A FIVE-YEAR FARM MANAGEMENT SURVEY IN OHIO. 9 



taries, where the hills rise rather abruptly to an altitude of 300 to 500 

 feet above the streams. As a rule the slopes are very steep and more 

 or less benchy, while the crests of the ridges are narrow, sharp, and 

 irregular. Back from the main streams (Palmer Township is so sit- 

 uated) the streams of a minor character have not cut so deeply, and 

 the hill slopes, as a whole, are less steep, the crests of the ridges more 

 rounded, and the altitude above the valleys is not so great. Through- 

 out practically all of the hilly section the surface features are so 

 uneven that the ridge-crest roads are not free from heavy grades- 

 (Seefig. 3.) 



The elevation of Palmer Township varies from 680 to 955 feet 

 above sea level.^ Most parts are very steep and broken, but there are 

 several small areas with surfaces slightly rolling. Large unbroken 

 fields, however, are seldom found. 



The region is one of cool winters, the average winter temperature 

 being about freezing. The summers are moderately hot, with an 

 average temperature just above 70°. The rainfall is about 40 inches 

 a year. March usually has the largest number of rainy days, the 

 average being 12, and September the smallest number, with an aver- 

 age of 7. 



The diagrams in figure 4 show graphically the monthly rainfall 

 and the growing season, from the last killing frost in the spring to the 

 first killing frost in the fall, for each of the years included in the 

 survey; also the average rainfall during the last 24 years and the 

 growing season during the last 13 years,^ 



TYPE OF FAEMING. 



The farmers of this section practice a general or mixed type of 

 farming, which doubtless has been partly determined by the topog- 

 raphy, the character of the soil, and the marketing facilities. 

 About one-half of the land is used as pasturage for beef cattle and 

 fine-wooled sheep, and one- fourth in growing feed crops for the live 

 stock kept on these farms. The type here followed is practically the 

 same as that found throughout the hill section. 



Of the crops grown, corn, wheat, and hay are considered the major 

 crops, while oats and soy beans are frequently grown as minor crops. 

 More of each of these crops is used on the farms for feed, seed, or 

 household purposes than is sold. Of the total production, one-third 

 of the wheat is sold, one-sixth of the hay, one-tenth of the oats, and 



1 Topographical map of the State of Ohio, TJ. S. Geological Survey. 



2 The data contained in this graph wer ecompiled by Mr. W. G. Reed from the observa- 

 tions of the U. S. Weather Bureau located at Amesville, Athens County, Ohio, a distance 

 of 14 miles, and with weather conditions similar to those in Palmer Township. 



63263°— 18— Bull. 716 2 



