SCIENCE OF COMMON THINGS. Ill 



Hail-storms, where most frequent. The moon and the weather. 



7*O5 Why will not pianofortes made in England or Germany answer 

 for use in New England ? 



Because the difference in the climate of these respec- 

 tive countries is so great, as respects moisture, that 

 the foreign instruments shrink, and quickly become 

 damaged. 



7O 6 In what climates do hail-storms most frequently occur f 



In temperate climates most frequently, and rarely 

 within the tropics. 



707 In what localities in the temperate zones do hail-storms occur most 

 frequently 1 



In the vicinity of high mountains, whose peaks are 

 always covered with ice and snow. The south of France, 

 which lies between the Alps and Pyrenees, is annually 

 ravaged by hail ; and the damage which it causes 

 yearly to vineyards and standing crops, is estimated at 

 upwards of nine millions of dollars. 



Do the general meteorological changes which take place almost 

 daily, and which are designated as weather changes, occur in accordance 

 with certain fixed laws f 



There is no reason to doubt that every change in the 

 weather is in strict accordance with some certain phy- 

 sical agencies, which are fixed and certain in their 

 operations. 



7*09 Why can we not, then, with certainty determine and foretell the 

 character of the weather for any particular time ? 



Because the laws which govern meteorological 

 changes are as yet imperfectly understood. 



7*1O Is there any reason for supposing that the moon has any influence 

 upon the weather f 



An examination of meteorological records, kept in 

 different countries through many years, proves conclu- 

 sively that the popular notions concerning the influence 

 of the lunar phases on the weather have no foundation 

 in any well established theory, and no correspondence 

 with observed facts. 



7*11 Do meteorological records afford any support to the belief in tha 

 occurrence of rain at particular phases of the moon ? 



There is some reason for supposing that rain falls 



