HISTORY OF THE THIRD YEAR’S WORK. Del 
cattle. During June the rainfall was only 0.30 inch and the tempera- 
ture was at times extremely trying, ranging from as low as 63° to as 
high as 105°, but nothing suffered very materially. During July and 
August the rainfall averaged about normal, being, respectively, 2.59 and 
2.11 inches, while the temperature ranged from 65° to 96° during the 
former and from 64° to 100° during the latter month. In September 
the precipitation was much above normal, and was 9.6 inches during 
October. Throughout these two months the temperature continued 
satisfactory for the work in hand. During the next three months 
there was a decided falling off in the rainfall, which was but 0.30 inch 
in December, and but 0.03 in January. ‘This shortage, however, which 
would have resulted in much damage to every kind of vegetable growth 
had it come during the normal hot weather of June, July, and August, 
did not seriously interfere with the grass-garden stuffs nor with the 
pasture grasses. Henceit was that in February, 1900, it was manifest 
that the year’s work had been successful to that date, and promised 
to prove entirely satisfactory for the full twelve months, and so it 
turned out. 
The weather during February: was good, the rainfall being 1.44 
inches, and the temperature averaging 43°, there being but a few days 
in which there was any freezing weather. In March the precipita- 
tion was 0.72 inch, and the temperature all that could reasonably be 
desired, its range being from 23° to 88°, the mean being 56°—strictly 
normal. The precipitation during the twelve months was 31.31 
inches—something above the normal. 
In view of these facts only good results were to have been expected, 
and this expectation was realized, as will be shown. 
In this connection it may be well to state that the above details as 
to the weather during the twelve months are here given for the rea- 
sons (1) that those interested in farming and stock raising in central 
Texas may be advised as to what are normal weather conditions in the 
section; (2) that their special attention may be called to a general fact, 
namely, that two comparatively unfavorable seasons are very likely 
to be followed by one at least that is specially favorable; (3) that 
although the section has been in the past, and in the future is likely 
to be, afflicted periodically with droughts, extending over considerable 
periods of time, it is not impracticable during such periods to work 
out good results on the lines attempted on the grass and forage plant 
station near Abilene, Tex. Taking an average period of three years, 
it is practically certain that excellent results can be depended on if 
correct methods, based on correct ideas, are pursued. The farmer 
and stockman who is prepared to give up his experimental work 
because of a few or several failures, during unfavorable seasons, had 
better not go into experimental work at all, as he is certain to expe- 
rience them. He who is prepared, on the other hand, to expect such 
