El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-01-23
SNnSpOtS Govern
EarthS Rainfall
And Tree Gr0Wth

That sunspots may govern or at
least affect the growth OF vegetation
on the earth; that rainfall is heav-
lest when sunspots are most numer-
Gus. and possibly as a result Of sun
spots that the kind Of weather the
world has had for the past three or
four thousand years can be deter
mined in study Of the rings Of trees
and that weather may eveutually be-
come practicable with accuracy were
assertions and hints contained in a
lecture delivered Thursday night in
the basement OF the chamber OF com
merce by Dr. A F. Douglas, director
Of the Stewart observatory at Tue
son. Arizona
Dr.. Douglas filled the engagement
for Dr. D. T. MacDougaL Of the Car
negie desert laboratory, who was 70
have lectured on The AFRICAN
Desert" Dr. 1IacDougal, however
was called TO California by the IL
ness and death OF his daughter
Meaning OF Rings
The speaker has made practically
lie study Of trees in California
Arizona and Colorado in America
and in Germany and other north
European countries with the aiu OF
a stereoptican he explained the mean
ing OF rings IN trees which inulcale
not only their age but the cilnlallc
conditions they have lived through
amour- the sequoias OF Calitor-
mia, DR.. Douglas found one tree
that WAS 5000 years Old many
that he found were 1000 and more
rerrF old These trees were IN
some instances 30 feet in diameter
and as much as $50 feet high
weather records on the Faclllc
.eoszr date no farther back than 1e5ui
re lecturer said. but comparison
with such records as are eNtant pear
out his other Investigations iea1ins
TO the conclusion thaL a laI5s LLu5
Indicates heavy rainfall and hlEnef
temperature weather Leeoles S-- q,
ing hack 10 the early 18th century IN
london. corroborate these findings
Preceded by Sunspots-
II IS also noted Intl uAla-. -
large growth OF tree IS accom- e-ll.su
IN nossfblv. preceded BY a large num-
- - srr-snots What the relation
Is Ur. Douglas said lie would n9L a.
+s,-,r,+ to saw. but predicted a relatllon
would be found LnaL Nou-- 49,
4-sef1I to both commercial ana @6Il-
cultural interests. - o15
In q similar way the a6e " -
-r,fr7s in Northwestern New 1880
NV eventually be Determines - -
rir7rs in the beams 1ounQ IA t--sil.-
with the aid OF peIlousLa P-
astronomer is working on ina So
-. 80 Or Douglas showed IN some
lsfa1 how he collected the Spec
mems he studied 10 ueLelllluS -
rurnber Of rings IN trees anu 49,
80 sud meaning He toOh cIos9
l9s7' Explains Events IN History ,
IN making compar! sons ~ --4--er
lessor found thet rings Lol 7.-;,7-
5atss coresponded closely over WIZ
sreas. sometimes as much as ~
miles apart He hlnted tn1l l l5---,
events in history could Ds eAl-----s
~, v-bat some the rings indica leo- {
for instance certain activities OF ne tile
indians took place during some y ~. ~.
---o-st drouEhts in the history OF tne Z
country. At any rate the tree Illl5s /
S,1;-,r +, beavy droughts in the years /
ne activities occurred
- 6 FIR- Worreu OF the school OF 4
mines n nou
Following the lecture OF ~ ,---,.l,- 4
plos a smoker was held IN MS noLlol ]
81 vnich plans were made IoE ol s'-.l
szirr re Southwestern DIVISION On
ne American Association 1oI ., ~ Az =, I
-ancement Of Science DIT. El-olL = I
Prentiss was chosen chairman anu I
secretary