500 FARM MANAGEMENT 



was worth, because land was selling on the basis of a rain- 

 fall above normal. Those who bought land in the late 

 nineties got it very cheap, because it was selling on a rain- 

 fall below normal. 



Figure 111 shows the rainfall for Dodge City, Kansas, for 

 45 years. During this time, there were 9 years when the 

 rainfall exceeded 25 inches. This is enough for good crops 

 when properly distributed. In 9 more years, the rainfall 

 was between 20 and 25 inches. In some of these years, 

 fairly good crops were secured. In 27 years, the rainfall 

 was less than 20 inches. With the very high evaporation, 

 this amount of rain is usually not sufficient to produce a 

 good crop. One who farms in this region should expect an 

 average of about one small crop, one good crop, and two 

 crop failures every four years. When two or three wet 

 years come in succession, land values usually rise too high. 

 When dry years come in succession, they are likely to drop 

 too low. Farming under such uncertainties is a very try- 

 ing business. One never knows when he may be called 

 upon to live and pay his expenses for several years with no 

 crops. 



The distribution of the rainfall is almost as important 

 as the amount of it. Figures 112, 113, and 114 show three 

 general types of rainfall : the summer rainfall of the Great 

 Plains, the winter and spring rainfall of the inter mountain 

 district, and the winter rainfall of the Pacific Coast. 



The frequency of torrential rains, the surface run-off, 

 and the loss of water through evaporation should also 

 be considered. 



306. Evaporation is almost as important as rainfall. 

 The evaporation from a free water surface at Williston, 

 North Dakota, is 30 inches during the six months of April 

 to September, while at Garden City, Kansas, it is 60 



