The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-05-22
DAKOTA
A WET STATE
Average Annual Rainfall of go Inches
With Growing Season Of $50
Days

Vfsher says it's wet-wet as anything
DIR. visher shows that the average
rainfall is 20 inches a year. He is a
geologist and author of "The Geo
graphy of South Dakota" a new bull
letin Just issued by the University of
South Dakota. :
While instructor in geology at the
University Dr.. Nisher made a field sur
vey of the state with Ellwood C. Per-
isho. From facts gathered in his study
DR.. Visher shows that the average
rainfall of the eastern half Of South
Dakota in the five growing months is
heavier than in New York, Ohio, Mich
igan, or Minnesota. Only eight inches
of water is necessary to grow wheat
but South Dakota receives more than
IL inches in every portion of the state
The average annual precipitation is 20
inches.
The. seasonal distribution of rain in
South Dakota is very favorable since
80 per cent normally falls during the
growing season. II is due to this sea-
sonal distribution that the native
grasses furnish naturally-cured hay
on the South Dakota prairies. The
openness of the winters also encour-
age grazing.
The South Dakota farmer does not
need to turn Big Ben ahead an hour
to get a long day of sunshine. Geo
graphical position gives South Dakota
a continental type of climate with hot
summers and cold weathers. The
northeastern quarter of the state is
coolest, the southeastern quarter the
,Warmest, while the southwestern has
the least cold in winter. Extremes of
temperature in South Dakota are lis
degrees and so degrees.
The maximum and minimum tenn
peratures are important because they,
rather than the average, influence the
physiological activities and limit the
range of species. The high maximum
in South Dakota and the high rate of
rainfall stimulates the growth of corn
The influence of the extremely low
minimum is not particularly injurious.
There will be no more wild Dakota
billiards. like the one in 1888 which
gave South Dakota a reputation for Sc
we're winters. The weather has not
changed but in 1888 the early settlers
were living in temporary quarters, i'll
prepared for cold, The telegraph ano
telephone can give warning for prepa-
ration now, for seyere storms APP
proach slowly.
Maximum temperatures over 100 de-
grees have been recorded at most of
the weather bureau stations in South
Dakota outside of the Black Hills and
minimum temperature below 40 de-
grees. Fol the state as a whole July
il the warmest month when the aver
age temperature is about 70 degrees
and January the coolest when the
mercury sinks to 13 degrees. The per-
iod between the last killing frost in
spring and the first in autumn aver
ages nearly 1870 days.
South Dakota is called the Sun
shine State" not because is has moro
sunshine than other states, but. be-
dause of the contrast between South
Dakota and the eastern states and
northern European countries from
which most. of the early settlers came
Still. South Dakota has more sunshine
than clouds In 1908 as per cen
of. the days of the year were clear;
so per cent were partly cloudy; "a pei
cent were cloudy. In South Dakota
there are about II rainy days q year
South Dakota has few 'leaden days
in the year. The annual snowfall Ii
"a inches. Both the snowfall and the
figures are compared. n weather Is
as variable as in most sections OF
northern United States.
Many old settlers claim that the
climate of South Dakota is changing
Droughts are less disastrous now thar
in the early days of wind and grass
hoppers but the is probably du'
to better crop adjustment. The popu
latien is not so near the margin o.
want and a bank account will tide ovel
az occasional unsuccessful a The
United States Weather Bureau ha'
Investigated the changing climate
and been unsuccessful in establishing
that there has been a change.
Once upon a time people used to tall
about South Dakota as a part of thu
great American Desert where onl.
cactus and coyotes .thrived. Tha
story has proved a myth just as tn
.other stories that begin "once upon
time"
No better cor or small grain thai
lsL cor<h noLcf. s- v~cwu 49,,