METEOROLOGY. 



25 



adopted if the former be available, as it is only 

 a roughly approximate estimate of the actual 

 measurement. 



Wind. — The direction of the wind may be 

 taken either from a wind-vane or from the drift 

 of smoke from chimneys. It will only be neces- 

 sary to enter the direction in the observation 

 book for one or other of the following eight 

 points of the compass, viz.: N., N.E., E. ? S.E., 

 S., S.W., W., and N.W. A change of wind 

 "with the sun" (veering N. to E., E. to s., &c.) 

 is a general indication of fine weather, but a 

 change "against the sun" (n. to w., w. to S., &c.) 

 as a rule indicates rainy and unsettled weather. 



In the foregoing instructions an endeavour 

 has been made to render them as simple and 

 practical as possible, and at the same time to 

 recommend instruments as inexpensive as is 

 compatible with accuracy sufficient for the 

 purpose for which they are required. The total 

 cost of the equipment, including barometer, 

 thermometers, thermometer screen, and rain- 

 gauge, need not exceed £5. 



All the instruments (barometer excepted) 

 must be set up in the most open position avail- 

 able in the garden, and over short grass. Care 

 should be taken that they are always kept in 

 good working order. For instance, the minimum 

 thermometer must be put right at once should 



it not agree with the maximum when both are 

 set. The rain-gauge must be always firm and 

 level, and the receiving vessel and measure 

 occasionally cleaned. The observations must be 

 taken regularly at the same hour each day. It 

 will be found far more satisfactory and interest- 

 ing to take a few observations which can be 

 relied upon, than any number either with indif- 

 ferent instruments or with those indifferently 

 situated. 



Where observations are required which will be 

 strictly comparable with those made at properly 

 ordered meteorological stations in other parts of 

 the country, a more expensive set of instruments 

 will be necessary. 1 For a description of these, 

 and complete instructions how to observe them, 

 the reader cannot do better than consult Hints 

 to Meteorological Observers, issued by the Eoyal 

 Meteorological Society, and obtainable of E. 

 Stanford, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, Lon- 

 don, S.W., price Is. Elementary Meteorology, by 

 Robert H. Scott, F.R.S. (Kegan Paul, Trench, 

 & Co., 1 Paternoster Square, London, E.C.), 

 price 5s., will be found an excellent text-book 

 on the science of meteor ology» [e. m.] 



1 A model set of meteorological instruments for garden equip- 

 ment can now be seen in the Royal Horticultural Society's 

 Gardens at Chiswick, on application to the secretary, 117 Victoria 

 Street, Westminster. 



