GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN MICHIGAN AND OHIO. 7 



Table III. — Mean annual rainfall for three districts in Michigan and one in 



northwestern Ohio. 



Month. 



Caro Dis- 

 trict, 

 Arbela, 

 1887-1908. 



Alma Dis- 

 trict, Alma 

 1887-1908. 



Grand 

 Rapids 

 District, 

 Grand 

 Rapids, 

 1870-1908. 



Ohio Dis- 

 trict, 

 Paulding, 

 1883-1908. 



January 



February... 



March 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August 



September . 



October 



November. 

 December. . 



Mean. 

 2.29 

 2.03 

 2.63 

 2.71 

 4.14 

 3.20 

 3.13 

 2.79 

 2.80 

 2.70 

 2.63 

 2.33 



Mean. 

 2.53 

 1.95 

 2.49 

 2.39 

 3.56 

 3.07 

 3.11 

 2.73 

 3.28 

 2.61 

 2.66 

 2.34 



Mean. 

 2.69 

 2.33 

 2.65 

 2.49 

 3.25 

 3.92 

 3.17 

 2.67 

 3.42 

 2.76 

 2.85 

 2.65 



Mean. 

 2.44 

 2.07 

 3.08 

 2.76 

 3.32 

 3.18 

 3.49 

 2.74 

 2.27 

 2.23 

 2.47 

 2.71 



Average annual precipitation 



Average annual precipitation, 1914. 

 Average annual precipitation, 1915. 

 Elevation 



33.38 



728 feet 



32.74 

 37.63 

 30.26 

 730 feet 



34.85 

 29.83 

 28.93 

 707 feet 



32.76 



32.78 

 725 feet 



There is only a slight variation in normal rainfall in these four 

 districts, the average annual precipitation for the entire area being 

 not far from 33 inches. In the Alma district the rainfall for 1914 

 was about 5 inches above the average, while in 1915 it was 2.5 inches 

 below normal. In the Grand Rapids region the precipitation was 

 considerably below the average for the two seasons 1914 and 1915. 



A study of the prevailing summer temperature for the sugar-beet 

 regions of the United States has shown that an average of 70° 

 F. during the growing period is conducive to the development of a 

 satisfactory sugar content. This condition obtains in the Michigan 

 and Ohio sugar-beet areas. 



SOILS. 



In Tuscola and Gratiot Counties the soil type that is best adapted 

 to sugar beets, and the one that produces the major portion of this 

 crop, is known as Clyde loam. It is the most extensive type in this 

 region.* Clyde loam has been described as a soil that is easily tilled, 

 if cultivated at the proper time, but if worked when too wet or too dry 

 it breaks up into lumps and is apt to remain in a rough condition dur- 

 ing the entire season. It is especially well suited to the production 

 of sugar beets, beans, corn, oats, wheat, and hay. In the Grand 

 Eapids area Allegan black clay appeared to be the type upon which, 

 the sugar beet was grown most extensively. Clyde clay was the 

 most significant type in the Ohio survey. 



1 Bureau of Soils report, Saginaw area, 1904 ; Bureau of Soils report, Allegan County, 

 1901 ; Bureau of Soils report, Paulding County, 1904. 



