188 



DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



definite scheme for different kinds of soils, to vary the different kinds 

 of soils, so that each kind will be successful. 



So much is definite; and beginnings of more or less importance have 

 been made under each head. Here are two possibilities of the future: 

 The soil bacteriologist may learn to diagnose a soil sample and from 

 his examination and laboratory tests determine whether a given crop 

 would succeed or fail, or he may learn from his laboratory examination 

 how a soil must be handled to keep it at its maximum point of crop pro- 

 duction, not only for a few years but indefinitely. 



As you have probably noted, I have discussed soil bacteriology as 

 if it were the only essential for understanding and controlling crop pro- 

 duction. I have purposely neglected such sciences as plant breeding, 

 chemistry, and physics because all of you know that they are necessities 

 to progressive agriculture. Soil bacteriology, on the other hand, is a 

 new science in this country and my aim has been merely to show you 

 something of its importance. I thank you for your attention. (Applause.) 



CHAIRMAN BURRELL: I think the dry farmers will now under- 

 stand why we should not eat dirt. (Laughter.) 



Dr. Hyatt, Director of the United States Weather Bureau of this 

 cit}'', has prepared a paper which will go into the record, without excep- 

 tion. 



PRECIPITATION DATA FOR WESTERN STATES. 



(R. J. Hyatt, Section Director United States Weather Bureau.) 

 Salt Lake City, Utah.) 



]\Ir. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: The subject assigned to me 

 calls for statistics of the precipitation in the Western states, and though 

 it may appear rather dry data to many of the audience, it is a matter of 

 considerable importance to the farmers located in the states engaged in 

 dry farming, emigrants and other interested parties, to know something 

 about the normal annual precipitation of each state. I have, therefore, 

 collected the precipitation data for 16 of the Western states in which 

 arid or dry farming is practised to a great extent. These data I will be 

 unable to give in detail in the limited time allowed me this evening. I 

 would be pleased, however, to have any of the members of the Dry Farm- 

 ing Congress or others interested in the matter, call at the local office 

 of the United States Weather Bureau of the Department of Agriculture, 

 in this city on the sixth floor of the Dooly block, for any further informa- 

 tion desired on the subject. I will endeavor to state briefly the normal 

 annual amounts of precipitation, and the highest and lowest average 

 amounts at any station in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, 

 Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, North Da- 

 kota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. 



The state of Washington in the Climatological Section Report of the 

 United States Weather Bureau is divided into Western and Eastern divi- 

 sions. The average normal annual precipitation for the entire state is 

 39.23 inches. The average annual precipitation for the western portion 



