158 PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 1905 
Now, as the force of the wind is proportional to the 
steepness of the gradients, we find that the direction 
of curvature of a barogram tells us whether a gale is 
going to get worse or otherwise, because we can tell if the 
gradients are becoming steeper or otherwise. We must 
be very careful to remember that, though a rapid rate 
of fall is in a general way a worse sign of weather than a 
moderate one, the indications, deduced from the curvature 
of a barographic trace, depend on the variation of the rate, 
and not on the rate itself. 
The cultivation of, and deductions from, the varying 
conditions personally experienced is an interesting feature 
which I do not remember ever having seen enlarged upon, 
although the extent to which existing conditions, as affect- 
ing the individual, may, in conjunction with instrumental 
observations, be realised and estimated is capable of much 
refinement. 
Everyone feels how cold and uncomfortable a March 
east wind is, and how hot a day is marked by 84 in 
the shade, but, with care, attention and practice it is 
quite possible very much to refine upon such general 
experiences. 
In the question, for instance, of atmospheric pressure, 
is it not easy to recognise a very high glass with its 
bracing and tonic effects? This may be done before 
breakfast, and while dressing you will, of course, see 
where the wind is, and consider the clouds, and so much 
of the sunrise as you are wise enough to be awake for. 
If you have a bedroom with a large bay window, you 
may learn something, in hard weather, from the varying 
degrees of frost on the different exposures, and the direc- 
tion from which rain or snow has come. On a question 
of temperature (perhaps the most easily recognised condi- 
tion), your bath (without the extreme of breaking ice, 
or trying to use a frozen sponge) will give you some 
