WEATHER; WINDS AND STORMS; CLIMATE 109 



rate of the wind, humidity, amount of rainfall, and the 

 readings of thermometer and barometer. Men of experi- 

 ence interpret the reports and make up forecasts of the 

 weather for the next twenty-four hours or more. By long 

 study it has been learned that weather conditions follow 

 certain rules and move in regular paths across the country. 

 Consequently, from the conditions of the atmosphere to-day 

 experts can predict what will probably result to-morrow. 



The forecasts of the Weather Bureau are telegraphed to 

 all sections of the United States and are reported by daily 

 papers and by weather maps and cards posted in public 

 places. The advantages in making use of such information 

 can scarcely be estimated. Farmers and sailors, especially, 

 may take precautions which greatly reduce the dangers from 

 a sudden fall in temperature or from high winds. For in- 

 stance, if a frost is predicted, a farmer may often save the 

 delicate buds on his young fruit trees by the use of small 

 kerosene heaters placed at frequent intervals in his orchard. 

 A few dollars' worth of kerosene may thus save thousands 

 of dollars' worth of fruit. Masters of sailing vessels, too, 

 may often escape danger to life and property by remaining 

 in port when storms have been predicted. 



117. Weather Records. The records of the Weather 

 Bureau extend over only about fifty years, but in that short 

 time statistics of great importance have been secured. Many 

 people have records of the weather in their own locality for 

 a longer period. Observations that were recorded at the 

 time they were made are the only reliable information as to 

 weather in the past. 



From such records it is possible to learn the average 

 amount of rainfall and the ave'rage number of days of sun- 

 shine for ten or twenty years. This average gives a stand- 

 ard by which to judge the weather of any particular year. 

 By such standards only can it be determined whether a 

 season was a " remarkably hot summer" or a "very rainy 



