PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 223 



of the barometer of from one-tenth to three-tenths of an inch, and varying- 

 in time from three to six hours, and sometimes more; my rules say from 

 one to three hours. 



But the aneroid is a much more sensitive instrument than the mercury 

 barometer, and I have known showers to occur at three o'clock and seven 

 o'clock, p. M., that were indicated by nine and ten o'clock, a. m. It requires 

 some care and study to understand the movements of the barometer, as 

 there is some difference in its action in different localities during the same 

 class of storms. 



Prof. Mapes. — The important point with farmers is not to foretell 

 the weather for days ahead. If they can have it six hours ahead it will 

 serve their purpose. As a general thing, I fear that the science of 

 barometrical observations is too abstruse for ordinary farmers. 



Mr. Kendall. — It is not so for intelligent farmers. Men who do not read, 

 study or think, should not have a barometer. You all, perhaps, remember 

 the old story of the farmer who carried a stone in one end of his bag to 

 balance the grain in the other. There are some just such men now-a-days, 

 who, of course, are not intelligent enough to use barometers, which, if 

 properly understood, will always foretell the approach of a storm. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — This is just the point at which I want a little 

 tuition. ■ I believe that I am about of an average degree of intelligence 

 with the farmers of this country, and I must acknowledge that I am not a 

 little puzzled to understand the barometer, so as to guard against an 

 approaching storm. For instance, I have always been told, and hear it 

 repeated to-day, that when there is a rapid fall we may surely look for 

 rain. So I brought my umbrella this morning, because I saw that the 

 barometer had fallen from 30 5-10 on Sunday to 30 Monday evening, and 

 this morning it stood at 29 6|-10, and thick clouds and a mere sprinkle of 

 rain about daylight. With such a rapid fall, I certainly had a right, by 

 all the rules I ever read or heard, to look for rain before night; yet it has 

 not fallen, and now the sun is shining. True, it is no great loss to me to 

 carvj my umbrella; but what if a farmer had neglected some important 

 work, because the barometer told him it would rain, and he found it did 

 not — would he be likely to depend upon it again ? 



Prof. Nash. — It is not claimed that the barometer is always truthful. I 

 have faith in the indication, and believe that Mr. Robinson will yet require 

 his umbrella before he gets home. It rained in Brooklyn this morning. 



The Chairman. — It rained at Newark this morning before I left for the 

 city. 



Mr. Carpenter. — I believe barometers are useful instruments, but must 

 not be implicitly relied upon. I have used a barometer of Mr. Kendall's 

 make for the past year, and have observed it pretty closely. I find that a 

 fall does not always indicate rain. 



Prof. Mapes. — Will not a hygrometer, placed, for instance, under the 

 eaves of a barn, out of the way of the rain, and within view of the house, 

 indicate the approach of dry or wet weather. I think, with a little 

 experience, a scale could be formed that would be of great use to the 

 farmer. 



Mr. Kendall. — The hygrometer is an instrument having for its motive 



