Bulletin i66. 



455 



A comparison of these two seasons suggests the query, why 

 so much difference in the two cases ? Why are the beets so much 

 richer in sugar one year than they are another year ? Several 

 causes suggest themselves for this. There is a possibility that 

 the qualit}^ of the seed this year was not quite so good as that 

 of a year ago. This season a few new varieties w^ere tried and 

 some of them were of a poor quality and hence tended to lower 

 the general averages of the season's work. The temperature of 

 the two seasons varied somewhat and this probably has been an 

 important factor influencing the amount of sugar produced in the 

 beets. 



It is thought that the one condition that had most to do with the 

 decrease of sugar in 1898, was the difference in the amount of 

 moisture. 



In 1897 the weather was very favorable for the development of 

 the sugar, especially during September and October ; the later 

 month being exceptionally dry and just right for the formation 

 of sugar. 



In 1898 the later months of the growing season, especially 

 August, September and October, were very wet as compared with 

 the corresponding months of 1897, so that the beets continued 

 to grow more and mature less than in 1897. 



In 1897 the temperature for August and September was below 

 the normal, whilst for the corresponding months of 1898 the 

 temperature was considerably above the normal. This excessive 

 warmth together with the over abundant rainfall, would stimu- 

 late plant growth and retard the formation of sugar and also pre- 

 vent the early maturing or ripening of the beets. (For the weather 

 conditions of the state for 1897 and 1898, see pages 466-7.) 



