12G 



rapidly on account of the high temperature of the soil. The plants grew very quickly 

 and the "thinning out" of all the plats, including the small experimental plats, Mas 

 completed June 18. 



The growth of tin- beets after the rain of June 2 and following days was phenom- 

 enal. This rapid growth, and the heavy and frequent Tains, made the further acts 

 of cultivation very difficult to do. In Field B the rows were only 17 inches apart, 

 and the plants from the second period of germination being so far behind the early 

 plants it was not practicable for the use of the horse hoe. The beets were hoed twice 

 over after the Jinal "thinning out," including the whole space between the rows and 

 around the plants, and any "double plants" were separated. This work continued 

 tip to July 6, when the beets were "rowed up," that operation being done with the 

 broad-blade hoes, the soil being hoed up on each side of the beets level with the top 

 of the neck of the same* In that form, the beets hidden in soil and a trench made- 

 bet ween the rows, the work Was ended. In Field A, where the rows were IX inches 

 apart, horse labor was Used in the light cultivation. After the thinning out, the. 

 borse hoe was used three times over, at such periods when the rains allowed. The 

 beets were hoed twlc<Mvltll hand hoe; amongst the plants and linally hoed up, the 

 same as in Field M, 



The cultivation of the smilll experiment plats was conducted in a way similar to 

 what has been described. < hi t IIOSH plats the seed came Up thick and evenly. There, 

 was a full plant. The plants were t liinned out exactly II inches apart in the rows, 

 the distances being Ivguhited by a (5-inch measure which the man carried for the 

 pin-post-, the whole work oil those pla t s being done by one skilled man. The plants 

 were left about li inches apart in the rows oil the large plats, but the same degree of 

 exactness w:is not attained as upon the small plats. Further hoeing twice, over and 

 the final hoeing up completed the work on the small plats. 



July 12 the cultural work of the season was done. The beets covered the whole 

 ground, and, as far as cultivation could exercise, an eft'ect, there was no obstacle in 

 the way of their progress. 



The crop was now left to the climatic conditions, as it was advanced beyond reach 

 of danger from other sources. And it will be in place here to observe the abnormal 

 conditions of weather extending over the cultural season. It has been seen that lit- 

 tle rain fell during the whole month of May, and normally the latter half of that 

 month receives the usual spring rains, which continue into early June, and which are 

 in the highest degree favorable to the cultural season of that period. On June 2 the 

 first good rain fell since early in April. When the rains began they fell in torrents. 

 In the mouth of June 12 inches were recorded, or nearly half an inch daily. On the, 

 21th and 25th 8 inches fell in thirty-two hours. On the latter date the beets were, 

 not visible, the water standing from 6 to X inches deep over the whole tract of Field 

 A. No immediate damage occurred to the crop, but the continuous dull weather, 

 Avith a high atmospheric humidity (78.7 for June), frequent rains, and comparatively 

 little sun, which conditions continued through July, caused eventually an unfavora- 

 ble appearance. On July 25 it was observed that in the lower parts of the plats, 

 where the deep green of the leaves had gone over into a sickly brown-yellow, the 

 beets had commenced rotting. The decay commenced at the neck, on account of the 

 moisture which was constantly resting on the foliage, for it was seldom dry. The 

 decaying continued until the first week of August, when a period of dry Aveather, 

 with hot Avinds, set in and saved the further damage of the crop. The decayed beets 

 were dug up as soon as they Avere detected, but others which had merely commenced 

 rotting recoA r ered and put forth a second growth of foliage. The sugar content of 

 those beets, however, remained abnormally low. 



A table of the rainfall and temperature for May, June, July, August, September, 

 and October is given, expressed hi weekly means ; 



