78 AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATION BILL, 1924. 



A serviLe for the specijil ln'iiefit i»f fjirnnTs in tlio liaivestin^ of hay. wheat, 

 and other crops is c-oniUu ted in New York State. This worli als<» is of a ten- 

 tative and experimental character, and its. development in New York and its 

 extension to <»ther States will depend on funds heinj; provided therefor. These 

 forecasts are issu«Ml for the jruidance of farmers in liarvestin); of crops lialtle 

 to damage or loss if unfavorable weather occurs between the time of cutting: 

 and shockinjr. The predictions are not for a tixetl period, as is the ease with 

 the KPneral daily f<trecasts. but for just as long a period as the forecaster feels 

 that the conditions as shown on the current weather map justities a reasonable 

 <'Xi)ectatii>n of accurac.v. Sometimes this i)eriod is only for 124 iiours and at 

 others three or four days. The i)rojinostications are worded ti) apply to the 

 particular purpose and to convey to the farmer the <lefrret* <(f c(»nfidence that 

 the forecaster has in his forecasts. Illustrations of these forecasts are: "Con- 

 ditions excellent for drying weather Wednesday and Thurs<lay ; Friday, mi- 

 certain." or "Outlook for hiirvesting next two days uncertain: rain ver>- 

 liki'ly." This work also is condu<'ted in cooperation with county and farm 

 bureau agents, who disseminate the forecasts by telephone to the individual 

 farmers. 



(h) Cotton and corn onri irJirat rcf/ion serrice. — More than 3(10 special tele- 

 graphic stations are maintained in the principal corn and wheat and <'otton 

 growing States fur the collection and dissemination, in the form of daily bul- 

 letins, of dail.v weather conditions as affecting the development ttf these crops. 

 The information is given wide distribution, the annual value to the public being 

 estimated at about $3,325,000. 



(i) Cattle repion .ten-ice. — Weekly reports are collecte<l and disseminated, 

 showing the effect of weather conditions on ranges and live stock over the 

 great grazing areas of the West. The estimated value to the i»ublic is .S2.")0.(K)0. 



(j) Weeklji neatlier and crop huUetinx. — Weekly siinmiaries of weather con- 

 ditions and their effect on growing crops and farming operations are collected 

 at the central ofhce and i)ublished in the department i)ublication, Weather. 

 Crops, anrl Markets. Similar sunmiaries are issue<l in the form of weekly 

 bulletins at Chicago, covering the princijial corn and wheat region, and at New 

 Orleans for the Cotton Belt, both issued only during the growing season. In 

 addition, weekly summaries are issued at the section center i>f each State. The 

 estimated value of this service to the public is ipi,.'i(X).(M)0. 



ik) Fire weather irarni)if/s. — These warnings are issued whenever conditions 

 indicjite hot. dry winds which are favorable to the inception and siiread of tires 

 in national forests and other forested regions. They are distributed i>rincipally 

 to Forest Service officials and others charged with forest i)rotection. and enable 

 them to assemble crews and apparatus ready for action. The Forest Service, 

 tire wardens, and F(u-estry Association testify to the great value of these 

 warnings. 



ForeenttH in aid of ariation. — AN'eather is an ever i)resent and important 

 factor in successftd navigation of the air. A knowledge of exi.sting weather 

 conditions and those to l>e encountere<l in flight is essential to aviators in the 

 ac<-omi»lishmeiit of the .iourney and in the protection of tlu> life of the flier 

 and the machine he is operating. The Wealber Hureau furnishes this infor- 

 mation to the fullest extent possible with the funds at its conun.Mnd. Flying 

 weather forecasts of conditions to be exjiectwl at H.ving levels and at the 

 surfiice are issued twice dail.v for 14 zones into which tlie country is divideil 

 for this iturpose. In addition, more detailed forecasts are made for the 

 three model airways radiating from Wjisliiiigton and having termini at Long 

 Island. Norfolk, and Kayfnn. Advices also are given directly by telephone 

 and telegraph to individual Hyers who desire information i>er.sonally before 

 beginning flights. S))ecial advices also ar«> supplied in considerable number 

 in connection with aviation meets. trjiMsconlincnfal flights, etc. .\viat<irs are 

 demanding more and more d(>tailc<l weather iiit'ormation and forec.-ists. and 

 their demands already are in excess ot' wli.Mt tlit> Weather Htireau is able to 

 sujiply with its present approi»riations. 



The need for extensi(»n of the aer<»logi<'al work <d' the Weather Bureau Is 

 most urgent and should be promjjtly met. In reality years of tin\e are re- 

 (|uired before s.\s|ems of nieti'orological observations aeciuire their full value 

 and iisefiilness in f'ormulaliiig practieal beiielits to the public .\t tlie present 

 time the number cd' stations lor securing observations in tin- free air is lindted 

 to jjrimary stations an<l about 14 supplem«'nlary stations, which make re- 

 j)orts oidy of pilot balloon llight.s. These fail greatly to represent tb(> vast 



