GRAIN FARMING IN NORTH DAKOTA. 5 
of the earliest killing frosts in the fall range from August 6 to Sep- 
tember 12. * 
The rainfall of North Dakota is somewhat variable, depending 
upon elevation and longitude. The variation is approximately 6 
inches, the precipitation in the extreme eastern part of the State 
being slightly over 20 inches and in the extreme west slightly less 
than 15 inches. From 1J to 4 feet of snow may be expected ordi- 
narily, though occasionally there are years with scarcely any snow- 
fall or with as much as 8 feet. However, on account of the high, 
northwest prevailing winds, the amount of snow that lies on the 
level surface during the winter is generally small, the snow being 
drifted into depressions and about obstructions. 
The months of May and June are the critical growing months, the 
amount of rainfall during these months having a marked effect on 
the yield of crops. 
The growing season varies from about 100 to approximately 160 
days, averaging 135 days, but the season in which field work is done 
is considerably longer. Records kept in various parts of the State 
show that, on the average, field work begins April 18 and closes 
November 6, embracing a total of 202 days. The days available for 
field work, after deducting Sundays, holidays, and days on which 
the fields are too wet, amount to 144. (See p. 9.) 
THE FARM AND ITS ORGANIZATION. 
In general, farms in North Dakota vary in size from a quarter sec- 
tion (160 acres) to four sections; a few bonanza wheat farms and 
stock ranches have several thousand acres each, but the average farm 
in the State is from three-quarters to one section in extent. 
INVESTMENT PER FARM. 
The selling value of land varies about 100 per cent between eastern 
and western North Dakota, as indicated in records from over 200 
farms. The average value of farm land in the Red River Valley was 
$50 per acre (including buildings) in 1914. The average value of 
land approximately in the two rows of counties west of the Red 
River Valley (including Towner and Cavalier, Stutsman and Barnes, 
Dickey and Sargent) was $40 per acre. The average value of land 
east of the Missouri River, not including Williams and Mountrail 
Counties, but west of the above-mentioned counties, was $30 per 
acre, while the average value of land in the western counties of the 
State was $22 per acre. 
Difference in the amount of rainfall is the principal cause of the 
extreme variation in value of land, the eastern and western parts of 
1 Data from United States Weather Bureau. 
