108 



THIRD 1:nNUAL sessions 



Precipitation Uncertain. 



"North Platte is between the humid and the arid country. It seems 

 a waste of labor to follow extreme dry land methods, and farming as 

 under humid conditions invites certain failure. We are betwixt and be- 

 tween. One year is wet, another dry. In 1883 the precipitation for the 

 year was 29.99 ir^^ches; in 1894, 11.21. The average annual precipitation 

 is but little more than the difference between these, or 18.86 inches. This 

 would seem an abundance to the farmer, in a part of Wyoming, where 

 the average is 12 inches, but we should remember that the mere fact 



Climatic Differences. 



that two localities differ in the amount of precipitation, indicates that 

 they also differ in other climatic features. These conditions may be 

 favorable to the one or the other. And we should remember also where 

 more is given, more is rquired. However favorable or unfavorable the 



Many Failures. 



climate may be, few parts of the country have recorded a higher per 

 centage of failures among the early settlers, than western Nebraska. 



Precipitation. 



"Beginning in 1893, there were nine years in succession with the 

 rainfall below normal. Every one knew we were in a dry climate, by 1902, 

 and was ready to follow dry farming methods or expend money for irri- 

 gation. Beginning with 1908, we have had fives years with more than a 

 normal amount of rainfall. This has led many to believe that western 

 Nebraska has become a humid clim_ate, though 125 miles southeast of 

 North Platte there has been crop failures during 1907 and 1908. 



"From a study of the climatic records, as well as 20 years experience 

 in western Nebraska, we do not think that the climate has made any 

 permanent cliange, as regards rainfall, wind, cold or heat. We believe 

 that it is safer for the new-comer to consider that the changes which 

 he wishes to see will be brought about because of his activities, rather 

 than because of a change in the climate. 



Farm Operation Lessens Epavoration. 



"Anything that tends to retain more moisture in the country, will 

 have a tendency to make the temperature more uniform and the winds 

 more moist. The stopping of prairie fires and the tilling of the soil will 

 assist in getting more of the precipitation into the soil. The erection of 

 buildings and the growing of trees will check the sweep of the winds and 

 thereby lessen evaporation. These things alone will give us the use of a 

 larger percentage of the water that falls, and this produces the same 

 effect as an increase in the amount of the precipitation. 



Alfalfa. 



"The proper varieties and kinds of crop will greatly increase pro- 

 duction. The alfalfa plant, but little known in the United States twenty 

 years ago, adds millions of dollars to the value of the west each year 



