GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN UTAH AND IDAHO. 7 
Table II. — Average rainfall by months for 2 districts in Utah and 1 in Idaho. a 
January . . . 
February . . 
March 
April 
May 
June 
July 
August 
September . 
October.. . 
November . 
December. 
Total 
1870-1909, 
Corinne, 
Utah 
Boxelder 
County. 
Inches. 
1.37 
1.24 
1.42 
1.12 
1.44 
.59 
.45 
.59 
.67 
1.02 
1.05 
1.55 
12.51 
1881-1908, 
Idaho Falls, 
Idaho, 
Bingham 
County. 
Inches. 
1.59 
1.32 
2.03 
1.16 
1.62 
1.41 
.53 
.82 
.63 
1.02 
1.08 
1.30 
14.51 
a Reported by the Weather Bureau, United States Department of Agriculture. 
These records exhibit considerable uniformity in the distribution 
of rainfall by months. The heaviest precipitation occurs in the 
winter and spring. By combining the rainfall for the months 
January to May, inclusive, it will be seen that fully 50 per cent of 
the yearly precipitation occurs within this period. Under average 
conditions the summer- rainfall is exceedingly light. An increase in 
the monthly rainfall may be noted in October, and this average 
gradually rises until the maximum is reached in March. In 1914 
and 1915 the precipitation for the Provo district was considerably 
above normal. Boxelder County had for both seasons slightly 
more than the average rainfall. At Idaho Falls the precipitation 
was a little below normal for the year 1914 and more than 1 inch 
above the normal for 1915. 
By comparing the yearly averages for the three districts, given in 
Table II it will be seen that Boxelder County has the least rainfall, 
whereas the highest precipitation occurs in the Idaho Falls district. 
The increases coincide with increases of elevation. While it is true 
that the rainfall at certain periods is sufficient to moisten the soil 
thoroughly, and at such times may provide enough water to be of 
value in crop production, there are many occasions when the pre- 
cipitation is so distributed that crops are not benefited appreciably. 
The snow which falls upon the mountains during the winter months 
affords a supply of water which is made available during the summer 
months and is utilized for irrigation purposes in the adjacent valleys. 
For most farms the artificial application of water is essential for 
successful sugar-beet production. 
The growing season extends from the latter part of April to the 
first or second week in October. The latest dates for spring frosts 
throughout this period varied from April 19 to May 28. In the 
autumn there was a variation from September 15 to October IS in 
