25 



Meteorological data for 



nun. 



"These data uere averaged from weekly means fnrnisluHl by Mr. Alwood. 

 ''To October !'. only. 



Iii commenting on the season at Blackshurg, Mr. Alwood, under 

 date of October 1'J, says: 



The weather conditions have been decidedly bad here this year, so that the crop 

 is not extra heavy, but it can be considered a fair average. I think that at this time 

 the hrets arc practically mature, but I fear that the wet season and consequent lack 

 of sunshine will cause them to analy/e very low in sugar. To the present time no 

 st'ouid growth has begun; in fact, only a few of the bottom leaves have died. It is 

 hardly probable that conditions as to sunlight will be such as to increase the sugar 

 content very materially from this on. 



It will be noticed tbat the general characteristics of the season at 

 Blacksburg are in striking contrast to those at the other stations, 

 unusual rains having prevailed at the former and drought at the latter. 

 In forwarding the samples, Mr. Alwood said: " A more unfavorable 

 year could not occur, but in this garden soil the result is fair." 



A study of the agricultural and analytical data for Blacksburg shows 

 a beet of phenomenally small size but of a fair average yield per acre. 

 The sugar content of the samples was fair, but the purity was unsati- 

 factory. The high sugar content of this low latitude must be ascribed 

 principally to the altitude of the station, which is about 2, 100 feet. 

 One of the principal objects in extending the collaborative work to 

 Blacksburg was to determine the effect of altitude and its accompany- 

 ing meteorological influences upon the* sugar content of the beet. This 

 object has been attained in a most striking manner in the preceding 

 data. 



The rainfall during the preparatory planting period was excessive. 

 For the month of June it was abundant and for August far in excess 

 of the quantity required for favorable growth. The precipitation for 

 September and October, however, was favorable to the ripening and 

 harvesting of the crop. 



