 rains, though not so favorable for corn planting and cultivating, were 

 highly favorable to grass in pastures and meadows, and caused a heavy 

 growth of all small grain crops. Except in portions of the northwest dis- 

 trict spring wheat, oats and barley showed a tendency to rankness, caus- 

 ing apprehension of damage by lodging and rust. The potato crop was 

 generally very promising at close of the month, and garden truck was 

 seldom in better condition at the corresponding date. 



June was an abnormal month in respect to temperature, amount of 

 rainfall and excess of cloudiness. The daily average temperature for the 

 state was about five degrees below normal, and the daily average of the 

 last decade was about eleven degrees colder than the first decade of the 

 month' — a reversal of usual conditions. At the central station the records 

 show only 49 per cent of sunshine for the month, and about 75 per cent 

 of mean relative humidity. On the mornings of the 21st and 22d frost 

 was observed at numerous stations, with some damaging results in the 

 northwest district. The average rainfall was 7.16 inches, which is 2.90 

 inches above normal. The heaviest amounts were recorded in the central 

 district, and the lowest in several counties of the northwest district. One 

 striking feature was the fact that showers fell in some portion of the 

 state every day in the month. The average number of clear days for all 

 stations of record was only eight, as against an average of twenty-two 

 cloudy or partly cloudy days. As a result of these abnormal weather 

 conditions farming operations were greatly retarded, and in the wettest 

 portions field work was wholly impracticable except at short intervals 

 between showers. On the river bottoms in the central counties many 

 thousand acres of corn, small grain and meadows were flooded and the 

 crops practically ruined. But despite all the drawbacks fully three-fourths 

 of the corn acreage had been fairly well cultivated, and the average con- 

 dition of early planted fields was promising at close of the month. The 

 oats crop grew unusually rank on rich lands in all sections where the 

 rainfall was at or above normal, and there was a tendency to rust. At 

 close of the month oats and spring wheat were filling well, and were 

 standing up remarkably well, though bulky in straw. Winter wheat, rye 

 and clover harvest was begun, but the wet weather was unfavorable for 



