Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-11-16
Agricultural.


AhAMs
Water is the principal element in the sap or
juices of plants, and water itself, or the ele
ments Of which it is composed-oxygen and
hydrogen -constitutes more than fve-sxths
of the substance Of growing plants, the min
eral elements necessary to their growth being
taken up in solution hence there can be no
growth without water, and on the amount and
distribution of rain depends the success Of all
agricultural production. Crops grown in arid
Climates by irrigation are hardly an exception
to this rule, for rain or melted snow supplies
the streams used for this purpose, as in Colo
RADIO, where half year sometimes passes with
out rain. the soil is made productive by irri-
cation with water taken from rivers fed at
their sources by the melting snow back in the
mountains. Besides supplying the water in
dispensable to the growth Of vegetation the
rain also supplies, in part other elements nee
essary to the existence of plants. It absorbs
from the atmosphere and brings down with it
carbonic acid and nitrogen in the form of
ammonia and nitric acid Says James F. w.
Johnston, the agricultural chemist, "The
rains never descend empty handed. They
constantly bear with them gifts, not only of
moisture to the parched heritage, but of or
ganic and saline food, by which its growth is
promoted
In report recently published by Messrs
Lawes Gilbert and Warrington, on the amount
and composition of rain and drainage water
the average annual rainfall at Rothamstead
according to records kept for % years, was a
fraction over % inches This was found to
contain G.1 pounds of nitrogen per acre in
the form of ammonia and three-fourths of a
pound as nitric acid making q. rs of nitrogen
supplied to each acre of soil.
The amount and distribution of rain, having
so great an influence on the production of
crops, should be an interesting subject of study
to the farmer. An examination of the records
kept at various points in this and other coun-
tries will show that the rainfall of the eastern
states is happy medium. 1t is seldom SO
great as to cause floods or to interfere serious
ly with the operations of the husbandman,
while long.continued droughts are less com
mon than in the west. We read so much of
the moist climate of England, of the rain and
fogs of London, that one not acquainted with
the facts is surprised to learn that we have
more rain in Vermont than is shown by the
record of rainfall kept at Rothamstead, Eng
land, by Lawes and Gilbert. From observa-
tions taken at 30 different points in the state,
extending over a series Of years, the average
annual rainfall in Vermont appears to be about
~ inches. This, of course includes melted
snow. In the southern part of the state the
average is somewhat higher. At Londonder-
ry, according to records kept for 10 years, the
average fall of rain and melted snow was 1851
inches; at Fayetteville for series of years,
A inches. According to observations taken
by DIR. Hiram A. Cutting at Lunenburg for
20 years, the average annual fall of rain was
Ais inches. At London the average rainfall
is less than at the farm of Mr.. Lawes, being
only 2i inches or but little more than half as
much as falls annually in this county. In the
west of England the rainfall is much greater,
averaging about the same as in Vermont