84 TOM’S EXPERIENCE 
THE DROUTH. 
“ Aud they tell stories about the drouth out there,” 
continued he, ‘“‘ and say that the summers are too dry: 
for successful farming.” 
“ Again I will come right down to my own exper- 
ience,’ I answered. ‘‘ The annual rainfall is not so 
heavy as it is here in [llinois, and in Indiana and 
Ohio. The official reports settle that. But they also 
settle another thing, and that is this: that our heay- 
iest rainfall comes in May, June and July—just at 
the very time the growing crops most need it. Here 
in Tllinois you have a good deal of rain in winter, and 
your heaviest rains are in the early spring months, 
when it can’t do the crops any good. One year, since 
I have been in Dakota, the summer was too dry for 
first-rate crops, but there was nothing near a failure 
of crops on account of the drouth. In fact we raised 
what would be called in most of the States fair aver- 
age crops. In some of the States you have heard of 
complete failures from drouth, not one alone but a 
good many of them. But you have never, truthfully, 
heard of such a failure in Dakota. 
‘“‘Now, Rob, I am not saying this to induce you to 
go to Dakota, for I don’t want you to go. You know 
I'd like to have you for a neighbor, but you own a 
splendid farm and are doing well enough here, and 
had better stay. But you wanted information about 
Dakota, and I’m telling you the truth about it.” 
“And do you really like the climate there ?” he 
asked. 
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