CONCLUSION 89 



It is this fact which, though it renders the 

 problem of long distance weather prediction 

 very complex, gives us the best hope of ulti- 

 mate success. If the changes that take place 

 in the sun affected our weather at once, we 

 should always be liable to disturbances that are 

 extra-terrestrial in origin, and which at present 

 we cannot reliably foretell. But the main 

 effect of solar variations upon our weather is an 

 indirect effect, and it works by a series of 

 changes which may take years to run their 

 course. The weather we shall have a year or 

 two ahead is already determined ; it is ad- 

 vancing upon us as silently and irresistibly as 

 fate. Man may never be able to mould it an 

 iota ; but he can watch its progress and be 

 forewarned of its effects. Many men distrust 

 the possibility of weather predictions for any 

 sufficient distance ahead to be of any service 

 to agriculturists ; but I have more faith in the 

 future progress of science. We can see a 

 little ahead already. We cannot see farther 

 because of our ignorance ; and more knowledge 

 would increase the penetration of our vision. 

 Fortunately for Australasia, our meteorological 

 conditions are far simpler than those of Europe, 

 so that we may expect much greater certainty 

 in weather predictions. I see no impossibility 

 in future Australian meteorologists foretelling 

 correctly a year ahead, the general nature of 

 the approaching seasons. But such insight 

 will never come to us until we have done our 



