the last of the week. Light showers were general in the 

 northern portion during the last of the week, but very little 

 rain fell in central and southern portions, where it is becom- 

 ing very dry and rain is generally needed. 



Weathek of July, 1910. 

 The month as a whole was unusually warm, with a marked 

 deficiency in the rainfall. With the exception of a cool spell 

 from the 17th to the 20th, inclusive, the daily mean tempera- 

 tures were above the July normal, with the excesses ranging 

 from 2° to 12°. iN^otwithstanding the unusually warm 

 weather through the month there were no extremely high 

 temperature records, no record-breaking days, but almost 

 daily maximum temperatures, ranging from 86° to 90°, and 

 ten days with maximum temperatures ranging in the 90s. 

 The nights were also warm, with the minimum temperatures 

 falling little, if any, below Y0°. The monthly mean tempera- 

 tures in nearly all sections were from 3° to 5° above the 

 normal for July. The rainfall of the month was, with slight 

 exceptions, only from 25 to 40 per cent of the normal, making 

 the month one of the driest of record. It resulted from local 

 disturbances, and the precipitation was, therefore, unevenly 

 distributed. There were fewer local storms and thunder- 

 storms than usual, though in some instances the storms were 

 of marked violence. The droughty weather of the month 

 was unfavorable to the crop interests, although not seriously 

 felt till toward the close, as the soil was well supplied with 

 moisture from copious rains of the preceding month. 



Important Annoutstcemekt of Oechaedijs^g Prizes. 



The Legislature of 1910 appropriated $500 annually to be 

 expended by the State Board of Agriculture in the encourage- 

 ment of orcharding, by prizes or otherwise. Pursuant to the 

 purposes of the act the Board offers the following prizes : — 



1, For the best yield of marketable fruit from any single 

 apple tree in Massachusetts. To be shown by sworn state- 

 ment as to the yield and price realized, and accompanied by 

 full data as to variety, treatment the tree received in prun- 

 ing, spraying, tillage and fertilizing, with cost of same. 

 Three prizes, — $25, $15, $10. 



