60 FARMING ON FACTORY LINES 



Counties of England, where the average annual rain- 

 fall for the thirty-five years from 1876 — 1910 has 

 varied from 20 to 25 inches, whereas in other parts 

 of these counties, during the same period, the 

 average annual rainfall has been: — 



England generally .. .. .. 33-4 inches. 



England, excluding the Eastern Counties 36 „ 



Ireland . . . . . . 40 „ 



Scotland . . . . . . 45 „ 



Wales .. .. .. .. .. 46-9 „ 



These figures alone should furnish sufficient 

 evidence that a system of tillage suitable for the 

 English Eastern Counties is not suitable for general 

 application, at least on anything approaching an 

 extended scale. 



There are also other climatic conditions to be 

 considered. Generally speaking, at least 80% of the 

 tillage operations under a corn and root-growing 

 regime are confined to a brief period during the 

 months of February, March, and April. In the 

 Eastern Counties, or what may be described as the 

 Norfolk area, the rainfall during these three months 

 during the thirty-five years' period already men- 

 tioned has been: — 



February . . 



March 



April 



Total 

 Average per month 



Compare the rainfall in the spring months in the 

 Norfolk area with that obtaining, say, in Ireland, in 

 which country the system of Continuous Cropping has 

 been evolved. 



