SOME PECULIARITIES IN THE RAINFALL OF TEXAS. 57 
no reasonable doubt exists that in very great measure, if not 
in its entirety, the rainfall of extreme western counties of 
Texas is derived from the supplies of aqueous vapor drawn 
northeastward in summer from the Gulf of California by the 
wind circulation arising from the low area of atmospheric 
pressure in the valley of the lower Colorado. 
In some States of the Union the distribution of rainfall 
through the year is so equable that there is no season of 
water scarcity, while in others abundant precipitation begins 
at the commencement of or continues during the agricul¬ 
tural season. 
In Texas, however, the conditions are unusual, as in the 
northwestern half of the State water is not so plentiful, while 
along the Gulf coast and in the extreme western counties 
a disproportionately large amount falls after agricultural 
products, or the greater part thereof, have attained their 
maturity or been harvested. 
In consequence the distribution of precipitation through 
the year assumes in Texas an unusual importance, and 
merits careful consideration. Even in sections where irriga¬ 
tion is employed for agricultural purposes, it involves a very 
material difference to the investor and to the farmer whether 
the water to be conserved and distributed falls just prior to 
the season during which it is needed, or whether the water 
must be gathered after the growing season and be protected 
for months against rapid evaporation and seepage until the 
planting time of the coming year. 
In view of this importance, an attempt is now made to 
resolve the general features of the annual rainfall distribu¬ 
tion of Texas into their constituent elements, and to briefly 
define the characteristics and limits of three separate types ? 
each of which singly dominates large areas of the State. In 
passing, it is to be remarked that from personal research and 
investigation, I am prepared to maintain that there is no 
published chart showing the summer rainfall of western 
Texas with any degree of accuracy, even with regard to 
general principles. • So far all meteorologists have failed, for 
