146 PEOGKESS IN ASTRONOMY. 



surrounding the Indian Ocean to the south and east. This was found 

 to be the case. 



A wider inquir}^ was followed, we are told, with equal success, so 

 that we are justilied in hoping that the question of the dependence of 

 terrestrial upon solar weather has made a step in advance. 



But just as the general public and practical men took little heed of 

 the connection between sun spots and magnetism utitil experience 

 taught them that telegraphic messages often could not "get through" 

 when there were many sun spots, so the same public will not consider 

 the connection in regard to meteorology unless the forecasting of 

 droughts and famines be possible. 



The recent work suggests that if the recent advances in solar physics 

 be considered, the inquiries regarding rainfall may be placed on a 

 lirmer basis than they could possibly have had in 1872 and that such 

 forecastings may become possible. 



What was looked for in 1872 was a change in the quantity of rain at 

 maximum sun spots only, the idea being that there might be an effect- 

 ive change of solar temperature, either in excess or defect, at such 

 times, and that there would ])e a gradual and continuous variation 

 from maximum to maximum. 



We see that the rainfalls referred to above justify the conclusions 

 derived from tht' recent work that two effects ought to be expected in 

 a sun-spot cycle instead of one. There was excess of rainfall, not 

 only near the sun-spot maximum, but near the mininnim. 



If the authors of this communication to which I refer are right, 

 then droughts and famines occur in India because the rain pulses, 

 which are associated with the solar heat pulses, are of short duration. 

 When the}' cease, the quantity of rain which falls in the Indian area 

 is not sufficient, without water storage, for the purposes of agricul- 

 ture. They are followed, therefore, by droughts, and at times subse- 

 quently by famines. They divide the period 1877-1889 as under: 



[1877. 

 Rain from — pulse 1 1878. 



[1879 (part). 



[1879 (part). 

 No rain pulse < 1880 (central year). 



[1881 (part). 



[1881 (part). 

 Rain from + pulse <^ ooo' 



[1884 (part). 



[1884 (part). 

 No rain pulse I -looaf (central years). 



Il8'87 (part). 



[1887 (part). 



Rain from — pulse ...A 1888. 



1889. 



