The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-04-03
U. S. WEATHER BUREAU.
Some Interesting aud Instructive Obser-
vations About the Objects 1t Seeks
and the Work it Does
BY CLARENCE ]. NORTON.
PART XIV.

=
complete record of rainfall for the en-
tire state and we have only to con-
suit these records to learn whether
certain kinds of crop will do well here
or not. We get the roaming fever
and move out to the western part of
the state and expect to reap great
benefits. We hear of big crops of
wheat followed by or 8 years of
failures, and strings of wagons re-
turn with the one excuse, "burned
out" Many an Allen county man
would have been better off now had
he consulted the weather bureau.
We learn that Kansas is divided
into parts by the weather bureau,
and that the rainfall is heaviest in
the eastern part and follows a line
from the south east part of the state,
to the north west part, conforming
with the general slope of the sur
face.
The average annual rainfall for
eastern Kansas is 1856 inches; mid
die 24.44; western 1901 per cent
of which is in growing season, lesv-
ing the rest of the season very dry
and unfit for pasture and growing of
fall wheat.
After consulting these figures we
learn better than to want to change
our present location for the semi
arid parts Of the state. Allen county
has an annual of 37.10 inches, an
average of nearly 4 of an inch q
week, which makes it an ideal eli
mate to live in. Thus we see that q
consultation of the weather bureau
will dispell the delusions many
have of the west; and save any fur
theT mistakes for the readers of the
REGISTER. One of the most impor-
tant things is the regular weekly
weather report published in the REG
IsTER. By this we can look back
and see just what the mean temper
allure was year ago and can tell
about our planting. 1t seems dry
and useless reading to read about a
killing frost in mid-winter. but right
now it is necessary to know the date
of the last killing frost in order to
know when to plant our tenderest
garden plants.
By the record we learn that it av-
ersges on April 10th and those who
sow flax and other tender crops to be
cut down by this frost, show their
ignorance of our climate conditions.
Every year there arises a great howl
because the extra early potatoes are
cut down, when it is the fault of the
planter.
Our last years record shows kill.
ing frost on May 18th that did much
damage.
Again, each week we can note the
precipitation and when we once
learn the normal, we can see just
how our crops are doing and can
make up our minds to make any
change necessary.
By examining, the present reports
we learn that the precipitation is
much short of the normal and we
may safely look for more than the
average later on, and the wise man
will farm accordingly.
1t is reasonably possible that this
very point may be worth many years
subscription for the REGISTER to
every reader. The bulk of our far
mers raise corn for money crop and
it is more ola trade to properly dis
pose of it, than it is to raise it. Many
of my readers will fully agree with
me here. Now [ can give you ..some
positive facts that never fail that are
worth hundreds of dollars to every
reader of this paper who sells corn.
1t is a positive fact that never fails,
that the temperature and rainfall of
July control the corn crop. A rule
that never fails is:-If the maximum
temperature of July averages below
100 degrees and the monthly rainfall
exceeds inches, large crop is al
ways the result, while if above 100
degrees and the rainfall is below 4
inches, a short crop is always the
result. This rule is the result of the |
last IS years observations and has
never yet failed.
Now if we watch the weekly report
in the state papers for the entire
state and the REGISTER for our own
fields. we can easily tell whether to
hold our corn or sell it at once.
Thousands upon thousands of dollars
was lost to this county last year by
not needing this never failing rule.
The copies of the REGISTER for July
Of last year represented over 500 to
every single man..who took it and had
4 crib of old corn to sell. In the
monthly summary for last .July the