Distributive Relationships of the Agricultural Pattern 116 
was far enough advanced, before the hot, dry weather began, to assure 
fairly satisfactory yields, although the quality was affected by shriveling. 
Corn fired badly and, adversely affected again in July and August 
by a marked deficiency in precipitation, was an almost complete failure. 
The graph (Fig. 20) does not show the degree of deficiency that existed 
in July because it includes a downpour of 3.72 inches that was confined 
chiefly to the east-central part of the city of St. Louis. The drought, 
beginning in June, in reality did not end until the fourth week in Sep- 
tember (Fig. 20). The mean temperature for each month from Feb- 
ruary to September inclusive, excepting April, was above normal, which 
accentuated the effects of the drought. The fall rains, attended by 
mild temperatures, revived pastures but came too late to be of much 
benefit to field crops. The severe damage to crops was not due chiefly 
to a deficiency in precipitation for the year as a whole but to an un- 
fortunate distribution during the year. 
The last killing frost in the spring of 1934 occurred March 20th; 
the first killing frost in autumn occurred November 2d.1. The time 
span of 219 days was ten days longer than the average length of the 
growing season. March, April, and May had rather mild temperatures 
but a marked deficiency of precipitation (Figs. 22 and 23). The wheat 
Crop, as during the preceding year, came through in fair condition and 
Provided the sole money crop for many farmers. The clay soils, too 
wet the preceding year, were too dry for the proper preparation of 
seed beds. For the first seven months of the year the total amount 
of precipitation for each month was below normal (Fig. 22). When 
the drought was ended by generous rainfall in August, the deficiency 
in precipitation for the year had reached 10.5 inches. The rains came 
too late to render much benefit to the field crops. Only eight years 
in the preceding ninety-eight had less precipitation than 1934. The 
effects of the drought were accentuated by the high temperatures and 
low relative humidity which generally prevailed. June, July, and the 
first half of August set a new record for a hot season. During the hottest 
day, July 24, when a maximum temperature of 110° was reached, the 
relative humidity at 1 P. M. was only thirteen per cent. 
Deficiencies in precipitation have resulted in the disappearance of 
Some swamps and shallow lakes. Farmers hold different opinions as to 
ss a ee 
W *Roscoe Nunn, Annual Meteorological Summary for St. Louis, Missouri (St. Louis: - 
eather Bureau, 1935), p. 2: 
