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colony is from south round by E., N., and W. This is called 

 "veering/' as the reverse, viz., S., W., N., and E., is called " backing." 

 In the winter it will be found that the wind almost always u veers," 

 and steady rain sometimes sets in with the wind at N.E., changing 

 to squalls as it reaches the N.W. By the time it reaches S.W., an 

 early cessation may usually be expected, but the rain sometimes 

 continues, especially on the south coast, right round to S.E. Do 

 not confuse the direction of the wind with the direction from which 

 the storm is travelling. When the wind is at N.E., the storm is 

 generally well to the westward and approaching so as to pass the 

 south of the observer. In fact, nearly all the winter storms travel 

 from west to east or thereabouts. In summer the wind occasionally 

 " backs," as thunderstorms seem to come from all quarters. With 

 the wind " backing," the storm is probably to the north, and passing 

 round to the eastward. 



CLOUDS. It is probably by the feel of the wind and the 

 appearance of the cloud that most farmers prophesy, but even if this 

 be so it will be found that organised knowledge is preferable to that 

 obtained at haphazard. The subject cannot be properly treated on 

 account of its importance, in such an article as this, but I can 

 recommend the careful perusal of " Cloudland " by Clement Ley. 

 Clouds are divisible under three different headings cirrus, cumulus, 

 and stratus. The first-named are popularly known as " wind clouds" 

 or " mare's tails." They are high whisps, very common in summer. 

 When they appear in wintertime they are of considerable significance, 

 for they usually presage rain. This prognostic is strengthened if 

 they develop into cirro-stratus, a sheet of high thin cloud which 

 forms those large dark rings round sun or moon known as haloes. 

 When a storm clears quickly, and cirrus is seen above the lower 

 clouds, it generally portends another fall of the barometer with more 

 rain before long. In summer they occur so frequently that their 

 significance is lost, and even the name of " wind cloud " has no 

 justification. The name " cumulus " is given to any heavy woolly 

 mass of cloud. It is seen in perfection on a warm quiet summer 

 day about noon, or later. In its pure form it generally 

 accompanies line weather, but does not necessarily forecast 

 it. When the edges harden, and the cloud appears like a huge 

 cauliflower head, with a dark base, thunder and lightning may be 

 expected. When, on the contrary, it appears with soft and very 

 ragged edges moving rapidly, squalls are likely. Cumulo-nimbus is 

 the name given to the ordinary squall cloud. It is a species of 

 cumulus, but surcharged with moisture, and altogether darker and 

 softer than the pure specimen. Sometimes the cumulus, instead of 

 appearing in detached masses, forms into the long heavy rolls 

 (strato-cumuliis) and covers the sky in this shape. With this 

 appearance line dry weather may be expected, but frequently 

 accompanied by keen winds between S. and E. The third great 

 cloud division is " stratus." Originally this term was applied to 



