8 



mean temperature ranged from 1° to 15° above the normal. 

 The thermal conditions for the remainder of the month were 

 near the seasonal average. 



There was a general deficiency in the precipitation for 

 the month, the rainfall being little more than half the cus- 

 tomary amount for October. It was, however, well distrib- 

 uted through the period and over the territory, and for this 

 reason and the fact that the rainfall for the preceding 

 month was in excess, the supply of moisture was sufficient 

 to maintain seasonable conditions in the soil. The cold 

 weather at the beginning of the month was attended by a 

 snow flurry in many sections. The amount of snowfall in 

 the majority of cases was inappreciable, too small to meas- 

 ure. The date of occurrence was unusually early, and in 

 many sections the earliest in many years. 



An abundance of sunshine was a feature in connection 

 with the state of weather. This, combined with the small 

 number of days with rain, made the month unusually 

 pleasant and especially favorable to outdoor pursuits. 

 Owing to the prevalence of dry weather there was much 

 haze, smoke and dust in the atmosphere, giving conditions 

 usually descriptive of the period commonly known by the 

 name of Indian summer. 



Crops of the Year. 



The spring opened later than usual. The cold nights of 

 May held vegetation in check and the dry weather had been 

 most unfavorable for the germination of seeds. Mowings 

 were suffering for want of rain, and feed in pastures was 

 thin and backward. Fall seeding winter-killed more or 

 less. The fruit bloom was much below the normal, and 

 many peach trees were reported killed by the severe winter. 

 Very little damage from insects was reported. Spraying is 

 increasing, but not rapidly. A considerable proportion of 

 the farm help may now be classed as good. Wages average 

 about $18 per month with board, and about $1.25 per day 

 without. No marked changes were reported in the acreage 

 of farm crops. 



