12 The Present State of Meteorology. 



particular country may be subject. The broader aspect of 

 the question is, as a rule, a secondary consideration — to be 

 desired, but too extensive to be grappled with by observa- 

 tions extending only over a limited area ; and so, while the 

 accumulating records gradually serve the more immediate 

 climatological requirements, they are laid by or are printed 

 and disseminated. Except for the sake of criticism, these 

 printed observations are only referred to occasionally by the 

 student, writer, or traveller ; and although there is now and 

 then something said of the desirability of dealing with this 

 enormous collection of facts, I think that about a thousand 

 Keplers would be wanted for the task. 



It will not be denied, however, that for local requirements 

 some systematically conducted meteorological research is 

 necessary and valuable in all civilised communities^ more 

 especially in countries like Austraha, depending largely on 

 agricultural and pastoral interests, as well as maritime 

 commerce, and subject to the climatic vicissitudes which so 

 often prevail. Assuming this, it will not be unprofitable to 

 inquire how the observations can best be made in Australia 

 to serve all the more immediate and local requirements, and 

 at the same time assist in the general scheme of investi- 

 gating the laws which govern the earth's atmosphere 

 generally. 



Before doing this, I would briefly indicate what is being 

 attempted in other countries. The United States of America 

 certainly stand in front as far as regards the magnitude and 

 system of meteorological research, and the results obtained. 

 The vast land-tracks in the U.S. over which meteorological 

 observing stations have been extended have made possible 

 in that country a system which few other nations could 

 attempt. Provided with almost unlimited means, and the 

 assistance of a whole army of military men as observers, 

 the signal service of the United States has been enabled to 

 meteorologically blockade a large portion of the continent. 

 Aided by all the facility that can be conferred by a network 

 of telegraph' lines where priority and promptitude of 

 despatch is insisted upon and given, the American meteor- 

 ological system is undoubtedly the most complete in the 

 world. The principal outcome of this great scheme is the 

 issuing of daily weather charts and bulletins showing the 

 meteorological conditions all over the States, and the publi- 

 cation of forecasts or " probabilities" (as they are called) 



