THE BARITE DEPOSITS OF MISSOURI 13 



CLIMATE 



The climate of the Ozark region is not very different from 

 that of most of Missouri. The average annual rainfall is 43.66 

 inches. The rainfall shows considerable variation from year to 

 year, and severe droughts are known. The average snowfall is 

 about 18 inches. The mean annual temperature is 65 degrees, 

 but a fraction of a degree higher than the average for the state. 

 The daily range is usually great, being occasionally about SO de- 

 grees. This wide range of temperatures would be very effective 

 in weathering were it not for the protection afforded by the deep 

 mantle rock. The fact that the chert thruout the area is reduced 

 to small fragments is due to these temperature effects. 



VEGETATION 



The region is covered by a heavy forest growth, which in- 

 cludes the following kinds of trees : red pine, cedar, juniper, post 

 oak, white oak, sycamore, cottonwood, maple, willow, hackberry, 

 sassafras, persimmon, pawpaw and many others. In addition to 

 the trees there are many small shrubs and vines, among them the 

 blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, dewberry, and others produc- 

 ing edible fruits. Grass is fairly abundant, especially on the open 

 glades. The farmer allows his stock to run in the open woods, 

 and they are usually in good condition. Most of the bottoms 

 are under cultivation and much hay is raised in addition to 

 wheat, oats, corn, cane, and some tobacco. 



CULTURE 



Inhabitants. — The area covered by this report was settled 

 very early. The first settlers were the French, who came there 

 about 1725, following the discovery of lead in the region of Old 

 Mines, six miles north of Potosi, and at Mine Renault, eight 

 miles northwest of Potosi. The Spanish followed in 1769, but 

 few of them remained after the purchase of Louisiana by the 

 United States in 1803. About the year 1800 settlers from the 

 eastern part of the United States came to the region, and in large 

 part their descendants still live there. About Old Mines the 

 greater part of the population still speaks French, tho English 

 is spoken there also. 



