8 



FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1916. 



The average date of the latest killing frost in the spring is May 16, 

 and of the first in the fall, September 21, giving a normal growing 

 season of 128 days. However, frosts frequently occur as late as June 

 and as early as .August. The earliest recorded date of killing frost 

 in the fall is August 25, and the latest in the spring, June 5. The 

 grazing season lasts ordinarily from the middle of May to the 1st 

 of November, while some of the grasses cure into hay in a state of 

 nature and furnish some sustenance for stock throughout the winter. 



Winds of high velocity are common both in the winter and summer. 



The climate in this region is the principal controlling factor in 

 agricultural development. It restricts in various ways the variety of 

 crops grown and has a decided influence on the methods of farming. 

 On account of the small amount of rainfall and its distribution, and 

 the severity of the winters, only drought-resisting and hardy varieties 

 of crops can be grown profitably on the dry land. The growing sea- 

 son is short, and both corn and oats frequently fail to mature grain. 

 Nearly all tree fruits are very uncertain in yield. 



The following table is compiled from records of the Weather Bureau 

 station at Kimball : 



Normal monthly, seasonal, and annual temperature and precipitation at Kimhall. 



