CHAPTER XIII. 

 METEOROLOGY. 



WRITTEN ESPECIALLY FOR WEST AUSTRALIAN FARMERS. 

 BY W. ERNEST COOKE, Government Astronomer. 



Farmers and sailors are proverbially weatherwise. Being 

 accustomed to an outdoor life in which the vicissitudes of climate 

 play such an important part, they naturally acquire the habit of 

 observing closely the sequences in the formation of cloud, direction 

 of wind, and rainfall ; yet notwithstanding this general proficiency 

 their knowledge may be supplemented by an intelligent use of 

 instruments designed to estimate the density, temperature, and 

 humidity of the atmosphere, and a carefully compiled record of 

 the rain will inform them as to the quantity which they may 

 reasonably expect to fall within a season. It is the purpose of this 

 article to give a brief description of the meteorological instruments 

 generally employed, with simple directions for reading them : 



THE BAROMETER. 



I am sorry I cannot recommend an aneroid, as it is in many 

 respects convenient. But its indications are not as a general rule to 

 be depended on, unless compared at intervals of a few months with 

 some reliable standard. For those who intend to take systematic 

 observations a mercurial barometer is almost indespensable. The 

 particular form I should recommend is the " Board of Trade 

 Standard," sold in England for ^4 45. Fairly reliable mercurial 

 barometers can be obtained from i is. upwards. 



In making observations pay no attention whatever to the legend 

 inscribed on the face, such as " rain," " change," etc. These may 

 possibly be of use to the people of London, but are only misleading to 

 dwellers in West Australia. Read the barometer (as described 

 below) together with the attached thermometer at a certain hour or 

 hours every day, 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. if convenient, and keep a record 

 of these readings. 



Prognostications are to be obtained by observing first, the 

 actual reading, reduced to sea level ; second, the rate of rise or fall. 

 In order to reduce to sea level a set of Scott's tables are useful, but 

 failing these the reductions can approximately be affected in the 

 following manner. First subtract a quantity, depending upon the 

 reading of the attached thermometer, which can be obtained by 

 interpolation from the following : 



