64 



INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENT ON SWEET CORN. 



amount of the rainfall on the sugar content would seem to be clearly 

 indicated in this case. 



At the South Carolina station (fig. 8) in 1906 seven rains occurred 

 during the period of tasseling, a total of 3.9 inches. Xo rain fell for 

 the first two weeks of the growing period*, when it was most needed, 

 and in the second half of the growing period a total of twelve rainfalls 

 amounting to 13.20 inches is recorded, and in three cases these are 

 heavy, amounting to 1.2, 1.7, and 3 inches, respectively. Again the 

 data show that the sugar content of the corn was markedly low in 

 1906, accompanied by excessive rainfall both as to number and 

 amount of precipitation, and an unfavorable distribution that is, 



//V CO/?M 



il 



TASSFL/NG **WBGff. 

 P#/OD. 



3RD. WEEK. 



TH WEEK. 



OF OEVELOPftEWT OFAR. 



FIG. 8. Daily distribution of rainfall by periods for 1906, 1907, and 1908 at the South Carolina station. 



no rain in the early weeks of growth and heavy frequent rainf alls in 

 the later weeks, from which a diminution in the storage of sugars 

 would be expected. 



In 1907 three rains (1.5 inches) occurred during tasseling. In 

 the first hah* of the growing period four rains (0.82 inch) fell. For 

 almost two weeks in the latter half of the period no rams occurred, 

 and in the week just prior to harvesting five rains are recorded, 

 amounting to 1.65 inches. Again, the 1907 crop contains much 

 more sugar than that of 1906 or 1908, exceeding the figures for 1906 

 by 8 and 4 per cent, respectively, for the Crosby and Stowell Ever- 

 green varieties. The year was marked by the absence of heavy 

 precipitation and many small, well-distributed rainfalls, obviously 

 ideal conditions in this regard and in strong contrast to those of 1906. 



