RealNumberCropGrowth.lua

This script alters the growth dynamics of crops. It may have undesirable effects 
on crops already growing on a map.

If you use this script on an existing map, some crops may suddenly change to a withered 
state.

It is recommended to use this script only on new savegames.

To make the new crop growth cycles effective on the auto-generated crops on a new savegame, 
put the xml file my_cropGrowth.xml into the folder modSettings/RealLifeNumbers/savegamex 
before creating the new game.

Example. If you want to start a new game in savegame5, then put my_cropGrowth.xml into 
the folder modSettings/RealLifeNumbers/savegame5 before creating the new savegame.

Notice that some crops have already reached the harvest state before the game begins in August.
Such crops will be in harvested, withered or cut state when the game begins.

My experience is that you only get one game day in August, no matter how many days-per-period
you have chosen. So you only have one game day to harvest all crops ready to harvest. So it is
better to start the day by harvesting than spending all day setting up animals.

When the game reaches the fist midnight, it will switch to September, and from thereon, you will 
have the days-per-period you had set. But the crops that should have been harvested in August will 
now become withered.

Handling disabled crops

Some maps have certain crops disabled in the seed/harvest calendar because that crop is incompatible
with the local climate. In this case you must either delete that crop from my_cropGrowth.xml or cut it
out and paste it in the comment section at the bottom of the file.

Testing your crop calendar.

To test your crop calendar, follow these steps:

1.

Start a new savegame and sell as much of the land as you are allowed, 
in order to permit auto-seeding on as many fields as possible.

2. 

Set the time speed to 360. You do not use equipment for this test. You just monitor
the state of auto-seeded fields.

3.

Open the map of fields in the menu.

4.

Toggle between crop type view and growth state view.
Toogle also to the crop calendar to see when a crop is to be seeded and when it is to be harvested.
Follow the growth state color changes as you run from August this year to December next year.
Notice also how fields change from harvested state to either plowed or cultivated state.
Notice how state changes start at the north of the map and progress toward the south of the map.

Read more about this script and its xml file in the file HowToInstall_RealLifeNumbers.txt.



