THE WATER NECESSARY FOR A CROP 



19 



bushel of wheat, v/ith the corresponding quantity of 

 straw, would require 2 times 45,000, or 90,000 

 pounds of water. This is equal to 45 tons of water 

 for each bushel of wheat. While this is a large fig- 

 ure, yet, in many localities, it is undoubtedly well 

 within the truth. In comparison with the amounts 



Fig. 8. The famous Palouse wheat ser-tion is a succession of low rolhng 

 hills. Idaho. 



of water that fall upon the land as rain, it does not 

 seem extraordinarily large. 



One inch of water over one acre of land weighs 

 approximately 226,875 pounds, or over 113 tons. 

 If this quantity of water could be stored in the soil 

 and used wholly for plant production, it would pro- 

 duce, at the rate of 45 tons of water for each bushel, 

 about 2i bushels of wheat. With 10 inches of rain- 



