12 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



minimum was 30°. The greatest daily range was 50°, at Sheldon, O'Brien 

 county. The average of the greatest daily ranges was 39°. 



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

 the records of 122 stations, was 3.41 inches, which is 1.09 inches below the 

 normal. By sections the averages were as follows: Northern section, 2.59 

 inches, which is 1.96 inches below the normal; Central section, 3.05 inches, 

 which is 1.42 inches below the normal; Southern section, 4.58 inches, which 

 is 0.11 inch above the normal. The greatest amount, 6.91 inches occurred 

 at Lamoni, Decatur county, and the least, 1.29 inches, at Plover, Poca- 

 hontas county. The greatest amount in twenty-four hours, 2.99 inches, oc- 

 curred at Keokuk, Lee county, on the 1st and 2d. Measurable precipita- 

 tion occurred on an average of 10 days. 



Traces of snowfall occurred at four widely scattered stations. 



Sunshine and Cloudiness. — The average number of clear days was 15; 

 partly cloudy, 7; cloudy, 9. The duration of sunshine was about the nor- 

 mal, the percentage of the possible amount being 77 at Charles City, 68 

 at Davenport; 55 at Des Moines; 64 at Dubuque; 60 at Keokuk, and 51 at 

 Sioux City. 



Wind. — Northwest winds prevailed. The highest velocity reported was 

 38 miles per hour from the east, at Sioux City, Woodbury county, on the 

 1st. 



CONDITION OF FRUIT TREES. 



The secretary of the State Horticultural Society reports the condition 

 of fruit, on May 1st, as follows: "Apples, 8 per cent; pears, less than 1 

 per cent; American plums, 1 per cent; domestica plums, Japanese plums, 

 and peaches, less than 1 per cent; cherries, 6 per cent; grapes, 20 per 

 cent; red raspberries, 10 per cent; black raspberries, 12 per cent; black- 

 berries, 21 per cent; currants, 5 per cent; gooseberries, 4 per cent; straw- 

 berries, 38 per cent of a full crop. 



"The average for May is only 9 per cent of a full crop. This is the 

 lowest percentage ever estimated for May on the condition of the crop in 

 this State. The bloom on tree fruits was three weeks in advance of nor- 

 mal; two weeks earlier than any record we have since the society was 

 organized. 



"When new growth starts we believe conditions will improve, and as 

 the season advances we may be able to harvest at least a third to a half 

 crop, especially of small fruits." 



JUNE. 



The most notable climatic features of June were the unusually cool 

 weather during the first half of the month, and the continuously high 

 temperatures during the latter half; the excessive amount of sunshine; 

 the low percentage of humidity: the great deficiency of rainfall, the 

 light wind velocities, and the small number of thunderstorms. The 

 temperature was abnormally low during the first 14 days, and then 



