PROGRESS OF FRUIT CULTURE IN KEARNEY COUNTY. 191 



the year of almost total failure of all kinds of crops. Soil, cli- 

 matic conditions, and a sufficient amount of rain-fall, are the 

 principal request which enter into successful production of all 

 agricultural and horticultural products in all places. 



These are natural requisites which vary to a considerable ex- 

 tent in different sections of the county, and can be modified only 

 to a limited extent by anything which man can do. The soil, or 

 the elements of which it is composed, when exhausted by ex- 

 cessive production, may to a limited extent be renewed from 

 time to time. 



We believe the soil on the great divide from the Missouri 

 river to the western part of the state, between the Platte and 

 the Republican river, is more uniform in quality than in most 

 other states in the union. 



As to climate we think, comparing the extreme eastern 

 counties of the state, where successful orcharding has so many 

 years been carried on, to the central and western districts, 

 there can be but little difference. 



As to the amount of rain-fall necessary to produce crops of 

 all kinds, as well as to the successful growing of trees and 

 plants, the amount varies to some extent from year to year. In 

 Kearney county since the year 1890, the greatest rain-fall was 

 in 1891, amounting to 44 89/100 inches. The smallest amount 

 falling in 1894, being 16 43 / 100 inches. "This was the year of 

 almost a total failure. The average yearly rain-faU since 1890, 

 being 29 60/ 100 inches. The decade previous to this the aver- 

 age was 35 48/ 100 inches. 



We find by comparison with the eastern and north-eastern 

 counties of the state, that these averages were but little below 

 the average there, while it was somewhat greater than the 

 record shows in some of the south-eastern counties. 



We mention these facts and figures to show that while Kear- 

 ney county and the central and western section of our state is 

 not so much behind other parts of the state in these natural 

 conditions, but comparing the eastern portion of the state with 

 the western in the matter of fruit production, we must have to 

 submit to be relegated to the rear. 



We must then look for other reasons than those above men- 



