New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 387 
RECORDS OF SUNSHINE. 
These records were begun in May, 1885, and in the report for 
that year a description of the instruments was given and the hope 
was expressed that “the continuation of these records for several 
years, together with careful observations upon the growth of . 
plants, may show some relation between the amount of sunshine 
and -plant development.” ; 
The records were kept continuously until the end of August, 
1887, when a failure to procure properly prepared paper, caused 
its being dropped for a time. It was resumed for four months of 
1888, June to September inclusive. The full record for 1889 has 
been made and is given below. 
The method first adopted of giving the daily records under four 
headings before 9 a. M., from 9to 12 m, 12M. to 3p. m, and all 
after 3 Pp. M. has been followed. 
This record is followed by a condensed summary by months of 
the records previously made. 
The summary shows more sunshine in the first four months of 
1889 than in the corresponding months of 1886-7, but for May, 
June and September there was a much less than average amount 
of sunshine. A deficiency of sunlight during these important 
months, may be fraught with dire consequences to our agricultural 
plants. This lack of sunshine for June is associated with excessive 
rainfall. Early fruit could not develop the finest flavors, and late- 
ripening crops were delayed by this lack of sunshine. 
