IG Kindling Fires to Produce Bain. 



among the natives of the New Continent, from Canada to Pa- 

 raguay, has recently proposed to produce, in times of drought, 

 artificial rains, and his means of doing so is by kindling 

 large fires.* In support of his scheme, M. Espy mentions 

 the following : — 



The opinion of the Indians of Paraguay, who, according to 

 the report of the missionaries, set fire to vast savannahs 

 when their crops are threatened with drought, and allege 

 that they thus produce even storms accompanied with thunder ; 



The opinion of the colonists of Louisiana, and the success 

 from time immemorial of burning the prairies in that State ; 



The opinion of the population of Nova Scotia, respecting 

 the consequences of burning forests ; 



The opinion and practice of the colonists of the districts 

 of Delaware arid Otsego, &c., &;c. 



M. Espy says, that he has assured himself, in various ways, 

 that the climate of Manchester has undergone gradual and 

 sensible modifications, in proportion as manufacturing indus- 

 try has increased. Since that city has become, so to speak, 

 a vast furnace, it rains there 7nore or less every day. Those 

 who pretend that the deterioration of the climate is not so 

 considerable, assure us that it does not rain at Manchester 

 more than six days in the seven ! 



Suppose these facts to be as averred. The predictions of 

 rain, in a given place, will often be overturned by accidental 

 fires, and by the fires of manufactories. 



Space and time will not allow me to point out the multi- 

 tude of local causes which may exercise a great influence on 

 the direction and force of the wind. I shall discuss this de- 

 licate question in another notice. At present, I shall confine 

 myself to a remark well-fitted to enlighten those who, from 

 want of meteorological instruments, take for their guides the 



* It has long been an opinion entertained by the peasantry in the south of 

 Scotland (we know not whether the belief prevails elsewhere), that muir-burn, 

 or the burning, in the spring, of old heather and other plants, in order to pro- 

 duce a more tender and nutritious vegetation, a practice which was once very 

 general, has a decided tendency to produce a change of weather, and to bring 

 on rain. — Ed. 



