The Ordway new era., 1911-01-27
RECORD OF. RAINFALL
Value Increases as Facts Thus
Gathered Accumulate,
After Growth Has Begun Development
Of Plant Is Largely a Matter Of
Adequate Water Supply
and Heat.
(By D. A. sEELEY.)


From seed time to harvest the tilIer
upon the weather. There Is little use
Of sowing the seed unless the soil Is
In the right state as regards warmth
and moisture to start the process OF
termination. as the germ in the seed
will decay II the ground is too wet
and cold. or will dry up and die under
the effects OF a parching sun
After growth has begun. the devel-
opment Of the plant is largely a matter
Of adequate water supply and heat,
granted that the soil Is fertile and
properly cultivated. Careful expert.
ments have shown that water supply
Of about 300 pounds Is required for the
production Of one pound Of corn. This
amount OF water must be carried up
through the roots Of the corn plant,
distributed through its cell structure.
and evaporated through its surface OF
stalk and leaves, in order that one
pound Of corn may grow and ripen.
With but half the required water
supply needed for complete develop
ment. the plant will reach only half
Its normal size and weight II the
weather Is cold and cloudy. a plant
cannot grow normally. 1t is true that
some forms Of vegetation survive the
temperature OF the frigid zone, but 1t
is equally we'll known that the growth
here Is stunted and sickly. compared
with that found in temperate and
tropical regions.
Decided benefits may be derived at
times II. through the aid Of proper In
struments. weather changes can be
foreseen. and properly exposed rain
gauge is the best indicator OF the
amount OF rain that falls at any time
Keeping a rainfall record Is one OF
the most interesting tasks that a far
mer or gardener can undertake. BY
adding the depth Of each rainfall to
the combined depths OF those preced
ing. he may find exactly what the
seasons supply has been. and by
noting the condition OF a given crop
from time to time he may be able to
form an idea as to how 1t has been af-
fected by the moisture received. Fur
thermore. the preservation OF these
records will enable him to compare the
rainfall and crop conditions for any
season with those Of other seasons.
Any cylindrical vessel exposed in an
open space. where surrounding trees
or buildings are far enough away not
to stop the rain. will indicate the
amount Of rainfall. An ordinary TIN
can with straight sides will serve the
purpose. II the top be entirely re-
moved.
II is obvious that the depth OF water
collected In a vessel having haring
sides would not represent the actual
rainfall: and 1t Is also evident that
the correct catch would not be OBJ
tanned. even with a good gauge, II II
were placed under the caves Of o
building or near a wall or tree which
would shelter 1t.
The rainfall Is measured regularly.
morning and evening. by inserting q
rule and observing how high the rule
Is wetted. The ordinary rule. marked
of in eighths and sixteenths OF an
inch. may be used: but In order to
compare the results with the records
OF the weather bureau. 1t Is well to
use rule marked of In tenths OF an
inch.
Such simple rain gauge has this
objection: that the rainfall in any one
day is frequently so small that 1t can.
not be measured with much accuracy.
To obviate this difficulty. the receiving
vessel may be made with a funnel.
shaped bottom. to which is attached.
below. tube with an opening whose
area Is one-tenth OF the receiving yes.
sell a rainfall which would measure
one inch in the upper vessel will then
measure ten inches in the measuring
tube: the readings therefore can be
more accurately made. The readings
taken from the measuring tube must.
OF course. be divided by 10. in order to
get the actual rainfall