Page:Handbook of Meteorology.djvu/264

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extraordinary in quantity and unsurpassed in quality. The Lake region is below the average in sunshine, but the deficiency does not impair the quality of the fruit crop. The region of greatest cotton production receives from 60 to 70 per cent; and a comparison of this region with that of a lower per cent shows that the higher per cent is essential. Practically every part of the United States receives enough sunshine for a fair crop production, and a very great part receives enough for maximum production.

In the latitude of New Orleans, June days are about 14 hours long; in the latitude of Minneapolis they are nearly 16 hours. The aggregate warmth is about the same in each case. The oblique rays of the sun and their lower heating power are balanced by greater duration in time.