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• 4,400 to 4,800 feet above sea level, with mountains on all sides at distances of <br />from 10 to 60 miles, reaching heights of 9,000 to over 12,000 feet. <br />'This mountain valley location, with attendant "valley breezes" provides <br />protection from spring and fall frosts, resulting in a growing season averaging <br />191 days in the cty of Grand Junction. This value varies considerably in the <br />outlying districts, is about the same in the upper valley around Palisade, and <br />three to four weeks shorter near the river west of Grand Junction, where the <br />"valley breeze" is less effective. Farming areas located on mesas also enjoy <br />longer frost-free seasons than adjacent lower lying ground where cool air tends <br />to collect at night; this effect is more noticeable in the west, or lower portion of <br />the valley. The growing season is sufficiently long to permit growth <br />commercially of almost all fruits except estrus varieties. Summer grazing of <br />cattle and sheep on nearby mountain ranges is extensive; foundation herds are <br />wintered in the valley and there is some winter feeding of fat cattle and sheep. <br />• 'The interior, continental location, ringed by mountains on all sides, results in <br />quite low precpitation in all seasons. Consequently, agriculture is dependent <br />on irrigation, for which an adequate supply of water has been available from <br />mountain snows and rains. Summer rains occur chiefly as scattered iight <br />showers from thunderstorms which develop over nearby mountains. Winter <br />snows are fairly frequent, but mostly light and quickly melt off. Even the <br />infrequent snows of from four to eight inches, which are heavy for this locality, <br />seldom remain on the ground for prolonged periods. Blizzard conditions in the <br />valley are extremely rare. <br />'Temperatures at Grand Junction have ranged from 105° to -23°, but readings <br />of 100° or higher are infrequent, and about one-third of the winters have no <br />readings below zero. Sumrner days with maximum temperatures in the middle <br />and low 90's and minima in the low 60's are common. Relative humidity is very <br />low during the summer, with values dose to such other dry localities as the <br />southern parts of New Mexico and Arizona. Spells of cold winter weather are <br />• sometimes prolonged due to cold air becoming trapped in the valley. Winds <br />2.04.8 - 2 <br />