New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-27
PROFESSOR DRAPER and THE WEATHER.

"Yes" said Professor Draper at the Meteor
illogical Observatory In Central Park to TRIBUNE TO
porter yesterday "tisa curious and backward season
altogether. Look at the appetrecs for instance; IN
former years II has been nvaabe rule for the apple
blossoms tobe well ont by May H. but this year the trees
barely In bloom by the 2lst and 1t has been the
with all vegetables-the year all backward And
II you will look at these tables have prepared he con-
tnued, you viii reason for this. Last month
and this have been much below the tempera-
ure On May IA only had 80 at the early morning
reading; and the only occasion on which the mercury
has stood low in May within the last ten years was on
the Sd Of the month In 1S74-when 1t only registered
$50. Next to that comes 800 on the 4th I'm 1870"
Is 1t possible by comparison with former years to find
any connection between the prevalence OF cyclones sncn
occurred much of late and the general back
wardness Of the season I"
mo. Cyclones and evidently in q largo
measure dependent on the conformation OF the carths
surface but we have no atmospheric meteorological
assign for their greater frequency In one year
than another Nor from the GOODNESS hitherto can we
argue all the weather In store for u.s. We coud
only Of ascertuinng In what quarter the
wind was going blow better STILL II we could only
make it blow from whatever quarter VIC nked' tnen
We could count with certainty upon our weather Inc
wind Is of responsible for In aarge measure
and 30 long IL blows wherever II lists all prognosucs
lions must be pure guess-work.
"The rainfall. again. is q puxxlins question. Lsst
weeks rain was certainly unusual Take this month OF
last year and find that tho heaviest fall was on the
l4th, when liz inches fell In fifteen hours Now lsse
Monday Ia inches fell In the space OF one hour-De.
tween IL and IL o'clock ct night There are - you
know great many theories about the rain ana ss
large fires Will causes heavy RAINFALL In support Of which
instances are adduced OF showers railing gSsw
went lighting big bonres to bring down rain but &c
only served to show that II s pure matter OF chance
II = cannonadng . confederation takes place on .
rainy day will very likely rain. but as many
have been left dry Is wet Them .Eaip there tnS
that forest dimnishes the rainfall OF dstrict
which sfinister Marsh has done 50 much TO support
But so find out though the fall varies every
where there is ground for suPposng that cntune
down the timber has the effect OF lessening It. stu
forests are service I'm this wAy;-woodeo
districts swsmps great natural
when rain falls they absorb quickly-suck 10 IKE
sponge and pre-, ent Its nooding the country y01
lear them away the rain falls and, instead OF pene
pours the water and floods arc the
result II tho country was kept moro wooded there CAL
be no question that II would diminish the danger 9.
foods But the loss Of trees lessenng the Rainfall
why. II it is what happens to all the rain Cutting
down trees does not stop the evaporation iron going on
from the ocean, and 1t prevented from FALLING Were
does go to II 1t were true tho whole sky w9ua h 70
continually overcast with heavy Clouds aud py tnis
| time we should all be living In semi-darkness