The times., 1900-12-30
SHOOTING AT THE CLOUDS
A Popular European Method of
Ayerting Haiist0rms.
Agricultural Societies Interested in
city - Artificial Whirlwinds First
introduced in Austria During the
Reign of Empress Maria Theresa.

The practice Of shooting at the clouds"
with cannon or other specially constructed
contrivances for the purpose OF dispelling
threatened hailstorms is rapidly changing
from the odd TO the commonplace through
out Europe. In continental newspapers enc
reads at present Of the systematic use Of
artificial storm destroyers in almost every
country where agriculture ferns the chief
mainstay Of prosperity. In many parts of
France, Italy, Germany, and Aus ria, the
custom has grcwn so extensively that it
often forms an official department of the
municipality. In such cases, with the as
sistance of the neighboring landowners
and farmers thorough systems have been
devised, until the elements have become
so firmly harnessed that it is almost i'm
possible for them to infiict injury or de-
struetion to crops.
Indeed so widespread is the public in
terest in this valuable aid to agriculture
at present that the leading agricultural
societies have taken UP the subject with
a view TO contributing to the means al
ready employed the results of their mi
nue. inYestiga tion. In Vienna recently a
congress of the members of the meJeOro
logical institute was called, at which
the various methods of cloud shooting
we. e exhaust lively dis .ussed and many new
experiments were INSPIRED, which cannot
fail TO be of great benefit to the farmers
in the districts peculiarly susceptible to
the rayages of hail-storms.
From the report of the proceedings of
this congress, IL seems that the idea of
averting stoyms J means of cannon shots
is not a new one in Austria. II WAS first
introduced during the reign OF Empress
Maria Theresa, who issued a decree pro-
hibiting the use of cannon by the peas
antry shortly after the adoption of the
practice.
In time however, this decree was over
ruled, and in the year 1886 the burgo-
master of Windish-FeistriIZ, in Styria,
again introduced the method in Austria,
substituting in place of the ordinary can
non new weapon. This consisted of
funnel-shaped barrel OF sheetiron six and
one-half feet long, and seventy-nine cent
meters (26.S inchesl in diameter at the
muzzle and twenty centimeters G.s
inches) at the base. The idea of the broad
muZzle was TO distribute the discharge
over greater space and thus increase the
effect. So successful were the results at
tanned by the burgomasters experiments
that in 1897 the municipality of Windish-
Feistritz counted no less than thirty
shooting stations; since when there have
been no haiistorms whatever il that To-
cality.
Nowhere. however, has cloud shooting
found such general usage as in the yicini-
t. of Venice. Lombardy, and Piedmont,
districts that formerly suffered fearfully
from the destructiveness Of hailstorms.
During the summer of last year there were
ST least 2.0aO stations. built on the plan Of
those constructed in Styria. At congress
held a short time ago in Castle Monferra-
10 it was found that in numerous locali-
ties. where shooting stations had not been
introduced hailstorms were still Of fire.
quHnt occurrence. causing immense dam
age 10 crops and property, whereas the
districts protected by artificial means were
entirely free from loss from such causes.
In speech delivered before the Vienna
meteorological institute in Vienna a few
weeks ago BurgOmaster Stiger, the origi
nator Of the present method. gave some
interesting facts regarding his first expe-
riments with the eloud-shooting cannon.
He began his experiments with the fun
damentsl principle Of disturbing the in
tels>. stiffness preceding a haiis;orm, in
view OF the established fact that there is
no physical reason why sound waves should
exercise an effect on the formation OF hail,
Stiger determined that II would be neces-
sary to confine his operations 10 creating
a form of whirlwind
An official trial in 1897. conducted Ly
an expert, demonstrated that after the
firing of a shot a small whirlwind arises,
easily perceptible in the reflected sun
shine. This whirlwind ascsnds with
piercing whistle. the sound lasting for
thirteen seconds in daytime and twenty
seconds at night. During this experiment
Il was noticed that a swallow which flew
within the radius of one OF these whirl
winds instantly dropped dead. On exami-
nation, the bird had the appearance of
being shot
The mechanical energy created by the
wind thus produced, upon which Stiger
laid great stress, found few supporters
in Europe until at the congress in Cas-
ale. Italy. a Professor Roberts reported
that at a distance of 240 feet the wind
had destroyed a strong diaphragm. There
after several experiments held at St Ca
therine demonstrated thas the whirlwind
was the main if not the sole agent in d.
verting hall
Il is calculated that these artificial
whiilwinds carry their energy TO height
of 1000 to 1000 yards, thus accounting
for their effect on the clouds. As regards
the creation of the wind, explanation is
that the air circulating in the mouth of
the funnel is set in motion by the expio-
sion Of the powder and hurled forth in
a ball that expands upon leaving the fun
mel until it's full force is reached some
distance overhead. In actual operation
RAPID firing is avoided its effect being 10
diminish the force of the wind. The
shooting must be done during the quiet
preceding the storm. Only quick matches
or fuses should be used, percussion caps
and similar inventions being barred
Scientific American.