EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND RAIX-FALL OX SORGHUM. 151 



The season of 1880 may fairly be regarded as an average of those 

 of 1881 and '82, in Washington, in regard to temperature and rain-fall; 

 while the season of 1881 was almost unprecedented for the severe 

 drought. 



The total rain-fall from May to September, inclusive, was only 12^ 

 inches; while, during the same period in 1882, it was 24.07 inches. 

 In 1881 the number of storms, during this period, was only three, with 

 an aggregate rain-faU of only 4.87 inches; while, in 1882, there Avere 

 ten storms, with an aggregate rain-fall of 14.11 inches. The average 

 temperature for these five mouths (from planting to maturity of the 

 crop) was, in 1881, 73.92° F.; while, in 1882, it was only 70.40° F. 



It will also be observed that the first frost, in 1882, was (notwith- 

 standing the unusually cold season) a month later than in the two pre- 

 ceding years. 



The lack of rain during October, 1882, and a temperature, for the 

 month, much above the average for the preceding two years, together 

 with absence of frost, gave an additional month for the maturity of the 

 sorghums ;, and this, in part, made up for the late planting and un- 

 favorable season. 



Effect of Rain vjwn the Composition of Sorghum Juices. 



The investigation of this question, and the results secured, offer a 

 good illustration as to the importance of submitting doubtful questions 

 to the test of actual experiment ; since it is nearly certain that auy one, 

 reasoning from a priori considerations, would have concluded (and, 

 indeed, such conclusion has been accepted as established fact), that 

 the effect of rain would be manifest in a diluted juice, aud that, con- 

 versely, a prolonged drought would result in a concentration aud 

 diminution of the juice. The results, however, of very many experi- 

 ments on every variety of s >rghum, during the past season, prove the 

 incorrectness of such conclusions. 



Effect of Heavy Bain-fall after Long Drought. 



For the purpose of showing the effect produced, if any, in the com- 

 position of the several sorghums, due to a heavy fall of rain, the fol- 

 lowing table has been prepared, which gives the results of analyses 

 of each variety, taken before aud after the heavy rain-fall of Septem- 

 ber 10th and 11th. 



The average of the analyses of all the varieties, made just before 

 the heavy rain of September 10th and 11th (viz., those made Septem- 

 ber 7th, 8th, aud 9th), also the avei-age of all the analyses of each 



