620 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 43 



which are unable to absorb water approximately as rapidly as it Is transpired. 

 Some crop is ruined in some parts of the State nearly every year by a hot 

 wind at a critical time." Northwest winds prevail during the colder six months 

 and southeast winds during the warmer six months. As a rule the winds are 

 of moderate velocity, the average being about 10 miles an hour and very per- 

 sistent. On this account they "favor the u.se of windmills, which have become 

 very numerous except where artesian flows may be obtained readily." 



Climate [of Saskatchewan], F. H. Kitto (In The Province of Saskatchevan, 

 Canada: Its Development and Opportunities. Canada: Dept. Int., Nat. Re- 

 sources Intel. Branch, 1919, pp. 56, 58-62). — The characteristic features of the 

 climate of this region are briefly described, and detailed data for temperature, 

 precipitation, hail, and frost in 1916 are given in tables. 



It is stated in general that the climate is characterized by clear, dry, very 

 cold winters, and summers of high day temperatures and an abundance of sun- 

 shine. " A very noticeable feature of the climate is the rapidity with which 

 winter gives way to spring or even summer weather. A sudden rising of the 

 temperature, with bright sun and soft breezes, and in an incredibly short 

 time the light mantle of snow has disappeared. Without waiting for the frost 

 *to come out of the ground' the waters from the melted snow disappear, the 

 ground surface dries up as fast as it thaws out, and in a few days the dust is 

 flying again. Seeding operations soon follow, and the transition has talien 

 place usually without the proverbial ' March winds and April showers' and 

 all their discomforts. 



" As a rule the snow disappears during March or very early in April. Seeding 

 operations usually commence about the first week of April. During the past 

 ten years the average date of the commencement of seeding operations was 

 April 8. and the average date at which seeding operations were general was 

 April 18. 



" Harvest begins early in August and is usually well under way by the middle 

 of that month. Early frosts and fall weather may be looked for in September. 

 The most pleasant months of the year, however, are usually September and 

 October. Wintry weather is due any time after the flr.st of November, though 

 open falls till the first of December are not uncommon. Thus, it will be seen 

 that the summers on the prairie are unusually long, and the winters, though 

 cold, are shorter and brighter than those of eastern districts with more mod- 

 erate temperatures." 



Climates of the British Empire suitable for the cultivation of cotton, 

 C. E. P. Bkooks (Met. Mag. [London], 55 (1020), No. 651, pp. 37-39; abs. in 

 Nature [London], 105 (1920), No. 26.3J, p. 338).— The temperature and rainfall 

 of parts of the British Empire considered adapted to the cultivation of cotton 

 are briefly discussed and compared with similar data for the cotton-growing 

 region of the United States. 



It is stated that the essential features of a cotton-growing climate are as fol- 

 lows: " (l)The mean annual temperature should not be below 60° F. (2) The 

 mean temperature of the warmest month should exceed 80° or the mean of the 

 three warmest months should exceed 77° to get the best results; this condition, 

 however, is not so important as the first. (3) The interval between killing 

 frosts (or droughts) should be at least 200 days. (4) The annual rainfall 

 should not exceed about 60 in. for good crops, though cotton of a poorer quality 

 can be grown in much wetter climates. Unless irrigation is possible the annual 

 fall should not be less than 23 in. (5) There must be plenty of bright sunshine. 

 A dull and humid atmosphere is particularly unfavorable to the cotton plant. 



