42 DRY-FARMING 



Snowfall 



Closely related to the distribution of the rainfall 

 and the average annual temperature is the snowfall. 

 Wherever a relatively large winter precipitation 

 occurs, the dry-farmer is benefited if it comes in the 

 form of snow. The fall-planted seeds are better 

 protected by the snow ; the evaporation is lower and 

 it appears that the soil is improved by the annual 

 covering of snow. In any case, the methods of 

 culture are in a measure dependent upon the amount 

 of snowfall and the length of time that it lies upon 

 the ground. 



Snow falls over most of the dry-farm territory, 

 excepting the lowlands of California, the immediate 

 Pacific coast, and other districts where the average 

 annual temperature is high. The heaviest snowfall 

 is in the intermountain district, from the west slope 

 of the Sierra Nevadas to the east slope of the Rockies. 

 The degree of snowfall on the agricultural lands is 

 very variable and dependent upon local conditions. 

 Snow falls upon all the high mountain ranges. 



Temperature 



With the exceptions of portions of California, 

 Arizona, and Texas the average annual surface 

 temperature of the dry-farm territory of the United 

 States ranges from 40° to 55° F. The average is 



