1168 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXX, No. 12 
of nearly all varieties, as picking was 
begun September 20 and extended 
through October 11, several days later 
than usual. In some degree the late¬ 
ness of ripening added to the amount 
of sunshine received, as the whole 
period, September 20 to October 11, 
was one of clear warm weather, 
broken by rain only on September 23. 
The various varieties thus received 4 to 
10 days of uninterrupted sunshine after 
the close of the period which has been 
considered for purposes of comparison. 
That there was very little if any actual 
shortage of sunshine as compared with 
1918 or 1919 is indicated by the fact 
that the crop, which was the largest 
harvested during the five-year period, 
ripened normally, full characteristic 
have been discussed. It remains to 
bring the climatological data and the 
analytical results together and to 
determine whether variations in the 
conditions under which the crop is pro¬ 
duced exert discoverable and consistent 
effects upon the chemical composition 
of the fruit. If consistent mass effects 
appear under certain seasonal condi¬ 
tions, i. e., if a majority of a large 
number of varieties behave as one with 
respect to the chemical character of the 
crop, after individual variations have 
been eliminated by using composite 
samples made up of the entire crops oi 
a considerable number of plants of each 
variety, one may feel warranted in the 
conclusion that seasonal factors are 
responsible for such mass effects. 
Jan. Feb. Maw. Apr. May June July Ao&. Sept Oct Nov Dec. 
Fig 12 .—Maximum, minimum, and mean monthly temperatures at Vineland, N. J., in 1923, with 50-year 
average for comparison 
color being developed in those varieties 
which do not color well in an unfavor¬ 
able season. With practically no ex¬ 
ceptions, the fruit of all varieties was 
regarded at picking time as of dessert 
quality fully equal to that of any 
previous year. 
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AS RELATED 
TO VARIATIONS IN CHEMICAL 
COMPOSITION OF THE CROP 
The seasonal conditions prevailing 
during the period covered by the studies 
of the crop have been described in some 
detail. The analytical results have 
been presented and the character and 
extent of the fluctuations in content of 
sugar, acid, and astringent constituents 
The writer knows of no very exten¬ 
sive or exact studies upon this point to 
be found in the literature. Munson 
(49) publishes sugar and acid deter¬ 
minations, made with Oeschles’ scale 
and TwitchelFs acidometer, upon juices 
of 89 varieties grown at Denison, Tex., 
in 1906 and 1907. He remarks that the 
season of 1906 was excessively rainy 
and cool, and that the readings for 
sugar are all 5 to 20 points (Oeschle’s 
scale) lower and the acid readings 1 to 4 
points (TwichelFs instrument) higher 
than in 1907, which was a much warmer 
and drier season (49, pp. 123-125), 
saying further that 
it is true that the degrees of sweet and acid vary with 
season, soil, condition and age of vines, and with 
change of weather, but varieties generally maintain 
their relative positions throughout the changes, with 
some unimportant exceptions. 
