REMARKS 



The weather for Jtil} was a Httle warmer than normal. The 

 high of 9-1 degrees recorded on the l"?th is but 0.1 degree above the 

 normal maximum, the lowest temperature recorded for the month 

 was '52 degTees the morning of the ^oth. while the mean temper- 

 ature for the month became 72.3 against a normal of TO. 8 degrees. 

 It will be noted that this increase in mean temperature was accom- 

 panied by an above-normal hours of sunshine and a below-normal 

 mean relative humidit}-. The result was pleasant weather most 

 of the days of the month. 



Rainfall of 2. ".>•") inches compares favorably with 2. To for July 

 of last year but is 1.1. 5 inches below normal for the month. Total 

 precipitation for the calendar year now stands at 2o.;32 against a 

 normal of 2o.;)(i. with a drouth condition ready to assert itself on 

 most of the lighter soils. 



A\'. H. Thies, Extension Professor of Horticulture, contributes 

 the following: "With less than three inches of rainfall and rela- 

 tively hot weather in Amherst during July, conditions have been 

 favorable for a build-up of certain orchard pests, including Eu- 

 ropean red mite. 'Bronzing of foliage is becoming more apparent 

 here and there, and 50 or more mites per leaf have been counted. 

 There has been little if any spread of apple scab on the friut. how- 

 ever, since we have had no lengthy rainy period during the month. 



"The hay harvest in Massachusetts got off to an early start 

 and has apparently been completed somewhat earlier than usual. 

 Hay was, in general, heavy and of good quality. Corn and pota- 

 toes have made excellent growth during the month although some 

 fields show the effects of earlier leaching of essential elements 

 from the soil. Lawns are in fairly good condition, except on lighter 

 soils where drought symptoms are showing. x\nd, as is usual at 

 this season, some gardeners are worried about the rapid growth 

 of weeds forgetting, perhaps, that garden crops and weeds are 

 subject to exactly the same soil and weather conditions." 



