498 



FARM MANAGEMENT 



305. Rainfall. On about two-fifths of the land in the 

 United States, the rainfall is the limiting factor in crop 

 production. Farming is dependent on irrigation or dry- 

 farming methods. Very much of this area can never be 

 profitably farmed. Considerable of the land that has 

 IAJCHL5 



FIG. 110. Rainfall at North Platte, Nebraska, for 36 years, from rec- 

 ords of the United States Weather Bureau. 



no value except as range land is sold to settlers, or is held 

 as a speculation in the hope of selling it. 



In nearly all parts of the United States, the loss from 

 periods of drought is very serious, even though the total 

 rainfall of the year may be large enough if it were properly 

 distributed. One should make a careful study of the rain- 

 fall before he invests in farm land. 



The rainfall of a single year, or of a few years, is not 

 sufficient information. The variations in rainfall from 

 year to year are very great. 



