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and where it will l)e given to the public either by the display 

 of flags or by blowing mill whistles or other similar methods. 

 This offer has been taken advantage of by about twenty-one 

 towns or villages in Massachusetts, and the flags are being 

 disphiyed or whistles l)lown in those places at the [)resent 

 time. In some cases the display is made by telephone com- 

 panies, and the directions are kindly sent over their wires 

 to other villages and to patrons. 



The flags for the displsjy are five in number, and cost 

 about $7. They can be had of any dealer in such materials, 

 and should not be less than six feet square. Two forecasts 

 are issued, either of which, as they may choose, can be had 

 by villages or associations. The p.m. forecasts are made 

 from the 8 pm. observations, and are received by the dis- 

 playman as soon as the local office is open in the morning ; 

 these cover the probable weather until midnight. The a.m. 

 forecasts are made from the 8 a.m. observations, and are 

 received by the displayman about noon. These cover the 

 weather until 8 p.m. the following day. The latter are 

 generally considered to be of the greatest advantage, because, 

 from the display which is thus made during the afternoon, 

 the farmer is enabled to lay plans for the next day's work. 

 Arrangements have been made by which the early afternoon 

 trains on the Old Colony Railroad are to carry the forecasts 

 to all the stations along their line, there to be posted in con- 

 spicuous places. Other roads are considering the matter, 

 and if it is generally done those living near the stations can 

 easily get the information, and if each of the towns will 

 provide themselves with the flags and make arrangements to 

 have them displayed, many others living farther away from 

 the station can see them. 



But, after all this is done, there will still be a large num- 

 ber who will never see the forecasts, and it is this class that 

 the Bureau wishes to reach through the difteient aoricultural 

 institutions. The importance of taking advantage of the 

 offer of the Bureau to telegraph the forecasts at government 

 expense is urged upon evevy agricultural society, grange 

 and farmers' club. 



The Southern New England Telephone Company is giving 

 the "P.M. forecasts to all its local offices, and all connections 



