The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-03-26


February 2l.-All foreign and naval
battles are promptly and accurately
reported IN the United States, but
those that have occurred in tho air
in the last eighteen months seem to
have escaped attention.
In an age when all those afflicted
with misology are claiming their
God given right to "seek and fnd,"
and many arc exercising this right
50 carelessly that quacks and fads
abound, it is not surprising that some
have included among the "fads" the
most important movement going on
in Italy, Austria, France, Hungary
and even Spain, to deliver the agri-
culturist from the scourge of hail.
refer to the firing of cannon to dis
perse ha:.. clouds.
Strange as the method may seem,
experiments tried in various pro.
vinces, in different countries, have
demonstrated beyond doubt that hail
storms may be averted by blank
cartridges being discharged vertically
from a cannon. The strong cloud
circle thus created in the air affects
an area of about 5000 feet, lnsuring
the district below immunity from
hail. Of course, tho discharge must
be made in time aud in tho proper
manner
No scientific explanation has yet
been advanced to account for The
firing of cannon changing the hail
into fine snow and rain and also
causing cessation of lightning, but
faces are incontrovertible and thou
sands of reliable witnesses testify
that the districts employing cannon
have escaped hail storms; while ad
joining provinces, not thus battling,
have been ravaged by them.
The illustrious promoter of apply
ing tactics to hail clouds is Prof.
Stiger, of Styria, Austria, where ex-
periments were first tried in 1899.
But the idea has taken better root in
Italy and has been greatly fostered
by the Hon. Ottavi, q member of the
Italian Parliament. These two mon
merit the gratitude of the agrlcul-
turists of the entire world for having
begun a movement which promises
to insure them against frequent total
loss of crops. This loss in Italy
ranges from SO, 100000 to $5,OOO,O0O
annually.
In 1899, before cannon stations
we're established in Lombardy, I
witnessed of the saddest scenes. The
vintage was near at hand, the vines
had never promised better return
to the husbandman and the mulberry
trees were most luxuriant. In the
twinkling of an eye, on a glorious
fair day, the hail clouds formed and,
quickly descending, spread devasta-
tlon and terror all around. The
labor Of whole year destroyed in a
few minutes! Imagine what this
meant to the poor peasants.
Last year, about the same season,
again I looked out similarly fair
day on an equally promising vine.
yard. Suddenly the terrible omen
confronted the contradlni, but this
time, thanks to the precautions taken
by the Anti-Hail Society, the cloud,
broke only in blessings on the pea.
SAINTS heads.
Like fire engine stations, the can.
non stations are guarded and the
first intimation Of hail cloud is
flashed from station to station to
start the aerial battle.
1t was the first experiment here at
Casale Litta, and with bated breath
we watched the dark circle of cloud,
created by the cannon discharge
gradually lifting itself up and OK
panding to meet it's adversary. Dowr
came the terrifying hail, but very
small, and WAS very soon changed
into fine snow and rain, giving onl,
refreshment to the parched soil
What a contrast to the former year
and what q rejoicing in Casale
Litta!
1t was a great triumph, too, TO
the Duo, who had had to use g