570 Forestry Quarterly. 



well taught are better fitted to become really practical, i. e. able 

 to apply their knowledge to a purpose and invent new applica- 

 tions. 



We hope that what has been done in the report for clearing-up 

 the hazy conceptions of what forestry teaching involves for the 

 higher grades may now be done for the lower grades, which need 

 most serious attention. 



The rain makers are at work again, this time in Michigan, 

 in the city which is noted for other fads, Battle Creek, and that 

 under the auspices of the Industrial Association of the place 

 whose duty is to advertise it, supposedly hard-headed business 

 men. They send out cHppings and other paraphernalia giving ac- 

 count of a successful rain produced by explosives (dynamite) 

 on July 23. 



Shall we say, the crop of fools never dies out, or is always 

 reproduced? No, we will not say that, for, sometimes, what 

 could not be done at one time may even by a really foofish 

 misconception of conditions become possible at another time. 

 From the evidence received we are, however, still incHned to 

 side with the doubting Thomases. We see no reason for believing 

 that the problem is solved ; certainly the explanation of the rain- 

 maker as regards his success is contrary to all other physical 

 knowledge. 



We have ourselves passed, in 1891, through a period of trouble 

 in holding up the standard of scientific truth, when Congress ap- 

 propriated money for rain-making experiments to the Forestry 

 Division. The arguments against the expectation of forcing the 

 large masses of air that must be influenced to do our bidding are 

 laid down in the annual report of the Division and will make 

 now again interesting reading. We cannot afford the space to 

 recite them. Meanwhile the Weather Bureau which has come in 

 for a good deal of abuse in connection with the matter will go on 

 predicting rain, about 80 per cent, correct, and sometimes 90 per 

 cent., and not, as the ignorant burghers expect, always. 



