ELEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK -PART I 9 



on the morning of the 23d and the 24th and ice formed from one-half to 

 one inch thick in tubs of standing water. Few trees or shrubs escaped 

 injury and the foliage and new growth on some varieties, such as soft 

 maples, box elders, wistaria, Virginia creeper, etc., were frozen and at the 

 close of the month the dead leaves were falling off. Following this last 

 cold period the temperature rose rapidly and the 28th and 29th were ex- 

 cessively warm; the maximum temperatures on those dates being 90° or 

 higher over the western and central districts, the highest being 99° on the 

 2Sth in the extreme northwestern county. The maximum temperature on 

 the 2Sth was higher than ever before recorded during April, over the west- 

 ern half of the State. 



The average precipitation was 1.35 inches below the normal and was 

 unevenly distributed; the eastern third of the State and the south central 

 counties receiving the largest amounts while the extreme southwestern 

 and a few localities in the north central counties received less than one- 

 fourth of an inch. Much of the precipitation was in the form of snow or 

 snow mixed with rain during the storms on the 15-18 and 22-24. 



Owing to the warm, dry and pleasant weather during March, farming 

 operations were further advanced than usual on April 1st. Practically 

 all small grain was seeded before the middle of the month and nearly all 

 of the corn ground was ready for the planter by the close of the month. 

 Considerable corn was planted during the second week but that work was 

 suspended generally after the 15th on account of cold weather. 



The growth of grass and small grain was checked by the freezing tem- 

 perature and in the western part of the State small grain, especially oats, 

 was damaged by dry weather and high winds, but for the State at large 

 small grain is reported to be in fairly good condition. 



All rivers and creeks are below the normal stage for the season of the 

 year. 



Temperature. — The monthly mean temperature for the State, as shown 

 by the records of 119 stations, was 52.5°, which is 4.0° above the normal 

 for Iowa. By sections the mean temperatures were as follows: Northern 

 section, 51.7°, which is 4.9° above the normal; Central section, 52.7°, which 

 is 4.2° above the normal; Southern section, 53.2°, which is 2.9° above the 

 normal. The highest monthly mean was 56.0°, at Grinnell, Poweshiek 

 county, and the lowest monthly mean 49.0°, at Sibley, Osceola county. 

 The highest temperature reported was 99°, at Inwood, Lyon county, on 

 the 2Sth; the lowest temperature reported was 15°, at Rock Rapids, Lyon 

 county, on the 5th. The average monthly maximum was 92°, and the aver- 

 age monthly minimum was 22° The greatest daily range was 57°, at Pa- 

 cific Junction, Mills county. The average of the greatest daily ranges was 

 44°. 



Precipitation. — The average precipitation for the State, as shown by 

 the records of 125 stations, was 1.48 inches, which is 1.35 inches below the 

 normal. By sections the averages were as follows: Northern section, 1.18 

 inches, which is 1.29 inches below the normal; Central section, 1.48 inches, 

 which is 1.39 inches below the normal: Southern section, 1.78 inches, which 



