The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-07-17
weather for Farmers.

Bias NEfntCa LAA4sANNACOA1 @AHNG " 80
mstology. He was for twelve years pro-
lessor OF astronomy in the University of
Michigan, aud for the past eight years he
has been editor of the American Ksts0r0l2g-
zeal Journal.
Prof. Harsingtou's first step in his uew
Office is to have twenty of the most skilled
observers who have shown marked ability
in forecasting stationed in the larger
cities and in various places throughout he
country 10 make the forecasts for given
areas. He says in the AMERICAN Mste0r0l0g-
tcll Journal that from past experience
it has been abundanily Shown that a local
predictor in the large cities can. with the
aid of the daily weather maps, make pre-
dictioDs which surpass in justification
those made from Washington"
This must necessarily be the case. other
things being equal, # the local forecsster
has at his disposal all tie Information
available for the general fereeaster, forthe
local observer has a narrower field to pre-
diet for. and has the advantage of any
local signs which are not Involved 10 the
observations at the various stations.
How and where the local forecasters are
to be placed is now under consideration
Congress has made provision for twenty,
and may further increase that number.
he SUCCESSFUL IItQlVtlOb VI nEathSA
Prof. Harrington says, .,is, of course, for
the most part. the result OF information
and practice, but it seems to be due 20 a
peculiar sagacity which it is impossible to
define; it is ike sagacity in other pursuits,
a matter of mentsl makeup, which caunot
be told beforehand, mol supplied when
n~on-existent.
He believes that preparatory practice
should always preeede appointment to the
| general board Of ferecasters, and this can
be had In the local forecasting stations;
the Board should be so small as to keep
the members in constant practice, yet so
large that death or resignation would not
sensibly impair its efficiency.
Prof. Harrington believes in = wide dis
semination of all data pertaining to meteol-
oiogv, to be used by the students in the
| colleges, libraries, &c, throughout the
country. He says:
'The general weather service Of the
| United States has heretofore devoted it
self rather to the interests of commerce
than to agriculture. This has been
because the needs of could be
more completely supplied by general pre-
d~ictions, and also because those interested
in commerce are oongregated in the great
cities and can be more easily reached. It
has not, however, failed to try TO benefit
the farmers, as its predictions OF frosts and
floods for the cotton region and its studies
Of tornadoes, thunder storms, and cold
waves clearly show"
He further says that while the interests
of commerce under the new department
will be as fully considered as heretofore,
there will be an attempt to make the SER
vice OF increased benefit to agriculture by
having the predictions placed in the hands
of the farmer at the earliest possible
moment.
a farmer, lie says, is especially interest
ed in rainfall, and a general or vague pre-
dicti0n is not particularly useful to him.
To know that in Illinois it is to b~e"fair. FOR
there are to be local rains, or even that
ii is to be '%'rainY," does not satisfy his re
quirements; SO far as his needs are con-
cerned forecasts of rain are Of very little
value to him unless they are precise as to
time aud place; lie needs also to know
whether the rain is TO be heavy or light,
With or without wind; whether the rain is
to be Of short or long duration. From the
point OF view of the agriculturist it is a
misfortune that the prediction of soma of
these features forms the most difficult feat
which the forester has to perform.
The climate Of the various States is TO
receive special study. 1t is the average
weather or climate Hhich determines the
agricultural capacity of any region. 1t is
necessary therefore for a farmer to under
stand the climatic conditions under which
be is laboring before he can hope for sue
cess. Drought is to undergo a careful
study as well as cloudbursts and torrential
rains, fogs, the inequality and distribution
Of rainfall, temperature variability over
the State, relative or absolute humidity, the
distribution of snow, the probability of
frosts, the occurrence Of perpetually frozen
soil, tie duration Of freezing weather, the
hot and cold winds Of many States, the
northers OF Texas, all the above and many
other features applicable to the climate he
suggests should be intrusted to individual
students.
The work Of the new Weather Bureau at
the main office in Washington is carried on
under the same professors and indications
officers as under Gen. Greely. Prof. c. Abby
is the senior. with II. A. HaZsn,C G. F. Mar
win and t. Russell, assistants. Major II.
II. {. DunwOody heads the list of forecast
officers, alternating with Lieut.. w. A.
Glassford and assistantPr II. A. iIazen.
Few changes are expected at the various
stations. The observers are for the most
part skilled in local forecasting.
camden Chips.
AS the ferryboat Pennsylvania" was
nearing the wharf at the foot of Federal
street about min o'clock on Sunday even.
ing, William Carpenter, his wife and their
eyen-year-old son attempted to pass by