anfr 1Ratn 147 



Representatives, which shows that three extensive 

 sets of experiments were made, but that in no case 

 could any interference with natural phenomena be 

 traced. If rain fell, it fell over an area of many 

 thousands of square miles, in consequence of the passage 

 of a cyclonic depression, and it was not specially near 

 the scene of the experiments. The general conclusion 

 arrived at is that the experiments afforded no evidence 

 that precipitation was induced or in any way influenced 

 by the explosions. 



" A series of experiments on ' weather-shooting ' 

 was made in Austria and Italy. It was made as a 

 result of an agitation by wine growers and others 

 anxious for the safety of their crops. The experiments 

 were of a most exhaustive description. There was a 

 good deal of inconclusive discussion in the Press, 

 followed by an International Conference of experts at 

 the invitation of the Austrian Government. This 

 Conference was held at Graz in 1902, and the con- 

 clusion arrived at was that there was probably no 

 effect attributable to the shooting, but the evidence 

 was not sufficiently clear to justify the categorical 

 statement that the ineffectiveness had been proved. 

 Consequently, further trials, under careful conditions, 

 were made in Austria and in Italy, under Government 

 Commissioners. The immediate object in view was 

 the prevention of hailstorms, but the experiments 

 actually amounted to an exhaustive test of the effi- 

 ciency of ' weather-shooting ' generally. The Director 

 of the Austrian Meteorological Office, who had taken 

 an active part throughout the investigation, declared 

 that the matter was disposed of, not only among 

 scientific men, but also among all objectively-minded 



