The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-09-07


vegetation of the farms of the Unit
ed States. the summer of 1911 will
be long remembered as season OF
widespread and unprecedented
drought. In other years there have
been more severe droughts in certain
sections of the country, but this year
the rainfall was far below normal in
the early summer in nearly all OF the
States. The rainfall in 1910 was gen.
orally below normal also, and the re-
sultant shortage in the stock OF moist
ure in the soil caused the drought
to be even more injurious to crops
than usual.
It is a remarkable feature of the
American agricultural resources,
however, that even general drought
following a period of low rainfall IN
previous years, has not brought a
threat of famine. The greatest dam
age has been to garden truck, pota-
toes and other vegetables requiring a
great deal of rain. The grain crops
other than corn, escaped because the
drought came too late to hurt them'
and the rains came again in time to
save the greater part of the corn
crop. Nevertheless, many localities
have suffered great loss and the cost
of living will be Influenced by. the
shortage.
For some reason, which has not
vet been ascertained by any scientist
the average rainfall throughout the
whole country has been diminished
during the past ten years. Whether
or not this decrease is likely to be
permanent no one can tell. At varl-
OILS times, since the existence OF the
United States weather bureau, the
amount of rainfall has Increased or
decreased in different parts OF the
country, causing the chart indicating
it to present wavelike appearance.
There is twelve inches difference be-
tween the maximum rainfall OF the
country as recorded, and that OF
1910, and according to the present
indications this year will increase the
difference of precipitation which is
already greatly below any previous
record.
Former droughts, have in most
cases, been confined to one or two
sections of the country, but this year
it prevailed throughout the whole
United States, with the exception OF
a few isolated localities where the
rainfall has been little above nor
NAL.
The greatest droughts on record
this summer, as measured by the de-
crease in rainfall, are in South Caro-
lima and Kansas, where during June
and July the precipitation has been
from 30 to SO per cent. below normal.
The normal rainfall throughout the
country has been estimated by the
United States weather bureau at 29
inches, and the area is divided in
this respect into the following classi-
fication: Desert or arid lands, lO
inches per year; semi-arid or light
rains, 20 to Is inches; moderate, 70
to so inches; copious, so to IS inches
and excessive, above Is inches.
A rainfall of less than 18 inches
precludes ordinary agriculture, ex-
cepting by the aid of irrigation. In
some localities the dry farming of
certain crops overcome the difficulty
of scant moisture to a large extent.
Dry farming is really good farming"
in the highest possible of every nat
ural advantage. This is one of the
means by which the department OF
agriculture expects to keep up the
standard of crops throughout the
country, even though the rainfall
should continue to decrease as it has
during the past decade.
According to the latest record the
United States has less than per cent.
of it's area in the excessive rainfall
class, exceeding Is inches annually.
Sixteen per cent. ranges from so to
Is inches, 25 per cent. ranges from
25 to so inches and 80 per cent.
from 16 to 25 inches and 20 per cent.
less than 10 inches. 1t is upon these
figures that the normal average of
29 inches per annum is based.
The measuring of the rainfall
throughout the United States is made
by means of careful tests at each Of
the 200 observation stations Of the
weather bureau. Carefully construct
ed rain gauges are supplied by which
the rain is collected continually and
measured and estimated for the sur
face of that particular locality. In
Of bo Of tho oo11n.