The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-01-27

THE systematic and widespread observa
tions of meteorological phenomena which
are now, unde Governmental auspices
being carried on throughout Europe, tbs
United States, and the ColonieS~s1T viii
wear to be of t+n4--~ts-Es and rena@
ooo,cunTb he snre eacn
1ortrr(-.Inf--Ine greatest Importance to
C,Amerce, agriculture, and science.
Along the course of the great rivers in the
United States tri-daily measurements are
made of the height of the water, and from
the central office of the Storm-signal Bureau
at Washington bulletins are telegraphed to
the commercial centres, and freights and
charters, purchases and sales are made in
accordance with the probabilities +" affect
ing the transportation by water of merohan-
disc and products.
On the great lakes, as well as on the sea-
board, the arrival and departure of vessels
are predicated upon the latest weather re-
ports, and obedience to the warnings given
by the "danger 81 gnals" raised at marine
stations is made q condition by insurance
underwriters.
In the ~grain-growing districts the records
of the annual rainfall in past years have
been carefully studied, and the prospective
price of cereals is largely influenced by their
comparison with the present time-the pro-
Queer and buyer d%iscounting the future
crop in terms in accordance with deduo-
lions made from tn csc reports.
We might enlarge upon this topic by
presenting some points bearing upon the
value to science of the systematic observa-
ton of meteorolo gical changes; but, for the
present, we confine ourselves 10 the prac-
teal bearing it has u pom the growth and
manufacture ofsugar. Mr.. f. Mac Donnell,
the Meteorological Observer at Sydney, n.
s. w, has published his report for 1881,
and a study of its contents by the editor of
The Sugar Planter, shows that "the value
of registering the rainfall, and temperature,
or recording the greatest barometrio and
smallest magnetic disturbances of every
sugar district are imperative, if high Guilt
walton and successful results are demanded
for plantat ions.n The result of his ohserva-
tons of the shade temperature extending
over a series of years shows that sit Is q
fact, that good colored sugars are never
made from extra cloudy season. The
sugars of 1882 crops prove this assertion
He also finds that cycles of temperature
exist, as is instanced in Many natural phe-
nomena
The planters throughout this group should
keep regular records of rainfall, shade tenn
perature, direction and force of winds, and
amount aahrIkind of clouds. The barometer
indicatiopsca re also an important element
in determining the approach of storms or
their subsidenoe; and we would suggest
that the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural
Society embody in their work the orgdniza-
ton of a system of meteorological reports,
and present a synopsis of the same in their
published proceedings. There is a greatdeal
of material in the shape of records in the
past that can, doubtless, be procured which
would be of much value in the study of our
climate and its changes, and If those IN
are now in the habit of noting the rainfall
and other atmospheric disturbances would
cause their notes to be published, much
valuable information would be quickly ac-
an-arnlAAAl