The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-11
TEMPERATURE AND
 GROWING CROPS
From Frost to Frost is About Five Months-In that Time Crops Must Complete Fruition.

According to a recent bulletin is- sued by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station at Storrs the growing season is of five months du- ration, or from May 1 to October 1, or, with specific limits, from May until October 8, a period of 156 days. Crops affected by frost must have com pleted their fruition between these dates.
 A killing frost means that the tenn. perature has fallen below 32> degrees, and that over a large territory at the surface of the ground or a foot above it. Occasional frosts in low swampy sections are not within the meaning of the term. ometimes "cold snap' may come in the middle of May and in the fall about the middle of Sep tember, causing a killing frost, the latter diminishing the growing season.
 The shortest growing season in a period of 21 years was in 1907, when plant life on the farm could mature. The season was from May 24 until Oc- tober 2. The year 1901 gave the longest period, extending from April IS to October 19. 1S4 days. The and the first one in autumn was Oc- tober 13.
 July 20 marks the middle of the growing season, andHusually this date is the warmest day of the year Since the danger from frosts is not passed much before May 15 and in the fall frosts begin about September IS, must be ripened in about 123 days. Depending upon the variety, corn will require from 100 to 120 days to ripen A long developing variety may be planted as soon after May 15 as the weather will permit. More rapidly L1 somewhat later and have plenty of time to mature.
 Corn will sprout at 50 degrees, but slowly. At 55 to 5S degrees it will sprout with increased vigor. It re- quires a sum total of daily tempera- lures above 43 degrees. amounting to 2.700 degrees to develop corn from seedtime until the harvest. Tasseling should take place at the warmest period of the year, July 20, and if the corn has not reached this stage at this time the chances are that it will never reach fruition. The mean temperature. 55 degrees. comes about May IS, and 58 degrees above five days later. An approved test of the temperature of the soil is to place the bulb of a dairy thermometer two inches below the ground When it indicates 55 degrees the ground is suited to receive the seed
 IHlS u0STc6 Ol WdI VIII OCdA OuI the observation of the Indian guide for it is then that the leaves of the white oak will have attained the size of the squirrels ear or the rabbits foot, just the time to drop in the seed corn. When the ground shall have attained the temperature of 5S degrees below the surface, it is time to plant potatoes This will be about April 25. The earlier this staple product of the farm can be started, the better the yield will be. Climatic conditions slightly cooler than ours are more favorable to the growth and develop ment of potatoes. It is desirable that their root system should become well developed before the hot dry weather comes, the better to withstand this most unfavorable condition. a
 Peach trees come into bloom when the mean temperature reaches 53 de- grees, or about May 5. Then the ex- treme minimum temperature or frost line rises above 32 degrees. When the mean temperature is 21 degrees above the freezing point, frosts rarely occur Apple blossoms add their glory to the Connecticut farm when the mean temperature rises to 55 de- grees close to May 10.
 Forest trees require a temperature of 55 to 5s degrees in general, be- fore sending forth their leaves. The dates corresponding with these tenn peratures are May 10 to 25. Of the forest trees first come the Norway maple, and ending the forest process sion are the white oak. chestnut, hickory and the ash.