22 



Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



FIGURES AVERAGE; NOT ARBITRARY. 



There is an apparent contradiction in the yields as compared with the 

 number of cuttings. For instance, take those counties having three and 

 one-half cuttings. This means that during about half the time three 

 cuttings are had and during the rest of the time four cuttings, making 

 an average of three and one-half cuttings. Of course a man can not 

 really have three and one-half cuttings. He must have either three cut- 

 tings or four cuttings; and in showing averages there are bound to be 

 figures that seem not to "jibe." Therefore, in Table No. 1, page 19, in 

 the case of those counties shown as having four and one-half cuttings, 

 the estimated yield of the "one-half" is expressed in the column of yields 

 labeled "Fifth cutting," and in the case of three and one-half cuttings 

 the "one-half" is in a similar manner shown under the head labeled 

 "Fourth cutting." These irregularities are unavoidable and are caused 

 solely by the difficulty in showing averages for the state or portions of 

 the state. 



CLIMATE AND LOCATION. 



An accompanying outline map (Fig 10) shows the approximate num- 

 ber of cuttings of alfalfa as applied to the different parts of the state. 

 This map is very striking when compared with maps having reference 

 to the climate. Particularly is this true in regard to the map (Fig. 5) 

 showing the average annual precipitation (rainfall, snow, etc.). It is 

 surprising indeed to learn that the precipitation in three of the south- 

 eastern counties averages from 40 to more than 44 inches, while in 

 Hamilton county, at the extreme western end of the state, it averages 

 barely more than 15 inches, or practically one-third as much as it does 

 in Cherokee county, with her 44.11 inches. In fact, the amount of pre- 

 cipitation gradually and rapidly diminishes from the eastern to the 

 western line of the state, in a manner noticeably similar to the gradua- 

 tion of average yields. 



TABLE No. 2. Precipitation in Kansas. (U. S. Weather Bureau.) 



The above-shown variations have a very great effect on the number 

 of cuttings and the yield of alfalfa. 



