450 PHILOSOPHY OF STORMS. 



farther they fell, and the more humid the air, the larger 

 they would become." 



As Professor Olmsted has not shown how these currents 

 could be generated, the theory is plainly incomplete on this 

 ground. And besides, even if they should be generated, it 

 does not appear how they could be mixed ; for either they 

 wouldjneet each other in opposite directions, and so stop 

 each other's motion without mixing to any great extent, 

 or they would slip by one another, without much affecting 

 each other's temperature, according to the Professor's own 

 reasoning. 



But even, if it could be shown that a mixture of two 

 currents could take place suddenly, of even 1000 feet in 

 perpendicular extent, it would be very easy to show that un- 

 der much more favorable circumstances, the dew point be- 

 ing higher, a grain and a half of rain to the square inch 

 would not be precipitated, and that, in most cases, not a 

 particle of this would reach the ground, for it would be 

 evaporated in its descent, unless the air below should hap- 

 pen to be absolutely saturated with vapor, which seldom 

 occurs. 



But, according to Mr. Olmsted, " the minute hail stones 

 being endued with a cold probably surpassing any with 

 which we are acquainted, would begin to descend and ac- 

 cumulate to a size proportioned to the intensity of the cold 

 of the original nucleus." 



This remark is erroneous in two respects. First, the 

 cold is certainly not more intense at this great elevation, 

 than one degree for every one hundred yards, and is, there- 

 fore, in the northern current only 13f below the freezing 

 point; for, by supposition, it was only 1333 yards above 

 the line of perpetual congelation, when it left latitude 50. 



Second ; the original nucleus would not accumulate in 

 the manner described ; but, on the contrary, it would be 

 entirely melted by the time it had descended far enough 



