THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



17.1. 



the region which received from 10.00 to 15.00 inches annually, such area 

 being represented on the map by the light shading. Thus you can see 

 that a large portion of this state receives an average annual rainfall 

 sufficient, so we are told by the dry farming experts, for the successful 

 growth of certain crops where proper methods of cultivation are followed. 



Precipitation Distribution. 



"From the large number of monthly records which have been com- 

 piled at the Cheyenne office, covering a period of seventeen years, I have 

 computed the average monthly precipitation for each month of the year, 

 and have shown the amounts graphically on the accompanying chart (Page 

 171). From it, you will noitice that the monthly amounts of precipitation 

 increase from January to Miay, wMch has the highest average of any month 

 of the year ; a gradual decrease in the monthly amounts is noted from May 

 to November which shows the lowest average for the year. From the 

 chart, you can readily see that in this section of the semi-arid region the 

 rain falls during that time of the year when it is most needed for the 

 crops, that is, about 70 per cent, of the total annual amount falls during 

 the six months, March to August, inclusive. There is some variation in 



MONTHLY PRECIPITATION FOR WYOMING. 



Jan. Feb. Miar. Apr. M,ay June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

 0.72 0.77 1.44 1.59 2.25 1.66 1.18 0.98 0.91 0.85 0.59 0.74 



the average amounts for the different seasons for the different sections 

 of the state. I give below the percentage of the total annual averages 

 which falls during the six months period, Miarch to August, inclusive, for 

 a number of selected stations : 



"Cheyenne, percentage, 75; Buffalo, 75; Ft. Laramie, 73; Laramie, 

 72; Sheridan, 68; Lander, 66; Bedford, 55; Evanston, 54; Yellowstone 

 National Park, 50. 



"From this, it can be seen that a much greater portion of the average 

 annual precipitation falls during the six months period, March to August, 



