The average condition of rye on May 1 was 88.1, com- 

 pared with 87.2 on April 1, 90.3 on May 1, 1908, and 89.1, 

 the average for the past ten years on May 1. 



The average condition of meadow (hay) lands on May 1 

 was 84.5, compared with 83.5 on May 1, 1908, and a ten- 

 year average on May 1 of 89.5. 



The average condition of pastures on May 1 was 80.1, 

 compared with 92.6 on May 1, 1908, and a ten-year average 

 on May 1 of 88. 



Of spring plowing, 64.1 per cent was completed up to 

 May 1, compared with 66.6 per cent on May 1, 1908, and a 

 ten-year average on May 1 of 65.4 per cent. 



Of spring planting, 51.9 per cent was completed up to 

 May 1, compared with 54.7 per cent and 47 per cent on 

 May 1, 1908 and 1907, respectively. 



In Massachusetts the average condition of winter rye was 

 given as 92 ; the average condition of meadows for mowing 

 as 92 ; the average condition of spring pasture as 91 ; the 

 percentage of spring plowing done as 30 ; and the proportion 

 of spring planting done as 14. 



Weather Summary, Jan. 1 to May 1, 1909. 



[Furnished by Weather Bureau, Boston.] 



January: The weather of the month was warmer than 

 usual, the monthly mean temperatures ranging from 2° to 

 4° above the normal. The maximum temperatures ranged 

 from 52° to 65°, and occurred generally on the 6th. The 

 minimum temperatures ranged from 20° above to 14° below 

 zero, and were generally on the 19th. The rainfall was in 

 excess of the average, with a large proportion of the precipita- 

 tion in some sections in the form of rain. The total snowfall 

 of the month ranged from 3 to 18 inches. The month as a 

 whole was mild. 



February: Generally speaking, the weather conditions 

 were a continuation of those of January, the temperatures 

 for the month being in excess for all sections, the departures 

 ranging* from 2° to 6° above the February normals. There 

 were no marked extremes in the maximum temperatures, 



