6 BULLETIN 1287, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
NATIVE VEGETATION & 
_ The native vegetation of the locality consists largely of the grama-— 
buffalo-grass association. The principal grasses are blue grama 
(Bouteloua gracilis Lag.; B. oligostachya Torr.), buffalo grass (Bulbilis 
dactyloides (Nutt.) Raf.), and western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithi 
Rydb.; A. occidentale Scribn.). Needle grass (Stepa comata Trin. 
and Rupr.) and wire grass (Aristida longiseta Steud.) are frequently. 
found. In the more sandy sections bunch grass (Andropogon scopa- 
rius Michx.), sand grass (Calamovilfa longifolia (Hook.) Scribn.), big 
bluestem (Andropogon hallia Hack.), and black grama (Bouteloua 
hirsuta Lag.) often occur. Other grasses found in the district are 
June grass (Koeleria cristata (L.) Pers.) and little barley grass (Hor- 
deum nodosum L.). Grama grass and buffalo grass are more common- 
ly observed on the higher unbroken soils of the “‘hard lands.”’ West- 
ern wheatgrass occupies the lower slopes and bottoms, and needle 
grass and wire grass are more often observed on edges of old road- 
ways or trails. In the more sandy sections, or “soft lands,” the 
native vegetation consists mostly of bluestem, bunch grass, black 
erama, and sand grass. On soils of either type the ‘“‘niggerwool,”’ 
bull sod, or blackroot (Carex filifolia Nutt.) is found to some extent 
and causes considerable trouble in sod breaking. 
The more common weeds are sunflower (Helianthus petiolaris 
Nutt.), gumweed or rosinweed (Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal), 
peppergrass (Lepidiwm sp.), yucca or soapweed (Yucca glauca Nutt.), 
wild alfalfa (Psoralea tenuijiora Pursh), white mountain lily (Leu- 
cocrinum montanum Nutt.), and wild garlic (Allaum sp.). Sand sage 
(Artemisia filrfolia Torr.) is common in the sandy soils. ‘Two species 
of the locoweed (Astragalus spp.) are found in the region, and a few 
species of cactus are commonly observed. 
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 
PRECIPITATION 
The precipitation at Akron is similar to that of most of the central 
Great Plains, especially eastern Colorado, western Kansas, and west- 
ern Nebraska. The precipitation decreases to the west, toward the 
foothills of the Rocky Mountains, where there is a rapid increase. 
The rainfall is also greater on the high divide between the Platte and 
Arkansas Rivers than at lower elevations to the north and south. In 
the river valleys the additional precipitation from local summer 
showers, which follow the valleys, considerably affects the total. The 
average annual precipitation in this section varies between 15 and 20 
inches. Local storms of greater or less importance occur every year. 
Most of the summer precipitation is of a local nature. The limits 
of these local storms may be clearly marked, an inch or more of rain- 
fall occurring at a distance of only a few miles from a point where 
no precipitation is received. Torrential summer showers are not un- 
known, and often much damage results from hail. 
The distribution of precipitation throughout the year is often not 
favorable to cereal production. The annual and average pre 
tion by months at Akron from 1908 to 1922 is shown in Table 1. 
6 See Shantz, H. L. Op. cit. 
