To be fair, the doctrine was formulated during a high-rain period in the Midwest/West, when it really did seem like everywhere they started farming the rain would increase for a while.
Have you by any chance heard this one: "You can catch a bird by shaking salt on its tail." (Courtesy of Grandma Opal) Some people have and some haven't, but there doesn't seem to be much geography to the divide.
The history of the Nebraska State Forest is diagnostic - unfortunately I can't find a link right now, but as I was told it, someone around the turn of the last century planted a fairly extensive area of mixed-grass prairie in the vicinity of the Sand Hills with trees, on the assumption that this would bring the rain.
They're still there. Never did bring much rain, though.
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It didn't last, of course.
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(Anonymous) 2012-11-19 10:20 pm (UTC)(link)They're still there. Never did bring much rain, though.