142 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GEORGIA. [428 



Schubler found also, by experiment, that the same soils 

 blackened and whitened, varied in temperature in about 

 the same ratio as the surfaces of natural color did when 

 alternately wet and dried, so that it seems that dark color 

 exerts about the same influence upon the temperature of 

 a soil that saturation does. 



Exposure to the direct rays of the sun exerts a marked 

 influence upon the temperature of soils that are identical 

 in every respect. On this subject, Johnson, (in "H. C. F.,") 

 remarks:: "In the latitude of England, the sun's heat 

 acts most powerfully on the surfaces having a southern 

 exposure, and which are inclined at an angle of 25 and 

 30. The best vineyards of the Rhine and Neckar are also 

 on hill-sides, so situated. 



" In Lapland and Spitzbergen, the southern side of hills 

 may be seen covered with vegetation, while lasting or even 

 perpetual snow lies on their northern inclinations." 



Reflecting surfaces, such as walls and fences, especially if 

 white, influence the temperature of the adjacent soil on 

 the south or east side, and thus has f en the growth of vege- 

 tation. Gardeners avail themselves of such localities to 

 forward early vegetables. 



It is a source of regret that no systematic meteorological 

 observations have been made in Georgia until recently. 



Individuals in some localities have kept records of tem- 

 perature and rainfall for their own information, but while 

 these are valuable, they do not furnish sufficient data 

 to justify deductions of general interest and utility. 



A system of observations has now been inaugurated 

 under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, 

 under which observations are regularly made on the tem- 

 perature of the air at 7 A. M., 2 p. M., and 9 p. M., of each 

 day, and an accurate record of both the temperature and 

 the amount of rainfall kept. Transcripts of these records 

 are forwarded to the Department, on the first day of each 

 month, where the consolidated results are tabulated and 



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