4 



bushels, or 13.9 per cent less tban in 1911, 14.6 per cent less 

 than in 1910, and 11.3 per cent less than in 1909. The out- 

 turn of the crop will probably be above or below the figures 

 given above, according as the change in conditions from 

 May 1 to harvest is above or below the average change. 



The average condition of rye on May 1 was 87.5, compared 

 with 87.9 on April 1, 90 on May 1, 1911, and 89.2, the aver- 

 age for the past ten years on May 1. 



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

 was 85.7, compared with 84.7 on May 1, 1911, and a ten-year 

 average on May 1 of 88.6. Stocks of hay on farms May 1 

 are estimated as 3,888,000 tons (8.2 per cent of crop), against 

 7,546,000 tons (12.4 per cent) on May 1, 1911. 



The average condition of pastures on May 1 was 81.7, 

 compared with 81.3 on May 1, 1911, and a ten-year average 

 on May 1 of 86.4. 



Of spring plowing, 52.8 per cent was completed up to 

 May 1, compared with 71 per cent on May 1, 1911, and a 

 ten-year average on May 1 of 67.6. 



Of spring planting, 48.9 per cent was completed up to 

 May 1, compared with 60 per cent on May 1, 1911, and a 

 six-year average on May 1 of 55.2. 



Weather Summary, Jan. 1 to May 1, 1912. 



[Furnished by Weather Bureau, Boston.] 



January: The month was unusually cold, with precipita- 

 tion generally below the normal. The monthly mean tempera- 

 ture in the several sections of the State ranged from 5° to 8° 

 below the normal for the month. The unusually low mean 

 was, however, due to uniformly cold weather throughout the 

 month, rather than to any extremely low range of the mer- 

 cury. There was somewhat more than the average amount of 

 snowfall in nearly all sections, but on account of the low tem- 

 peratures prevailing during the snowstorms the water equiva-. 

 lent was small, which accounts for the monthly jDrecipitation 

 being below the normal. The ground was covered with snow 

 throughout the month, the amounts at the close ranging from 

 4 to 12 inches. 



