Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-14
Agricultural.



The increased attention that has lately been
given to meteorological science has led to the
discovery of many interesting facts, some Of
them of considerable value in forecasting the
weather for few hours, and possibly in some
cases for few days, ahead. The work of
the signal service, and the fact that its prodic-
tons prove true in majority of cases, has
brought out crop of private rivals in the
business of foretelling the weather, a few of
them protesting to reveal the date of coming
storms, or of hot or cold periods months in
advance. OF this they probably know just
as much and very little more, than any one
who has examined the records of temperature
and climatic changes for previous years; yet
there are never wanting plenty of people to
put faith in the most absurd and improbable
of prophecies. There are still living thous-
ands of people who have a superstitous re-
gard for the effect of the moons changes, for
which Robert Thomas Old Almanac is partly
responsible. Vennor wins fame by making
predictions about the weather, which natu-
rally come to pass at times, and just as natu-
rally fail at other times-the instancesin which
they have been verified being, according to
Prof Cleveland Able, about one in four.
The officers of the United States signal SER
vice, and others who have made the forecast
ing of the weather study for years, do not
pretend to foretell storms or sudden changes
in the atmosphere with much certainty except
for short time in advance, or after the indi-
cations of such changes have commenced.
Having Information by telegraph of the gath
ering of a storm in distant part of the coun-
try, and knowing its extent and the direction
in which it is moving its approach may be
foretold with reasonable certainty. Prof.
Able says 1.-The attempts to predict the
weather, and especially storms, which are now
daily made by the meteorological offices of
numerous civilized nations, would of them
selves seem to imply the existence of de-
ductive science more or less developed This,
however, is not necessarily the case for it
has been found practicable on the one hand,
by means of the telegraph, to collect in few
hours material for compiling a daily weather
map of the whole of Europe or the United
States and on the other hand to apply to such
maps the numerous congratulations that have
been found to hold good for the respective
portions of the world"
1t has been claimed that the signal service
is especially beneficial to farmers; and SO,
doubtless, it is-or would be at certain times
if it were not for the fact that farmers habits
of observation enable them to foretell a storm
with about as much certainty as any official
weather man. We do not mean to include in
this class, however, the believers in the influ-
ence of the moons changes. The moon is
changing at all times, and not materially more
at one time than at another. But the average
farmer, in the country where he has been ac-
quainted from boyhood, will predict the com
ing of a storm, and its extent and duration,
with what seems wonderful accuracy to one
less observing. In an occupation where Sc
much depends upon the rain and the sun
shine, the senses are educated to perceive in
dications of atmospheric changes that escape
the notice of those less interested.
In this state there is great difference in
the meteorology of different sections, so that
only those familiar with particular locality
can best foretell the weather for that place
Local storms or squalls occur frequently along
the line of the mountains, extending only a
few miles beyond them. Thus the snow ii
sometimes three or four feet deep in the towr
of Stratton when the ground is bare at Ar
lington, only ten miles distant. So some oil
the towns of this county are sometimes parch
ed with drouth when others are not suffering
from want of rain. These local differences
give the resident farmer an advantage, in pre-
dieting the weather for his own section, ovel
the officer of the signal service at a distan
station.