ARTIFICIAL RAINS. 499 



tioned before, favorable in a time of drought, I would set 

 fire to the circumference in various places at once. Soon 

 after the fire commences, I will expect to see clouds begin 

 to form, about as many hundred yards high as the tempera- 

 ture of the air is above the dew point in degrees of Fahren- 

 heit. 1 will expect to see this cloud rapidly increase in 

 size, if its top is not swept off by a current of air at a con- 

 siderable distance above the earth, until it becomes so lofty 

 as to rain. I shall expect the cloud to move eastwardly, 

 increasing in width as it advances ; and the next day I 

 shall expect the region to the south of where the rain fell, 

 to be visited by rain; for a reason explained in my writings. 



But it is in vain to anticipate all the results which will 

 follow, for nothing but the experiment itself can demon- 

 strate them. If the experiments, when repeatedly tried, 

 should fail, it would be in vain for me to say I would not 

 be mortified, but I will not incur any disgrace unless it is 

 disgraceful to desire to see a great experiment made, which 

 all the knowledge we have on the subject, in the present 

 state of science, leads us to hope will be crowned with 

 success. 



I have made this very brief, though necessarily imperfect 

 statement of my reasons for wishing to see the experiment 

 tried, which can alone decide the question, to comply with 

 the earnest and repeated solicitations of my friends ; I will 

 now in conclusion say a word for myself. 



The present state of the science of meteorology renders 

 it highly important to know in what direction and with 

 what velocity summer rains travel over the surface of the 

 earth. What is their shape round or oblong and if ob- 

 long, in what direction their transverse diameter lies, and 

 whether they move side foremost or end foremost or ob- 

 liquely. Now I request gentlemen throughout the United 

 States, who feel interested in this subject, to keep a journal 

 of all rains from the beginning of June till the end of 

 September ; noting their beginnings and endings, the force 



