ber, December, January and February are the four dry months with but 11 per cent of the normal amount. The other 43 per cent falls during the remaining five months or approximately one-twelfth of the annual amount for each month. As this indicates, very little rain or snow falls during the late fall and winter months, the average being less than an inch of water a

Power Plant, Nebraska Power Co., Boelus, Nebr.

Indian Boys and Girls at Genoa, Nebr., Institute

month. A slight increase is manifested in March, but the spring rains begin in April, when from two to three inches is the normal for most parts of the state.
     June is the month of heaviest rainfall. It is also the period when rainfall is most certain, that is, least likely to vary from the average. In an ordinary June, rain falls at one place on eight or nine of the thirty days. This would mean a rain every third or fourth day. This average condition rarely occurs; still several consecutive days without rain in June are unusual.
     While the average monthly rainfall for May and July is nearly the same as that for June, there is a greater liability to variation from the average. In May this variation is less likely to be important, as the temperature is lower than in July and the rainfall is less likely to occur in heavy showers when a large percentage of the water would run into the streams without soaking into the ground. Rain falls in May on the average about the same number of days as in June, and drought periods are unlikely to occur. In July the showers are slightly farther apart, and drought periods rather more frequent. The decrease in rainfall after July is rapid. The average for August is only three-fourths that of July, and for September only three-fourths that of August. In an average August rain falls at any one place on six or seven days. Heavy rains are much less likely to occur than in June or July, and drought periods are much more frequent.

     The rainfall for the crop season, April to August inclusive, for the state as a whole, averages 16.18 inches. It exceeds 20 inches along most of the Missouri valley and decreases rather regularly to a little more than 10 inches along the Wyoming border.
     The slightly more than 30 inches along the Missouri river decreases to about one-half that amount, or 15 inches, along the Wyoming line. This is an average decrease of one inch for each thirty miles as one travels westward across the state. In general this ratio holds true for the various months; that is, the rainfall along the Wyoming border is about one-half that along the Missouri river.

     Nebraska is comparatively a young state, but has made rapid progress along educational lines. The Rural School problem is one of greatest interest and is now demanding the attention of a thinking and economical people. There is nothing too good for the rural child. The countryman is ready to meet all possible legitimate expense, and the good work and feeling is manifest on every hand. The state department of education is doing everything it can for Consolidation - the Rural High School, the Combination School, and the One-Room School. Not only the physical conditions, such as sanitary school buildings, well-kept grounds, provided with necessary amusement - equipments are emphasized - but the character, school efficiency and inspirational activities of the teachers are receiving the most careful consideration from this department. Our people are getting together and are rapidly solving the Rural School question and the time is not far distant when Nebraska will be able to place at the door of every country boy and girl a splendid, advanced educational opportunity.
     In Nebraska, during 1916-17, there were operated 7,223 schools, for which there were in round numbers 650 graded schools, leaving 6,573 ungraded or one-teacher schools. Of these, 3,390 operated with an attendance of from 1 to 12 pupils.
     Consolidated Schools: During 1917 sixteen consolidations were perfected, making forty in all in Nebraska. Twenty-five of these are village schools and fifteen are open-country consolidations. Two of the latter type have been in operation for fourteen years and are more appreciated as the time goes on. The average number of sections in the consolidated schools is twenty-two, the largest being Johnstown with fifty-four sections. Every consolidated school reports an increased average attendance of from 25% to 100% respectively. The greatest distance traveled by any child transported is a little more than seven miles, but autos have eliminated distances. The rural population, individually and through their organizations, are alive to the