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

 was 93.5, as compared with 83.6 in 1907, and 89.5, the mean 

 of the averages of the past ten years. 



The average condition of pastures on May 1 was 92.6, as 

 compared with 79.6 on May 1, 1907, and 87.8, the mean of 

 the averages of the past ten years. 



Of the total acreage of spring plowing contemplated, 66.6 

 per cent was actually done up to May 1, as compared with 

 71.5 last year, and 65.9, the mean of the averages of the past 

 ten years. 



Of spring planting, 54.7 was comj^leted on ]\[ay 1, as com- 

 pared with 47 on May 1, 1907, and 52.6 on May 1, 1906. 



In Massachusetts the average condition of winter rye Avas 

 given as 93 ; the average condition of meadows for mowing as 

 95 ; the average condition of spring pasture as 92 ; the per- 

 centage of spring plowing done as 30 ; and the proportion of 

 spring planting done as 18. 



• Weather Summaey, Jan. 1 to May 1, 1908. 



[Furnished by Weather Bureau, Boston.] 



Januarv : The weather was warmer than usual, the monthlv 

 temperature ranging from 1° to 5° higher than the average 

 January. The daily temperatures were generally in excess 

 until near the close of the month, zero temperature prevailing 

 on the 30th and 31st. The monthly precipitation was some- 

 what below the average, and the monthly amounts were gen- 

 erally deficient. The snowfall was unevenly distributed 

 through the month and over the State, the monthly amounts 

 ranging from 2 to 12 inches. At the close of the month there 

 was little snow on the ground. 



February : The month was somewhat colder than the aver- 

 age, the monthly temjDeratures ranging from 1° to 5° below 

 the Februarv normal. The first decade was uniformlv cold, 

 with below zero temperatures on the 5th. During the re- 

 mainder of the month there were no extremely low tempera- 

 tures, except on the 25th, when zero Aveather was general. 

 The precipitation was generally above the normal for the 

 month. The snowfall ranged from 5 to 25 inches, and was 



