New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-09
SNAKES, SHOWS AND RAINS.
A TALK WITH PROFESSOR DRAPER.


HE EXPLAINS THE SIGNIFICANCE OBJ SOME MErE.
GEOLOGICAL FIGURES.
Are early snakes a sure sign Of dry sum-
mer y This question propounded to Professor
Draper OF tho Central Park Meteorological
by q Tribune reporter
"Why snakes" answered the Professor, any more
than any other animal that hides itself In tho ground
during the winter r.
Because said the reporter, farmer in tho wilds Of
Pennsylvania has come FOR ward with grand hypothesis
that whenever snakes particularly lively in April
is sure forerunner OF such dryness that crops will
be literally burned In the fields He cites various years
particularly IS62, which WAS extremely dry year
Early in April OF that year bands snakes called upon
HIN and Kissed the compliments OF the season at his
doorstep Then he knew what was coming arranged
his agricultural labors accordingly and warned his
neighbors-who laughed him to But tho end
justified his predictions What does your meteorological
science say to that, Protsssorr
why, just this. There is an indirect connection
between the two facts, which in while will make
such predictions certain. Tho main factor In the
is the fall of When this has slight In
any given winter, springs ald wells will DO likely
dry; for these fed by tho SHOWS than by rains
which drain away rapidly, now that the forests have
been ared and the and marshes In them have
dried you have walked about forest land you
must haze remarSed that every depression OF the
ground, the waters from rains rested and made the
small reservoirs OF forest land should form the main
supply OF natural springs and Of wells. But when the
have all been cut away the fierce heat OF the
rapidly tho moisture OK the marsh to evaporate
and then come cultivation and new arrangement OF
levels In consequence of this tho main supply for the
sprn is now the snowfall. In 1882 there
fail OF only II inches, and In 1888 it 52ia inches.
This year there was no Snow in November, In
December 1919 inches in January, 5l inches In Feb
ruary inch ony In March, and in April only hurries OF
snow that melted 1t reached the ground.
THIS gives only 19a inches, extremely slight snow
fall Now the less there Is to be melted IN aces
whore the snow lies until the arrival Of SPRING the more
quickly the mclts 1t and the tho snakes
arrive DO you SEQ I"
In measure, yes,' replied tho reporter, nut
should think the crops would be more dependent upon
rains than upon winter SHOWS, whatever may be
the fact with regard to springs"
"That perfectly correct" SAID the Professor nodding
his hell In approving way, "ani therefore tho pro-
diction true only when tho same year brings
light fall OF snow IN winter and light rainfall in
summer Whether there any law binding these two
factors together cannot say, but thlnk not. Our
winter rainfall mas been qate UP to the average But
there arc two eensns Ia meteoroio cal observations
which my reports hitherto have given only partially
DURATION the other Is quality. Oh farmers are
particularly observant about tho latter and know that
there Is muc difference In the kinds OF RAIN Duration IS
immense importance. II it is stated that there has
nothing about its effect upon his unless the
duration OF the fall is also known suppose the duration
only an hour and hail. then'the rain was orentia-
and must have done great damage to his crops, but II 1t
twelve hours, thcn OIL tho contrary 1t was most
beneficial Now IN regard to ;he heat OF the third week
OF April OF this year tho statements usually made convey
Monday OF the Thermometer at o'clock in the
ard on Friday 81. But does any statenent Of that
give the true fact Does 1t explain TOW In that
f4af oil hrraf nfn Ia h
plants into blossomng. and all the shrubs into
flower. What does any man mean by the statement
that Thermometer marked 50 degrees in the shade T.
The Professor paused for moment aud then went on
In the shade means different things at different Tines
force e,sr;ed last week, will tell you that the direct
heat OF the sun on Monday at O'clock II the afternoon
and on Friday was 12s But mark the Importance or
maintained for considerable space OF time; on Thurs
day the highest point reached was touched Tor an instant
only and the real figure WAS three degrees lower;
While on Friday the highest point reached was sustained
for than all hour. In my reports cannot give
but the important factor OF duration Is given to
second. The nights OF these three hot days were not
no. At in the morning tho temperature on Monday
was 40 degrees; Thursday 50. and on Friday 81.
Now rpening wine tho calculation OF boat In the
shade extremely important. II We subtract the night
Temperature from the day temperature the SHADE
obtain a Inference OF IS degrees Monday. 23 degrees
change must be fatal to the maturing wine and have
therefore hope that wine will ever be made success
presume. Professor" the reporter, that the
fruit which out IN flower at the solicitation
OF the arc now in great danger oi DeihS hppeu ny
frosts -
think not" the Professor replied, after nom ents
reflection. cold wave has undoubtedly come upon |
but all It can do !, to wrap IN misty
But there have been frosts In Apr-even at
the end Of the month. IN 1874, on the night OF
the 2sth. tho thermometer marked 81 on the night
OF the 10Th, 80. and the same again on the last |
night OF the month. But the Importance OF these |
depends entirely upon the duration OF these low
temp eratnres cannot now give You their duration,
but can give you the ross OF the month OF Aprii OF s
year. divide the twenty -four hours into three sections
Prom sunset till midnight, from midnight I'll sunrise
and from sunrise till Now on April y, 1852 the
thermome ] a. M indicated 30 degrces at a. m.
81 legrees at "a m, 20 degrees at a. M, IS
degrees; at w. % degrees; at o. M, 20 degrees
month the dc2rees for the corresponding houts
were 3D. 20, 80, 81, ~. 2sagaD six hours OF contln-
uous FROST the 18th nad 80, 80 30. 49, 20, 3lT
still frosty hours and the 10Th the record ran 80
fter that there doubt II we shall nave any
this year. because there little no snow 10 the hern
Of There s every prospect OF great rut crop unu
Of unusual In Horticulture ana the only thlhs
that could possibly damage the former would De heavy
continuous rains which ght wash the pollen from the
anthers aud prevent the fertilization OF the einao
=.
II understand you correctly, Professor, your SELF
registering Instruments give with absolute accuracy
every variation OF temperature
Certainly. aud every detection OF wlnd, ana every
mere decrease IN its strength II IS simple apln
a0n OF cOckwOrk and recording pencils 10 inc usua
hern ometers and GAUGES that every movement, auo
y gauge instrument sets III motion tne hacnlnor5
operating pencil or upon gradei Quart ruIeu on
% seconds, minutes and hours The constant ODserVs.
ion OF these changes satisfies me that there are iaws
Governing them which Will be kEO Tn some DAY. Inc
most battling thing Is that sudden increase IN tne
Iiolence OF a wind when We ordinarily term gust
cannot explain IL at all"
---
THE 40