8 



degrees to 13 degrees above the normal. There was a 

 marked drop in the temperature on the 25th, and the 

 weather continued cool for several days, followed by slowly 

 rising temperature, and the conditions at the close were near 

 the seasonal. Taken as a whole, the daily mean temperature 

 was about two degrees in excess of the average July. Ex- 

 cepting the temperature, the weather of the month was very 

 pleasant. Showers occurred quite frequently and were gen- 

 erally well distributed over the State. With slight excep- 

 tions the amounts were moderate to copious. For the larger 

 portion of the district the monthly precipitation was some- 

 what in excess of the normal. There were, however, scat- 

 tered sections which the rains did not reach, chiefly in 

 eastern portions of the State, and where there was some 

 complaint of drought. Nevertheless, it is not believed that 

 the absence of rain was sufficiently marked to cause injury 

 to vegetation or growing crops. Moderate to heavy rains 

 occurred on the 11th and 12th and again on the 25th and the 

 night of the 28th, but the precipitation for the remainder of 

 the month consisted of local showers. Some sections were 

 visited by severe local storms, in which high and destructive 

 winds occurred, and in a few instances hail storms were re- 

 ported. These resulted in more or less damage to crops and 

 buildings. Viewed as an entirety, the weather of July was 

 pleasant and characteristic of the month. 



In the circular to correspondents returnable July 23 the 

 following questions were asked : — 



1. What insects are proving most troublesome in your 

 locality ? 



2. What is the condition of Indian corn, and what pro- 

 portion of the crop will be put into the silo ? 



3. What is the quantity and quality of the hay crop as 

 compared with former years ? 



4. What forage crops are being raised to supplement the 

 hay crop, for the silo and to eke out the pastures? What is 

 their condition, and are more raised than usual? 



5. What is the condition of market-garden crops, including 

 potatoes, and how have those already harvested compared in 

 yield and price with former years? 



