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In a limited discussion of so large a subject it may be best at 

 the outset to state briefly the reasons why irrigation is important 

 to the New England farmer and then to enlarge upon the different 

 points in their order. These reasons are as follows: (1) The 

 uneven distribution of the rainfall and the occurrence of frequent, 

 severe droughts during the growing season ; (2) the large amount 

 of water used by all crops, and especially by most crops of high 

 market value ; (3) the large amount of water lost to the plant by 

 leaching and by evaporation from the soil ; (4) the high value per 

 acre of many of the crops best adapted to New England ; (5) the 

 high price of lands and the changed conditions of agriculture ; 

 (6) the many small streams and ponds by means of which irriga- 

 tion may be made practicable at small expense. 



Probably the first reason why farmers do not as a rule appreci- 

 ate that irrigation has any place in New England agriculture is 

 on account of our heavy rainfall. The average yearly rainfall 

 (including melted snow) for Massachusetts is about 45 inches. 

 This amount of water is ample for the needs of nearly all crops 

 when it is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. But the 

 precipitation is very unevenly distributed ; much of it falls as snow 

 in winter or as rain during the spring and fall months. Short, 

 severe, summer droughts are a characteristic of this climate. A 

 high temperature, accompanied by drying winds, will, in a week's 

 time, frequently cause our crops to wilt, and in less than three 

 weeks the crop prospects may be nearly ruined as a result of the 

 absence of the water needed to keep up a vigorous growth. 



In order to make a good growth most crops need, during the 

 three summer months, a rainfall of from 3 to 4 inches, and this 

 needs to be fairly evenly distributed throughout these months. 

 During the past thirteen years the Storrs Experiment Station has 

 had rainfall records taken in about a dozen different places in 

 Connecticut, and these, with others made under the direction of 

 the New England Meteorological Society, show pretty accurately 

 the average amount of rainfall for the summer months. 



Rainfall in Connecticut during the Summer Months, 1888-1900. 



* Omitted in averaging. 



