THE FARMER AND THE WEATHER 17 



to year is determined more by the rainfall than by 

 anything else. A long dry period during the summer 

 will always cause a sharp decrease in corn production. 



Sunshine. A growing plant needs sunshine, and 

 the longer the day and the clearer the sky, the more 

 rapid will be the growth of crops. North of our 

 country the growing season is quite short, but the 

 days are longer, and the longer periods of sunlight 

 cause the crops to ripen earlier than in more southern 

 regions where the days are not so long. Dry, sunny 

 days are of especial value in the harvesting of hay. 

 Corn is a crop which requires much sunshine. In 

 warm countries which are very cloudy, corn does not 

 thrive. 



Effects of winds. - - The wind is of great interest to 

 the farmer. Sometimes crops are damaged by hot, 

 dry winds. Occasionally corn, wheat, and oats are 

 blown down by heavy winds and the crops are damaged. 

 To protect the house and barn from windstorms in 

 the summer and cold winds in the winter, the farmer 

 plants a shelter belt of trees. 



Use of farm buildings. - - The need for a house and 

 other farm buildings is largely due to the weather. 

 The farmer builds a house for shelter from the weather 

 and builds barns for his live stock, and granaries for 

 his grain. In the winter a large part of the food of 

 animals is used as fuel to keep them warm instead of 

 being used to make flesh. It pays to protect animals 

 from the cold, for less food will be used to keep up the 



B. AND D. AC. 2 



