Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1871-07-22
V RMONT FARM e r.


ductive. In the southern states they have
nearly three times the amount of rain that
we do, yet we have three times the number
of rainy days. This law holds good as we
travel from the topics towards the poles, the
stormy weather increases, but the amount of
rain decreases. In Florida, they have about
80 inches; ut Philadelphia, about so inches !;
Providence, 40 inches; on the summit of
Mt Washington, 30 inches; ut the Crawford
House, ~ inches; ut Burlington. 80 inches
You will notice the difference between the
summit and foot of Mt. Washington is ten
inches. This is an invariblc fact of all
mountains, that more water falls ut the base
than ut the summit. The reason is many
showers do not reach so high and then when
it rains every drop increases in size until it
reaches the earth. and those falling the fmth-
phere consequently the result.
There are many places on the earth where
much more rain falls than in any portion of
the United States. The average rain fall in
Calcutta is Is inches on the Amazon River.
500 inches; in Guadeloupe 2S2 inches: in
Singapore. 100 inches and many other places
equally large, yet the summary of observa-
tions throughout the world establish the fol-
lowing facts: That within the topics the av-
erage amount of rain is one hundred inches
and the average number of rainy DAYS eighty
In Il belt including the southern states. sew
enty inches in one hundred twenty-five rainy
days. In belt that would take in Vermont
on the north, forty-five inches in one hundred
fifty-siX rainy days; while the average fall in
Siberia is but five and II half inches in one
hundred seventy-five stormy DAYS Crhe
Smithsonian Institution ut Washington bv n
corps of observers throughout the world are
cndeavorng to establish the theory of storms,
and ascertain whether there are any rules by
which coming storms can he predicted
These observations are published monthly
and interchanged with I'LL the observers.
Much has been done towards reducing the
different theories, and some faint glimmering
Is seen of II perfect system of predicting
storms. yet whether it will be accomplished
in our day is "a doubt. That it sometime
may Is very probable. Many facts have been
established and much more remains to be
done. 1t is fully established that all our
great storms commence in the Gulf of Mex
leo or Caribbean Sea. moving slowly up the
coast, and IN from six to ten days reach this
section. Or course we can never expect the
regularity III storms which the torrid zone
experiences, where one continuous cloud
belt enclrcles the earth. and the northeast
and southeast trade winds blow perpctually.
and are rs steady and constant us the current
of the Mississippi River, always moving in
the same direction. The great cloud belt
before spoken of swings gradually from north
W Soutii' tNtcH'tiHS ABOUT thirty degrees from
the cquartor on either side making the two
seasons of the tOrrid zone. Fragments of
this cloud hurled northcrly by the fierce
whilwinds and counter currents on the
northern edge of this cloud belt sometimes
reach even rs far north as Vermont. thus
transporting to us the vapors of topical
climcs.
But to the agricuturist the ability to fore
tell even for IL day the approach of II storm is
many times of great advantage | will.
therefore, explain the uses of such instru-
ments as will aid IN forming reliable con-
cusion Us to the probabilities, many times
amounting to an absolute certainty, of n
coming storm. First, it is necessary to as-
certain the amount of water held either by
saturation or clouds in the atmosphere. If
the atmosphere in this latitude is thoroughly
saturated, il may contain about five inches of
water all invisible to the general observer.
yet with such II degree of snturation the
heavenly bodies will appear somewhat dim
ly, and us water is II much better conductor
OF sounds than air, sounds will be more
readily transmitted. People will notice the
difference and call it the sign of q storm.
But us without Instruments the amount of
moisture must become yankee guess. il
will not answer for the scientific observer.
lie must have something tangible.
with the common uses of the thermometer
all are acquainted and at first thought it
would seem impossible that it could be used